More Reviews: Intelligence and Downton Abbey

[shadowkat]

Just finished watching Downton Abbey's season premiere. It was okay. Lord Gratham and Lady Cora get on my nerves, and I still think that the writer does a better job of developing the female characters than the male characters. So the story feels oddly unbalanced. OTOH...since most television series appear to be the opposite, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I do wish the characters were evolved more, Thomas appears to have not changed a whit since he began, and has found yet another Mrs. O'Brien to influence - Cora's new lady's maid. He's also found a way to manipulate Cora (not hard to do, she's so dumb). Also - they are clearly laying the groundwork for a huge and somewhat aggravating arc regarding Anna and Bates. I've read the spoilers, so already know what the story is - and I can see the groundwork being laid. This past week Thomas and the new Lady's maid found a way to undermine Anna with her ladyship and Lord Gratham. That's my main issue with Downton, the characters don't really change. The times do, the circumstances do, but the characters seem to act the same - which makes the series predictable and not all that compelling to me.

Currently trying to watch Intelligence and rapidly losing interest. The only thing it has going for it is the cast - which I like, but the writing...oh dear. It's basically about a guy (Josh Holloway) who has been enchanced with a computer chip. This allows him to assess and know basically everything that is available on the internet. It's sort of like walking around with the internet inside your head. He's a super-spy, working for a covert CIA agency called CyberCom, under project Clockwork. The agency is headed by Marge Helgenberg. While Meghan Ohry has been hired as his body-guard/partner/baby-sitter. They don't get along. She's beautiful, he's hot. They banter. He thinks she isn't capable of protecting him, and is informed that she actually got stabbed five times, protecting the President's daughters, took on five commandos, and got the girl's home in time for dinner (so apparently she's wonderwoman?) Then they find out their first case - which is to rescue John Billingsley, the doctor who developed Josh's chip. And it turns out he developed another one - so of course nasty Chinese agents kidnapped him in order to steal it and insert into their own agent.
Meanwhile we are treated to lines such as : "If there is no snow on the ground when I go to sleep, but it's on the ground when I wake up - it snowed."

Eh, it reminds me a little bit of Marvel Agents of Shield - apparently they have the same dialogue couch? Both have similar writing and dialogue - boilerplate with lots of techno babble, gadgets, special effects and computer speak. Except Intelligence has better actors, and Agents has a slightly more interesting plot and less cliches.

Not worth the time. Overall rating - D-

Go watch Almost Human and Sleepy Hollow instead - better lines, better special effects, and more interesting characters and plot lines.

Comments

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

Intelligence seemed to me to be Chuck without the humor. No thanks.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Would agree - it is sorely lacking in humor. And is similar to Chuck, but less innovative and complex. So Chuck without the humor or the complexity, or even the dialogue.

So far the only new mid-season entry that I'd recommend is Killer Women.

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

I kind of liked the premier episode of Intelligence. Not terribly challenging, but I found it entertaining enough to give it another look.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Mileage varies clearly. It didn't hold my interest...but I also don't tend to like procedural dramas (which it is).

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

I watched KW after reading your post. Didn't surprise me that it was an ABC offering, kinda like Desperate Housewives with Marshals. Anyway - it was fun.

Have you ever watched Out of Sight? Good female characters and interesting plots.

I thought Marc Blucas looked great and not that different. I was surprised that you called him unrecognizable! I always am happy when Buffy alum get paying jobs!

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Well, almost unrecognizable - hard to tell with the beard.

Yep, seen Out of Sight - didn't last long, and I think the movie was actually better. Also read the book. The movie is closer to the book. The series didn't quite capture Elmore Leonard's dialogue.

Killer Women reminds me more of the Mary McCormack series In Plain Sight splashed with Rodriquez. I wouldn't compare it to Desperate Housewives...it's not quite catty or satirical enough.

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

I just realized that I said Out of Sight when I meant In Plain Sight - jeeze I have no brain left.

I also LOVE Elmore Leonard. I think Justified is excellent and I've enjoyed lots of his books.....

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Currently trying to watch Intelligence and rapidly losing interest. The only thing it has going for it is the cast - which I like, but the writing...oh dear. It's basically about a guy (Josh Holloway) who has been enchanced with a computer chip. This allows him to assess and know basically everything that is available on the internet. It's sort of like walking around with the internet inside your head.

In the age of Galaxies and iPhones with/4G, this is a TV premise I hope can finally die.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

You'd think it would - but it appears to keep popping up. Personally, I like Almost Human's take on it better - the partner is a robot, who...is too emotional (that's his quirk).