The Flight Attendant

[PGage]

So I watched “The Flight Attendant” On HBOMAX this week. I had never heard of the book, and did not read anything about the project, but the packaging suggested something like a cross between “Catch Me If You Can” and “Girl On A Train” (loved the first, wanted to like the second).  There were elements that kept me thinking I might love it, and by the last few episodes I no longer actively disliked it, but pretty much that meant for me it went from a D+ to a C+.

 First and foremost the characters, all of them, are un-like-a-ble. Not just when they are doing bad or obnoxious things, but even at their best. It seems to me in a story like this there are characters doing obnoxious, selfish, self destructive things, but at least with some you are supposed to like them, and gradually realize “Wow, they are assholes”.  Here, I was thinking that about everybody, all the time.

While there are things about the structure and plot that I like, the writing seems not up to the task of pulling off the vibe the show is trying for. They clearly think they are being subtle and clever and deep and interesting, but more often than not, they are not. As for Cuoco, perhaps the kindest and cruelest thing that can be said is her acting was better on The Big Bang. 

It’s a shame, because there is a good, fun and even meaningful story in this project, but I don’t think these guys quite found it.

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[Tom Wolper]

On Fri, Dec 18, 2020 at 10:43 AM PGage <pga...@gmail.com> wrote:

 First and foremost the characters, all of them, are un-like-a-ble. Not just when they are doing bad or obnoxious things, but even at their best. It seems to me in a story like this there are characters doing obnoxious, selfish, self destructive things, but at least with some you are supposed to like them, and gradually realize “Wow, they are assholes”.  Here, I was thinking that about everybody, all the time.

I'll give you this much credit: when I begin watching a new show and find all of the characters unlikable and have nobody I want to succeed, I immediately stop watching and ignore the show after that. There are a lot of shows I bailed on 10 minutes into the pilot.

[Kevin M.]

Cuoco was on Conan’s podcast and said she bought the rights to the book based only on the book’s cover. She knew nothing else about it, but was tired of Reese Witherspoon buying up the rights to everything else. 

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

[PGage]

That’s more a pathology than anything deserving even grudging credit. I’m a bit of a completist. I almost never walk out of a movie (I think I did once, but can’t remember what now) or a play, and once I start a book I finish it. On films and series accessed from home I give myself a little grace at the start to bail, but once I pass a certain point of no return, I ride it out to the bitter end.

With this show there were elements that made me think I would like it, and I was curious if the makers were purposely making characters unlikeable,nor if these were just people that I don’t like (a bit of both it turned out).

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[Tom Wolper]

On Sun, Dec 20, 2020 at 8:07 PM PGage <pga...@gmail.com> wrote:

That’s more a pathology than anything deserving even grudging credit. I’m a bit of a completist. I almost never walk out of a movie (I think I did once, but can’t remember what now) or a play, and once I start a book I finish it. On films and series accessed from home I give myself a little grace at the start to bail, but once I pass a certain point of no return, I ride it out to the bitter end.

With this show there were elements that made me think I would like it, and I was curious if the makers were purposely making characters unlikeable,nor if these were just people that I don’t like (a bit of both it turned out).

I treat episodic TV differently than movies or plays when it comes to a decision to bail. The only movie I can remember walking out on was Last Year at Marienbad and that was back in the 70s. I recently looked at the film's wikipedia page synopsis to see if I had made a mistake those many years ago and it turns out I had not. And for choosing more recent movies I don't take a chance - if it's not from a director I know and like or there is some other compelling reason to watch the movie I won't go.

Episodic TV is more ephemeral and demands less of an effort to access and to turn off. If a plot feels hackneyed or the dialogue doesn't ring true in any way I would rather quit watching as soon as possible.

[Paul Murray]

>  The only movie I can remember walking out on was Last Year at Marienbad and that was back in the 70s. I recently looked at the film's wikipedia page synopsis to see if I had made a mistake those many years ago and it turns out I had not.  

I had heard of this movie, but never seen it, so your comment made me check the Wiki entry too. And all I can say is ... wow,  thanks Tom for helping me dodge that bullet. Yikes.