Tuesday, August 28, 2007
'Saving Grace' reviews, please
OK. Mid-terms on "Saving Grace." But first, the theme song and video, by Everlast.
I love "Grace." But I'm biased, since it's set in Oklahoma City, and I sit at my kitchen table exactly 15 miles due north of downtown Oklahoma City at this moment, and, of course, I love all things Oklahoma. (Even those damn ou sooners and their fans, like a chicken loves a pebble in its gizzard.)
I was tickled to see "Earl" wearing an Eskimo Joe's shirt last night. Joe's is as much Oklahoma State as Pistol Pete himself. But it doesn't come close to making up for the ou sycophancy that dogs the show.
One worry: The underlying plot is strong, but each episode is so explosive it leaves you breathless. Which is a good thing. I wonder, though, if the plot can withstand an explosion every week -- especially when what seem like cliffhangers just disappear.
Police chief's criminal brother shoots him dead at the cop shop. Bam. Next situation. Grace does a little charity work for a guy and he dies right in her arms, right on her front stoop. He's gone all right, and gone from the show forever. And on and on.
Last night, I remembered how "The X-Files" was really two series with the same characters. There was the continuous big-picture series, and then there was the episodic series -- each episode standing well all alone, I mean, with or without the underying narrative. I wonder as "Grace" goes on if we'll see a similar separation. One reviewer already complained that it's like watching two different shows.
But the plot portents are delicious. Did anybody notice last week when the "richest rancher in Oklahoma" got his prized bull statue back? He was so jacked he scooped Grace up, stuck his tongue down her throat, grabbed an ass cheek, then set her down. They looked at each other like: "What just happened?" And she, despite having kicked his ass twice in the first episode for just such behavior, seemed to LIKE it this time.
Hoo boy.
I think the theme song -- for a TV theme song -- kicks.
Finally, I think this is probably an example of the kind of meaningful popular art that has serious arteests -- and nose-in-the-air critics -- on one side, and everyday people who like a good story and don't mind a little kitsch on the other. Lit critters versus the checkout-stand novel-buying public, in other words.
But what do y'all think?
--ER
I love "Grace." But I'm biased, since it's set in Oklahoma City, and I sit at my kitchen table exactly 15 miles due north of downtown Oklahoma City at this moment, and, of course, I love all things Oklahoma. (Even those damn ou sooners and their fans, like a chicken loves a pebble in its gizzard.)
I was tickled to see "Earl" wearing an Eskimo Joe's shirt last night. Joe's is as much Oklahoma State as Pistol Pete himself. But it doesn't come close to making up for the ou sycophancy that dogs the show.
One worry: The underlying plot is strong, but each episode is so explosive it leaves you breathless. Which is a good thing. I wonder, though, if the plot can withstand an explosion every week -- especially when what seem like cliffhangers just disappear.
Police chief's criminal brother shoots him dead at the cop shop. Bam. Next situation. Grace does a little charity work for a guy and he dies right in her arms, right on her front stoop. He's gone all right, and gone from the show forever. And on and on.
Last night, I remembered how "The X-Files" was really two series with the same characters. There was the continuous big-picture series, and then there was the episodic series -- each episode standing well all alone, I mean, with or without the underying narrative. I wonder as "Grace" goes on if we'll see a similar separation. One reviewer already complained that it's like watching two different shows.
But the plot portents are delicious. Did anybody notice last week when the "richest rancher in Oklahoma" got his prized bull statue back? He was so jacked he scooped Grace up, stuck his tongue down her throat, grabbed an ass cheek, then set her down. They looked at each other like: "What just happened?" And she, despite having kicked his ass twice in the first episode for just such behavior, seemed to LIKE it this time.
Hoo boy.
I think the theme song -- for a TV theme song -- kicks.
Finally, I think this is probably an example of the kind of meaningful popular art that has serious arteests -- and nose-in-the-air critics -- on one side, and everyday people who like a good story and don't mind a little kitsch on the other. Lit critters versus the checkout-stand novel-buying public, in other words.
But what do y'all think?
--ER
Comments:
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Right now I think I'm glad I haven't turned on a TV since the end of May. There has to be something I can do with my $40 or so each month than to pay for cable.
Ya know, I pay a helluva lot for cable, no more TV than I watch. But when I want the Western Channel on, I guess it's worth it.
Dr. ER is an unabashed child of the '70s and TV junkie.
Dr. ER is an unabashed child of the '70s and TV junkie.
BTW, the link to the plot includes a comment doubting whether there are cattle "so close to the grit of urban Oklahoma City."
Yes, there are.
Last time I checked -- and I do, periodically check -- there were upwards of 1,000 bovines domiciled inside the Oklahoma City limits.
The city limits is huge and spread out for one thing. And development has leapfrogged all over the place forever. There might be a 30-year-old addition surrounded by pasture that has never had a permanent structure on it.
Yes, there are.
Last time I checked -- and I do, periodically check -- there were upwards of 1,000 bovines domiciled inside the Oklahoma City limits.
The city limits is huge and spread out for one thing. And development has leapfrogged all over the place forever. There might be a 30-year-old addition surrounded by pasture that has never had a permanent structure on it.
Yep, lots of loose ends. It is like it is trying to be a soap opera and "Law and Order" at the same time. If it fails it won't be because it is a formula hack job.
I think they have dropped the "plot" ball several times, and they can't pick up all of the threads now. One thing they have established beyond a doubt is that Grace is a slut, and seemingly beyond "redemption" (literarily if not spiritual).
Last night the criminal plot was really savage and grimey. I did love it that the last shot of Poedy, the father who endulged in the incest-rape-murder of two of his seven girls, ran a string of whores, and brutally killed the female undercover investigative reporter, was smiling when they took him away past his daughters bodies in bodybags. Now that was a nasty dude. (ER, Poedy wasn't that fictionalized was he?)
The best line was to the guy who was heartbroken last week when he lost his 19 year old cat and Grace provided him with sympathy sex. When he tried to come back for seconds or thirds, or what ever Grace told him. "Maybe it's time you got another kitten."
One emerging thread seems to be that Grace was a prostitute before being a cop. Is that possible?
Then maybe the non-threads are what they intend, or the tapestry is so broad we can't see the pattern yet. We will see.
I looked up the viewer reviews and noticed that the average is in the middle. But reading them you find that no one is actually in the middle. They are clustered at both ends. The show is shit or the show is wonderful, few in-betweens.
I think they have dropped the "plot" ball several times, and they can't pick up all of the threads now. One thing they have established beyond a doubt is that Grace is a slut, and seemingly beyond "redemption" (literarily if not spiritual).
Last night the criminal plot was really savage and grimey. I did love it that the last shot of Poedy, the father who endulged in the incest-rape-murder of two of his seven girls, ran a string of whores, and brutally killed the female undercover investigative reporter, was smiling when they took him away past his daughters bodies in bodybags. Now that was a nasty dude. (ER, Poedy wasn't that fictionalized was he?)
The best line was to the guy who was heartbroken last week when he lost his 19 year old cat and Grace provided him with sympathy sex. When he tried to come back for seconds or thirds, or what ever Grace told him. "Maybe it's time you got another kitten."
One emerging thread seems to be that Grace was a prostitute before being a cop. Is that possible?
Then maybe the non-threads are what they intend, or the tapestry is so broad we can't see the pattern yet. We will see.
I looked up the viewer reviews and noticed that the average is in the middle. But reading them you find that no one is actually in the middle. They are clustered at both ends. The show is shit or the show is wonderful, few in-betweens.
If this show is so popular among liberal scumbags, there's no way a sane person would enjoy it.
Oh, wait. I'm not ANON. I'm Teditor. Which means, I haven't watched it because there's rodeo on ... somewhere.
:-)
Oh, wait. I'm not ANON. I'm Teditor. Which means, I haven't watched it because there's rodeo on ... somewhere.
:-)
Of COURSE, Teditor would rather watch livestock than the lovely Holly Hunter. What's *that* tell ya?
I think one of the secrets of this show is she is playing many men's "fantasy slut." A "strange woman" as Proverbs puts in KJV.
Yet, she's strong in spite of her weaknesses, and vice versa -- emphasis on the vice. A real tangle of contradictions.
Not that I would know anything about contradictions ...
I think one of the secrets of this show is she is playing many men's "fantasy slut." A "strange woman" as Proverbs puts in KJV.
Yet, she's strong in spite of her weaknesses, and vice versa -- emphasis on the vice. A real tangle of contradictions.
Not that I would know anything about contradictions ...
Still haven't watched it. I love Leon Rippy's work, though. If you haven't gone through the obsession/withdrawal thing with 'Deadwood' already, I suggest you get to it.
Ya know, Bird was still livin' at the house when "Deadwood" was on, and while I'm no prude -- and she ain't neither, bein' a redheadeed redneck stepchile -- lingerin' Baptist guilt and mores wouldn't let me play them NASTY words in the house!
ER: Haven't seen Deadwood because of the language?
Not a prude?
Deadwood is the reason I think Saving Grace has a future. It is multiple stories all evolving in weird ways with characters who are so "human" it hurts.
Also I like the Chinaman and his pigs, nice touch. Recent archeology in the real Deadwood has turned up that actual site.
For you guys who have missed episodes, watch them at:
http://www.tnt.tv/dramavision.jsp?cid=32089
And yes ER they are HD full screen and there is a pause button for the scenes you are intersested in.
Not a prude?
Deadwood is the reason I think Saving Grace has a future. It is multiple stories all evolving in weird ways with characters who are so "human" it hurts.
Also I like the Chinaman and his pigs, nice touch. Recent archeology in the real Deadwood has turned up that actual site.
For you guys who have missed episodes, watch them at:
http://www.tnt.tv/dramavision.jsp?cid=32089
And yes ER they are HD full screen and there is a pause button for the scenes you are intersested in.
ER,
Of course I'd prefer to watch *livestock*. It's real.
I've only considered Holly Hunter attractive. There are a lot better in the world of celebrity, and Okie Rebe McEntire is one of 'em.
As for my rodeo interest, I've got two words for ya: Liz Pinkston
http://www.prorodeoonline.net/cowboy-Liz-Pinkston.php
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Of course I'd prefer to watch *livestock*. It's real.
I've only considered Holly Hunter attractive. There are a lot better in the world of celebrity, and Okie Rebe McEntire is one of 'em.
As for my rodeo interest, I've got two words for ya: Liz Pinkston
http://www.prorodeoonline.net/cowboy-Liz-Pinkston.php
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