august 11, 2010I caught The Glades premiere a few weeks ago and really liked the main character Jim Longworth -- "I do not play well with others," he tells us during the intro sequence and he shows that he doesn't. And this is the kind of character I like, a somewhat modern cowboy. He's an aggravating character that grew on me. The problem is that after five episodes, I am getting tired of the shows writing. That is unfortunate because I really like the Longworth character and wished that he had something better to do than a typical formula.
I tend to over-analyze things, especially when it comes to TV and movies. I sit there watching and being entertained, yet there is always this part in the back of my brain that is analyzing the show/film as it runs. Yes, most TV shows fall into a formula, but some writers stick too closely to the formula and at that point I start to smell the stink. Here's the formula for The Glades:
- There is a murder (duh, this show is about a homicide detective).
- Said detective is put on the case and uses his charm, wit, sarcasm and brilliance to deal with suspects.
- The detective battles his attraction to a married nurse who has a husband in jail.
- The detective exchanges barbs with the Chief Forensic Medical Examiner.
- The detective and forensics guy make a giddy intern do menial work.
- The detective interviews lots of suspects who really, really look guilty.
- The detective notices one small, unsuspecting character and disregards such character.
- The detective consults the nurse that he is attracted to. It usually is about something woman or research related.
- The detective instantly figures out the murderer -- whom, as in each episode, is the "one small, unsuspecting character" he disregards.
- Roll credits.
The premiere followed this formula and at the end, I was surprised and thought, "Whoa! That's brilliant." Then the second episode did it again and I thought, "Kind of suspicious." Third, fourth and fifth ones? The same.
Now I am about to remove the show from the DVR schedule because I know from previous experience, TV shows that start off tightly following a formula tend never to get out of that formula. And like I said before, that's unfortunate because the character Jim Longworth (and the actor who portrays him, Matt Passmore) are pretty awesome.
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