REVIEW: "Roswell" Rerun Regrades
Ian J. Ball
Rerun Regrade - Episode Review:
Having once again seen the first season episodes of "Roswell" in reruns
on Sci-Fi, it's time for a regrade review. (Note that this review
predisposes a fair amount of knowledge of the first season "Roswell"
epiosdes.)
Enjoy!
"The Pilot" - Original GRADE: B- :
w: Jason Katims; d: David Nutter
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#01
RERUN REGRADE - A- : I guess I had too high expectations for this
when I first saw it, but, boy, did it come across a lot better
when seeing it again after taking a long break from "Roswell"
viewing. I still don't think it's the best "Roswell" episode ever,
or anything, but the combination of great music, solid pacing,
and surprisingly good (early) characterization make this a much
better pilot than I remembered.
"The Morning After" - Original GRADE: B :
w: Jason Katims; d: David Nutter
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#02
RERUN REGRADE - B : A good follow-up to the pilot, I guess. Still,
this episode is more solid, or "OK", than "great". The best
bits involve the introduction of "Counselor" Topolski, and
a suspicious Kyle. In retrospect, the Michael stuff comes off
as 'weak', when one considers that nothing ends up coming from
his "discovery" and "revelation".
"Monsters" - Original GRADE: B+ :
w: Jason Katims & Thania St. John; d: David Nutter & David Semel
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#03
RERUN REGRADE - B- : This episode was very suspenseful and exciting
on first viewing. The problem is, upon seeing this episode,
now, after knowing how the promise of the "Roswell" series
(and this episode in particular) went mostly unmet, it ends up
being somewhat of a disappointment. One of my main beefs with
"Monsters" is that the hints here (and in "River Dog"), that Max,
Isabel and Michael might actually be *dangerous* to the humans,
was never pursued. On re-viewing the episode, the best bit may
actually be Max taking the job from Milton. While there is some
very good work here from Delfino, Heigl and Sadler, the episode
does suffer from knowing what is to come (and, more importantly,
from what's *not* to come later on)...
"Leaving Normal" - Original GRADE: B- :
w: Jason Katims; d: David Nutter & Chris Long
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#04
RERUN REGRADE - B- : This episode actually borders a 'C+' upon seeing
it again. The Kyle stuff is good, and the Isabel in the restaurant
stuff is cute, but most of the rest of it is basically filler.
This may be my least favorite episode of the "first 16" of
season #1.
"Missing" - GRADE: Original B :
w: Jon Harmon Feldman; d: David Semel
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#05
RERUN REGRADE - B : A 'B' sounds about right. The Michael's art class
stuff is good. Topolski attempting to drive a wedge between Alex
and Liz is also good - probably my favorite part. And the missing
diary stuff is decent. Indeed, Michael's admission to Liz at
the end may be the most sympathetic moment the character ever has.
"285 South" - Original GRADE: A :
w: William Sind & Thania St. John; d: Arvin Brown
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#06
RERUN REGRADE - B+ : While a good episode (indeed this is the episode
that totally sold me on "Roswell" originally), upon reseeing it
"285 South" suffers from one important thing: its follow-ups
(starting with the 'sequel' "River Dog") majorly disappoint.
There's a lot of promise shown in this episode, promise that
is squandered later on. This may also be as good as it gets
in terms of *ensemble* work on "Roswell" - from here on in,
characters tend to be more and more 'hermetically sealed' from
one another as the series progresses (e.g. when is the next episode
in which Kyle and Michael share a scene?!, etc.). Still, there's
a lot of good stuff in this episode. And while it's maybe not
as good as it could be, it's still darn good.
"River Dog" - Original GRADE: B :
w: Cheryl Cain; d: Jonathan Frakes
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#07
RERUN REGRADE - B- : An episode that never lives up to the promise
of its "Part I", it's a mostly decent episode all the same.
There's some suspense in this one (e.g. the break-in at
the Evans house), and I love the Valenti-Topolski scene. But
beyond this, there just isn't that much "there", and nothing
really ever ends up coming from the writing on the cave wall that
River Dog shows Liz & Max (nothing substantive, anyways).
"Blood Brother" - Original GRADE: A- :
w: Barry Pullman (story by: Breen Frazier & Barry Pullman);
d: David Nutter
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#08
RERUN REGRADE - A- : A good episode all around, there is again
excellent ensemble work in this episode, as well as good character
development, and some good suspense elements. My main regret about
this episode is that this is where we lose, 1) Agent Topolski
(and, boy, do I miss her!), and 2) the innocence of the Alex
character. One other regret - Topolski's warning at the end
(that the gang was better off with her around than with her
not around) is another storyline that disappoints from here on in.
But, all in all, I like this episode a lot.
"Heat Wave" - Original GRADE: B :
w: Jason Katims; d: David Nutter
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#09
RERUN REGRADE - B- : An episode that really only survives on the power
of three scenes - the Isabel-dreamwalking-into-Alex's-dream is
good, the Liz-Alex jail scene(s) are virtually outstanding, and
I very much like the Topolski-Alex-Liz "reveal" scene. (Though,
IMO, the biggest mistakes this show ever made were letting Sheriff
Valenti in on the truth at the end of season #1, and not making
Topolski a series regular.) But, beyond those three scenes,
this episode is inundated with sappy romance stuff, and I'm not
a fan...
"The Balance" - Original GRADE: B+ :
w: Thania St. John; d: John Behring
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#10
RERUN REGRADE - B : On the level of "mytharc reveal", this episode
ends up being pretty much a dud. But that's because nothing really
ever came of "Roswell's" 'alien mythology'. On the other hand,
looking at this one as more of a character study of Michael,
Isabel, Max, Liz and Alex, it's actually pretty decent. So it
works on that level...
"The Toy House" - Original GRADE: A :
w: Michael Fields & Jason Katims; d: Michael Fields
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#11
RERUN REGRADE - A- : Quite possibly the best episode of "Roswell".
It's just plum full of goods stuff all around. Every character
(except Alex) has something important to do, and even guest star
Mary Ellen Trainor is allowed to shine. Indeed, Trainor, and
William Sadler as Sheriff Valenti may be the most underappreciated
things about this episode. Further, this may be the best "Max" and
"Isabel" episode there is (the final Max/Mrs. Evans and Max/Isabel
scenes are fabulous), and the Michael/Maria and Liz/Kyle stuff
is also really good. If I have a 'serious' complaint about
this episode is that it takes a little to long to get going.
But when it does, it's stellar. (My 'unserious' complaint about
this episode is the heavy use of _The Counting Crows_, a bad
I absolutely despite - but even they can't ruin this episode
for me.)
"Into the Woods" - Original GRADE: B :
w: Thania St. John; d: Nick Marck
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#12
RERUN REGRADE - B : This episode is essentially a 'filler' episodes,
but it's a function how good first season episodes of "Roswell"
were that even a filler episode like this is darn good. The
character stuff is all good in this one.
In retrospect, there are some major problems with this episode,
relating to the resolution of the 'alien mytharc' part. My major
problem with this one is that we're led to believe that the
UFO sighting was real, and that a ship actually visited this spot.
Of course, later "Roswell" story developments render this
interpretation moot (there are no alien 'space ships' shuttling
back and forth to Earth in the 'Roswellverse' we later find out).
So we're left to assume that little ol' Nasedo was behind the
whole thing, but that would seem to make Nasedo more powerful
than the character we see later. No matter what, the 'alien' part
of this episode is just sloppy...
"The Convention" - Original GRADE: A- (based off only 1 viewing):
w: Jason Katims & Emily Whitesell; d: David Nutter & Tucker Gates
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#13
RERUN REGRADE - B : My previous grade for this episode was based on
only one viewing of the episode, and I think I remembered it more
fondly than I should have. There's a lot of good character work in
this episode - Amy Deluca gets some moments to shine, the "Mud"
subplot with Max and Michael trying to resist their attraction
to Liz and Maria respectively, some truly amusing ancillary
moments with Milton and Jonathan Frakes having a ball lampooning
himself, etc. The problem is, in retrospect, nothing of
consequence happens in this episode - any revelations about
Nasedo here are virtually glossed over in later episodes.
Another problem is that the only really 'standout' part of
the episode doesn't come until 45 minutes into it - the last
15 minutes are riveting suspense, but the first 45 minutes are
pretty slow. Finally, the subplot with Jennifer & Larry
(returning from the pilot) detract much more than they add to
"The Convention".
Some good supporting work is provided by Tom Bower as
alien-obsessed Hubble and John Cullum as Jim Valenti, Sr.,
and some truly standout performances from William Sadler and
Jason Behr lift this episode up some. But, all in all, I was
disappointed upon seeing it again.
"Blind Date" - Original GRADE: A- :
w: Thania St. John; d: Keith Samples
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#14
RERUN REGRADE - A : A great character study, and fun to boot,
this may be *the* BEST "Roswell" episode - even better than
"The Toy House". There's very little about this episode
I don't like (and I say that as someone who's generally averse
to 'gooey' romantic scenes), and I lot that I love. Indeed,
the episode's, nay! the series'! most insightful line is uttered
by Kyle when he warns Max that little, 'harmless' Liz is, in fact,
"a man-eater". (Pay attention Max!)
If there is one blemish on this episode, it's the Michael-Isabel
subplot which, while poignant, once again ends with a horrendously
misleading final scene with Nasedo. While the final scene strongly
implies that Nasedo is the gang's enemy, later events show
the exact opposite. Either the writers changed their minds about
the aims of Nasedo after this episode was shot, or the final scene
is a 'dirty pool' way of misleading the audience. In either case,
it's bad. But it's not enough to detract from the things I like
about this episode, and there's a lot to like.
"Independence Day" - Original GRADE: B- :
w: Jason Katims & Toni Graphia; d: David Nutter & Paul Shapiro
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#15
RERUN REGRADE - B : This is an episode dealing with some powerful
subject matter - the problem is, it's subject matter that would
probably be better dealt on some series besides "Roswell" (e.g.
"Once & Again" or "Everwood" or some show like that). Still,
there's some good stuff in this episode - the Michael plot, with
Isabel trying to "save" him, is quite affecting; and the Amy
Deluca-Maria-Jim Valenti-Michael stuff is even better. This is
the first episode where Diane Farr is really allowed to shine
as Amy, and she doesn't disappoint. This is also the first, and
probably *only*, episode where Nasedo is used in a good, creepy,
interesting way. Bottom line: This episode was better than I
remembered it.
"Sexual Healing" - Original GRADE: B :
w: Jan Oxenberg; d: David Semel
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#16
RERUN REGRADE - B- : Another episode damaged by 20/20 hindsight.
Knowing that Max & Liz will be virtually broken up again in just
2 short episodes, and knowing that basically nothing important
comes out of the little do-hickey that Max & Liz discover in the
desert, (as well as knowing the rollercoaster that is Michael/Maria
over the next two seasons) all seriously undermine the enjoyment
of this episode. And I still am hugely dissatisfied with the ending
of "Sexual Healing" - probably the most intriguing scene in
the whole episode, the scene where the Parkers and the Evans
confront Max & Liz, is the one scene we don't get to see! Argh!
So, some thumbs down on "Sexual Healing" - I don't think it's
as weak an episode as "Leaving Normal", but it's probably
the 2nd weakest episode of the 'first 16' of "Roswell".
"Crazy" - Original GRADE: B :
w: Thania St. John; d: James Whitmore, Jr.
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#17
RERUN REGRADE - B+ : A good suspense piece that brings back one of
my most beloved characters (Kathleen Topolski), and introduces
"Roswell's" most sinister and plausible villains (Pierce and
the FBI 'alien hunters'), while still doing some very good
character work, particularly in starting to elucidate
Jim Valenti's change of heart. The best performance in
this episode has got to be Julie Benz, who completely sells
you on the idea that she has been tortured (literally) and
terrorized to the brink of sanity. There is also very good work
from Shiri Appleby (especially in the restaurant scene with
Topolski) and Marjana Delfino (especially in the scene at the end
of the episode where you can see her visible terror for Michael's
safety). The only negative aspect to this episode is the jarring
introduction of Tess (Emilie de Ravin) - while Alex's reactions
are amusing, Isabel's attitude is inexplicable, and Tess is seen
just too much in the episode, which detracts from the other
proceedings. Bottom line - a more gradual introduction of Tess
(over several episodes) would have been preferable, which is
what I suspect Katims & co. originally had in mind before
The WB ordered changes to "Roswell". My original points about
the plot holes in this episode are also still valid. But
a good episode nonetheless.
"Tess, Lies and Videotape" - Original GRADE: A- :
w: Richard Whitley & Toni Graphia; d: Paul Shapiro
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#18
RERUN REGRADE - B+ : The best part about this episode is
unquestionably the sequence where Liz is trapped in the
Harding home with Tess and Mr. Harding. There's some very good,
and very subtle, stuff going on in those scenes. I particularly
like Tess' silent reactions to what transpires between 'Nasedo'
and Liz - she gets a 'cat that swallowed the canary' look where
you can literally see Tess anticipating Liz's "end" at the hand
of the murderous Nasedo. (And you can see her disappointment
when Max shows up to save Liz's bacon!) Basically, the only time
the Tess character "works'" in the "Roswell" series is in these
early episodes where Tess' motives are still a mystery (and
implicitly sinister). Meanwhile, more good stuff with Jim Valenti's
continuing evolution into "true believer", and good work by
Jason Behr as Max, whose confusion and desperation is palpable
(and who's getting virtually *no* help from Michael, Isabel or
Liz). One problem with this episode - this is the episode that
begins to confirm the 'demotion' of Liz's importance in the
"Roswell" series (until at least season #3). But another
good episode.
P.S. No matter what they say in this episode, I will never
believe that Kathleen Topolski is really dead! ;)
"Four Square" - Original GRADE: B+ :
w: Thania St. John; d: Jonathan Frakes
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#19
RERUN REGRADE - B : An episode that looks good on the surface,
it unfortunately begins to unravel somewhat if you start
to think about it a little. The best part of "Four Square" is,
once again, Jim Valenti who, by this episode, is pretty firmly
in the gang's 'camp'. Less convincing in this episode are
the efforts of Emilie de Ravin (who was much more solid in
"Tess, Lies & Videotape") and Katherine Heigl (who just seems...
'off' in this episode). There's still a great, truly creepy scene
between Tess and Isabel in the Evans' kitchen, and Heigl is
also quite good in the scene in the school office. But many of
the rest of the scenes with either Heigl or de Ravin are
less convincing.
This episode also has a "rushed" feel to it, which would be
consistent with the idea that this was an original planned-for
season finale that was 'pushed up' by other factors. Because of
this, there are 'plot holes' aplenty in "Four Square". (E.G. Why
do Max-Michael-Isabel *assume* that Tess is Nasedo?! - who would
Mr. Harding be in that case?! Why does Nasedo/Harding go to visit
Jim Valenti, when all that will do is further inflame Valenti's
suspicions?! (i.e. why would Nasedo want to do that?) What is
Tess hoping to accomplish with the Michael/Isabel dreams? Why
does Tess unnecessarily beat around the bush about the truth and
who she is? Etc.) And let's not even get into the whole
'alien pregnancy scare' nonsense, which this episode really
*didn't* need. Many of these are examples of poorly thought-out
'plot-driven' writing that was beneath "Roswell".
So, while I like the episode overall, it is somewhat of
a 'mixed bag'.
"Max to the Max" - Original GRADE: B :
w: Toni Graphia; d: Patrick Norris
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#20
RERUN REGRADE - B- : The test of a truly good episode is that,
when you watch it again in reruns after having seen the entire
series, the episode still holds up with no ill effects.
"The Toy House" and "Blind Date" (and a number of first and
second season "Buffy" episodes) are such episodes.
"Max to the Max" (and "The Convention"), however, are episode(s)
that do not. "Max to the Max" ends on an exciting cliffhanger.
But the enjoyment of this episode is seriously undermined when
you know what happens after this episode and how this situation
resolves itself down the line (poorly, as it turns out). Aside
from this, many of the problems I had with "Max to the Max"
originally, primarily Tess' instantaneous and inexplicable
turnaround from scheming, dangerous bee-atch to A-one
'team player' (in a single episode!), still hold. (On the plus
side, at least the nonsensical and ill-advised 'pregnancy scare'
is quickly wrapped up early in this episode...)
Basically, the only thing that holds this episode together
is the excellent (dual) performance of Jason Behr, and the solid
supporting work of Shiri Appleby. There's also some very good
supporting work from guest star Jason Conrad, who keeps you
guessing right up until the last scene.
But overall, this episode marks the beginning of the descent
of "Roswell" into more problematic territory...
"The White Room" - Original GRADE: B- :
w: Jason Katims & Thania St. John; d: Jonathan Frakes
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#21
RERUN REGRADE - B : An episode that's better than I remembered,
the only thing holding this episode back from an even
higher grade are two unfortunate circumstances: 1) the rapidly
degrading 'alien mythology' which becomes even more muddled
in this episode, and 2) the honkin' plot holes that I tore into
when I original reviewed this episode. The latter are a particular
problem, when we're asked to swallow the ridiculous notion that
a highly sensitive military facility would be lacking
in such basic things as, you know, *perimeter guards* and
*security cameras* (there's a couple of lines of dialogue later
in the episode that tries to explain these things away, but
I ain't buyin'). Another quibble is that the 'downgrading' of
the human characters in favor of the alien ones really accelerates
in this episode. But, in retrospect, if you can look beyond these
problems (and the mounting reservations about the characterizations
of Tess and Nasedo/Mr. Harding), this is a pretty suspenseful
episode...
"Destiny" - Original GRADE: B :
w: Toni Graphia & Jason Katims (story by: Thania St. John);
d: Patrick Norris
Original review: http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/Roswell/season1.html#22
RERUN REGRADE - B- : The first season of "Roswell" comes to a close
with this highly uneven season finale. Indeed, "Destiny" is
problematic for two key reasons: 1) the pacing of this episode
is highly erratic, with some good suspense sequences, and
many other rather slow (and generally pointless) scenes; and
2) the 'payoff' of this episode is cringe-worthy, something
I talk about in my original review of this episode. Aside from
that, this episode has a lot of clunky/bad dialogue, and once
again the humans get short shrift (esp. Alex and Maria, who are
essentially relegated to the role of furniture). Overall,
this finale, perhaps more than any other season #1 episode,
bares the marks of having been "rushed", and it would have
benefited from several more passes through the word processor.
On the positive side, the Valenti aspects of this episode
once again shine.
But, overall, it's very hard to overlook the end of this
episode - first the inane "HoloMom" sequence, complete with
clunky exposition and a show mythology that I wouldn't wish
on my worst enemy, and then with the truly ridiculous,
cringe-worthy final sequence with 'Howie D' and the supposed
legion of (what we later learn are) 'Skins' (except for
the part where only about 40 'Skins' show up in all of
season #2 - So much for the World Legion of them! Oops!).
Considering that season #2 had to base its development
on this ending, it should be no mystery why season #2 is so
problematic...
--
Ian J. Ball | Mac OS X? Gotta love it!
TV lover, and | Bye-bye members.aol.com!
Usenet slacker |
ijb...@mac.com | http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/TV.html
Bill Steele
<ijball***SPAM-No***-8FF71B.222...@orngca-news03.socal.rr.com>,
"Ian J. Ball" <ijball***SPAM-No***@mac.com.invalid> wrote:
> Having once again seen the first season episodes of "Roswell" in reruns
> on Sci-Fi
Shoot. Did I miss the start of the second season?
(Our furshluginner cable company dropped the UPN station, so I haven't
seen season 2.)
QUERITMO
>Having once again seen the first season episodes of "Roswell" in reruns on
Sci-Fi, it's time for a regrade review. (Note that this review
predisposes a fair amount of knowledge of the first season "Roswell"
epiosdes.)
>
Ian, about your regrades - you gave the episodes the same grade 5 times, you
graded the episode higher than on the first viewing 5 times,
and you graded the episodes lower on the regrade 12 times. Are we
to draw any conclusions from this trend? Is your overall evaluation of
the series that it doesn't hold up as well as you thought on your first
viewing? Or are your regrades done with an eye to the de-evolution of the show
that manifests itself in the later seasons?
Q
Ian J. Ball
quer...@aol.com (QUERITMO) wrote:
All of the above.
There is definitely an "excitement factor" in viewing a series for the
first time(s) - excitement and anticipation in seeing where the story is
going. And 'cliffhangers' work when you first view a show. That's why
some episodes like "Monsters", "285 South", "The Convention" and "Max to
the Max" rate higher upon first viewing than later on.
But your last point is also the case - I did these "rereun regrades"
with the future developments of "Roswell" explicitedly in mind. So I
think the 'trend' is that a lot of episodes don't hold up as well over
time because their "worth" is at least somewhat dependent on later story
developments, so if later developments are poor (which they were in
"Roswell's" case), these earlier episodes suffer somewhat.
Interestingly, this is less true of a series like "Buffy", because
"Buffy" runs more on "season-long storyarcs" whereas "Roswell" was stuck
with the misfortune of having a "series-long arc" a la "The X-Files".
Beyond that, I think "Roswell" suffers in retrospect by the overall
realization that it wasn't one of the "best TV shows to ever air" (which
one might have believed during the show's first season). "Roswell" was a
good series, overall, IMO. But it's not like "Once & Again" which is a
show that I would probably consider in the the "Top 1%" of all TV
series...
But, YMMV. :)
LOSMYSTERIOS
>
consider in the the "Top 1%" of all TV series...
>
Once & Again, absolutely. I'd be curious to know what other
shows make up your Top 1% of TV series (and does this include
The Honeymooners era or just back as far as Frank's Place?).
Related question - if Roswell had ended after the first season, how
close would it be to making your Top 1% level?
Q
Ian J. Ball
losmys...@aol.com (LOSMYSTERIOS) wrote:
> >From: "Ian J. Ball" ijball***SPAM-No***@mac.com.invalid
> >
> >But it's not like "Once & Again" which is a show that I would
> >probably consider in the the "Top 1%" of all TV series...
>
> Once & Again, absolutely. I'd be curious to know what other
> shows make up your Top 1% of TV series (and does this include
> The Honeymooners era or just back as far as Frank's Place?).
I'm not totally sure, though I know that personally have "Tour of Duty",
"Nowhere Man" and "Doctor, Doctor" in there too...
> Related question - if Roswell had ended after the first season, how
> close would it be to making your Top 1% level?
First 16 episodes? I think it's Top 1%. All of first season (22
episodes)? Close, maybe Top 2%. Overall? Top 5-10%, maybe, but not Top
1%.
A Comparison: Buffy - First 2 seasons? Top 1%. First three seasons?
Borderline Top 1%. Post-season #3? Bottom 20%.
QUERITMO
>
does this include The Honeymooners era or just back as far as Frank's Place?).
>>
>
>I'm not totally sure, though I know that personally have "Tour of Duty",
"Nowhere Man" and "Doctor, Doctor" in there too...
>
With apologies for repeating myself, my "1%" nominees are Nowhere Man, My
So-Called Life, Frank's Place, Once & Again, A Year In The Life,
thirtysomething, The Honeymooners, and after these I have to start thinking.
Only ones currently airing even close to this level are - 24
and American Dreams. I'll always be a sucker for well-written,
unique, intelligent, relationship-driven shows that treat their audience
as if they possess a functioning brain.
>>Related question - if Roswell had ended after the first season, how
close would it be to making your Top 1% level?
>>
>
>First 16 episodes? I think it's Top 1%. All of first season (22
episodes)? Close, maybe Top 2%. Overall? Top 5-10%, maybe, but not Top 1%.
>
>A Comparison: Buffy - First 2 seasons? Top 1%. First three seasons?
>Borderline Top 1%. Post-season #3? Bottom 20%.
>
How soon will we see nothing but faux reality shows on the air.
And will a single person remember any of them ten years from now.
Or maybe soon, each one of us will have a television crew following us
around all day long before we're through.
Q
Hermango
>>From: "Ian J. Ball" ijball***SPAM-No***@mac.com.invalid
>>
>With apologies for repeating myself, my "1%" nominees are Nowhere Man, My
>So-Called Life, Frank's Place, Once & Again, A Year In The Life,
>thirtysomething, The Honeymooners, and after these I have to start thinking.
"A year in the life" starred one of my all-time favorite actresses:
Amanda Peterson. I wonder what ever happened to her?
Hermango
Yeechang Lee
> If there is one blemish on this episode, it's the Michael-Isabel
> subplot which, while poignant, once again ends with a
> horrendously misleading final scene with Nasedo. While the
> final scene strongly implies that Nasedo is the gang's enemy,
> later events show the exact opposite. Either the writers
> changed their minds about the aims of Nasedo after this episode
> was shot, or the final scene is a 'dirty pool' way of
> misleading the audience.
This, of course, proved to be a problem for _Roswell_ throughout its
three-year run: How it repeatedly brought up intriguing plot points,
then blatantly contradicted them (and/or totally eliminated them
within a few episodes). I just finished rewatching "Ask Not," and it's
frustrating to know that Gretchen Egolf's character of Vanessa
Whitaker will disappear after a total of *three* episodes. And why was
the point of the Michael/Isabel "pregnancy" if the writers will refute
it after *two* episodes? The examples go on and on and on.
Yeechang, who is still watching every episode on Sci-Fi regardless of
the above
--
Deep Thoughts @ <URL:http://dobie.dynip.com/blog/> PERTH ----> *
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QUERITMO
>
>"A year in the life" starred one of my all-time favorite actresses:
>Amanda Peterson. I wonder what ever happened to her?
>
Rumor has it that Jason Katims signed her to do an episode of
Roswell and she was swallowed up faster than Liz can say
"Oh Max-ah" by one of those voluminous plot blackholes floating
around the set and she was never seen again.
Q