The First Five Rule

This summer has offered a wide array of new fare for the American viewer. When the average viewer chooses a summer show, they are usually looking for something light and fluffy, with enough depth to provide a compelling storyline, but nothing too deep and dark that might depress us. This summer, with current events escalating in the Middle East and Ukraine, we are especially in need of light, fun fare.

Surprisingly, all three of the summer shows I decided to try this year were on NBC network. During the year, I watch nothing that is aired by NBC, a network that seems to focus on reality/competition type shows and daytime soap operas. So I was pleasantly pleased by my own choices.

Jordan (Jill Flint), Topher (Ken Leung), and TC (Eoin Macken) in The Night Shift.

The most appealing shows to me, when I decided back in June, were The Night Shift, Welcome to Sweden, and Working the Engels. The cast of The Night Shift was the main motivating factor: Jill Flint of early Royal Pains, Ken Leung of Person of Interest and Lost, and Brendan Fehr who played Booth’s brother on Bones, just to name a few. Welcome to Sweden had Amy Poehler to recommend it, plus I have an ongoing love affair that started with my first Ikea experience 10 years ago. I was cautiously optimistic about Working the Engels, but thought I would give it a try. I loved Azura Skye in her brief role in Buffy Season 7, and Andrea Martin was a riot in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. However, as a daughter of a legal professional, I am always skeptical of shows that dabble in that field.

Generally, I use the first 5 episodes of a show as a sort of trial period. If I think I might be interested in show, but I’m still withholding judgement, then I decide to watch or not by the end of the 5th episode. My reasoning is as follows:

1) Pilot: the pilot episode, while made to give the network a taste of the whole show, often bears little resemblance to the ultimate product. Filmed six months or more in advance, the pilot often contains actors in main roles who never again appear (case in point: New Girl), and sets and motifs that disappear within the first month (case in point: Bones). I find the pilot of a show unrepresentative of the body of the show in general. For instance, New Girl‘s pilot was quite possibly the funniest bit of television I have ever seen, but the rest of the show has fallen off considerably from there, and now mainly consists of people yelling at each other. In the same vein, I often instruct Buffy virgins not to watch the pilot at all, or to watch it with an extremely open mind. The rest of the show is better, I promise.

2) The second episode is written after the show is picked up. The writers haven’t seen each other in a year, or have possibly never met before at all. They don’t know the actors yet. They’ve mostly forgotten what happened in the pilot. Generally, the second episode is written in a fit of fear of losing the job they just got without any sort of forward planning or writing towards a story arch. The second episode is treading water.

3) I find in general 3rd episodes are often surprisingly good. The third episode of a series may end up being the best episode of a show for a long, long while. For instance, “Water” was the 3rd episode of Battlestar Galactica,* “A Boy in a Tree” was 3rd in Bones, and “Walkabout” was 3rd in Lost. These episodes are all at least in my personal “Top 20” lists for these shows, if not “Top 10.” In Downton Abbey season 1, the third episode is the one with the visiting Turkish diplomat. Forgive my oblique description, but I’m attempting to avoid spoilers. Those of you who know, know what I’m talking about and it’s a pretty big deal. So why not stop after the 3rd episode? Because sometimes it’s too good, too good to be true. For instance, Once Upon A Time had an exceptional third episode in “Snow Falls,” but we all know how I ultimately felt about that show. No, unfortunately, 3 episodes is not yet an accurate barometer for long-term show success.

4) The fourth episode is interesting. Often, this is when the show writers are attempting to further a long-term story arch. Fourth episodes can be similar to the second in that it may again feel like treading water. Or it can be the foundation for something much bigger coming later in the season. A perfect example of this is Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fourth episode “Eye Spy.” At the time, Akela Amador seems interesting, and her eye technology disturbing, but we think at the end of the episode that everything is wrapped up. We are disturbed, but we sense no lasting consequences. Little do we know the importance of this episode until months later, in “T.R.A.C.K.S.” (Again, I am attempting to avoid spoilers, please forgive my obliqueness.)

5) Finally, we reach the fifth episode of the series. Now, the show is starting to find its rhythm. The writers have gotten to know each other, and gotten to know the actors a bit. The long term arches have been created, and you see an episode that contains both the episodic arch and marks along the continuing over-arching stories. We’re getting to know our characters better. We have an idea of where the writers are heading, where the story is going, and what the characters want. Now, we have a very good idea of what the show is going to be like for the rest of the season, if not the whole life of the series.

This drawn out process has become a fool-proof way for me to choose new TV shows to watch. Of course, the show will also need to get some Heart at some point, too!

Emma (Josephine Bornebusch) and Greg (Greg Poehler) in Welcome to Sweden.

The first of the summer verdicts are in, and the rest will follow soon. I am unashamed to say I’m loving The Night Shift. I watched the 8th episode and realised I had totally passed my 5 episode bench mark. The show had immediate heart, and I cared deeply for the majority of the characters within the first two episodes. I also really enjoy the themes about army versus civilian life, especially against a south-central Texan backdrop. I found myself questioning my own sanity for like it given its increasingly soap-opera type relationship networks, but I realised I should give myself a break: it’s a summer show! What better time to indulge in a little unimportant relationship intrigue on television? Mostly, I’m just sad there wasn’t an episode last week.

Jenna (Kacey Rohl), Ceil (Andrea Martin), Sandy (Azura Skye), and Jimmy (Benjamin Arthur) in Working the Engels.

I am also now three episodes into both Working the Engels and Welcome to Sweden. While cautiously optimistic about Welcome to Sweden, I think the 5th episode of Working the Engels will be my last. I am unimpressed and mainly disgusted. The show has already resorted to stripper pole humour. But I have hopes for the future of Welcome to Sweden, though I’m worried about the survival of a show that relies heavily upon subtitles. They are easy to read, however, and so far the show has me in stitches.

Final verdicts on the sitcoms in about two weeks! Look for my post.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Maintains Momentum and Castle Flounders While Bones Proves How Very Dead It Remains

*** SPOILER ALERT!!! This post contains spoilers for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1, Castle Season 6 Episode 17 ‘In the Belly of the Beast,’ Bones Season 9 generally, and especially Episode 17 ‘The Repo Man in the Septic Tank,’ and Person of Interest Season 3.***

The blue alien!

Well, it’s good to have some regular shows back for the last few weeks! I was happy to see that my prediction for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. proved out, and Skye really is going to live (for now). I was especially tickled by the lovely little morsel we were handed at the end of the episode, when it was revealed that May is somehow a mole for the people behind T.A.H.I.T.I. (Boy, these acronyms sure are a pain to type.) Since the mystery of Skye’s origin was revealed, I have always had a very strong suspicion that May could be Skye’s mother– or at least she may have been the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who dropped Skye off at the orphanage. This new development does not necessarily mean that my hunch is untrue, but it does leave me thinking about all the possible levels that could be going on. I’m sure you’re all wondering the same things: Who was May calling? Was it Agent Fury? (Does that mean Samuel L. Jackson will be on the show again at some point? Pretty please?) Or is May connected to the people who created T.A.H.I.T.I.? Plus, that blue alien in the tub… did anyone else think he looked a lot like one of the Frost Giants from the first Thor movie? Whatever the answers to these questions, I feel much more hopeful about the future of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and I hope we will get our answers.

Beckett (Stana Katic) being asked to go undercover.

Castle has also been puttering along, with an especially good episode last week to break the monotony of tiny Beckett insecurities that only last one episode and are always happily resolved. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a Castle fan and not giving up on the show– but the fact that the writers have been struggling for ideas this year has been quite apparent. When Kate wound up suddenly undercover in the most heart pounding, nail-biting Castle episode since she was hanging off a building by her fingers, I was excited. I think that bringing the show back to the conspiracy behind Beckett’s mother’s murder is the best thing they could have done. Ultimately, it’s what invests us in the characters in the show– not solving the one-off murders every week. Plus, TV seems to love a corrupt politician these days, and I say, ‘Keep ’em coming!’ (But for all you nay-sayers who think this means that ultimately the wedding is off? Forget about it! Too obvious. Rick and Kate are getting married, just like Booth and Bones, and the show’s issues will focus on the many other conflicts offered by the situation that is modern marriage.)

Speaking of Bones… I was really sad to hear that the show has been renewed for another season, and I mean that in the best way possible. Poor David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel, and all the other incredibly talented members of the cast who could be moving on with their careers! I mean, face it, the show is tired. It was starting to get tired two years ago, for goodness sake! Just think of Angela’s and Hodgins’ relationship story arc, and how they are now discussing having their SECOND CHILD. I’m begging the writers, don’t pull an X-Files on such a great show like Bones. Know when to renew, and when a great show has run its course. DON’T BEAT A DEAD HORSE. The show is so tired they’ve resorted to Latin stereotyping for the latest squintern. I mean, enough already!

New squintern Rudolfo Fuentes (Ignacio Serricchio) on Bones.

However, Person of Interest really lifted my spirits this week. It is so much fun watching Amy Acker do her thing in that show, and I was very pleased when it

Shaw (Sarah Shahi) and Root (Amy Acker) in Person of Interest, the show you aren’t watching but should be.

became clear that she would be playing a more regular role this season. I have to admit, I was very late to the PoI party, and only started watching the show this year. But now that I am caught up, I dare say it may be the best show currently on television. I have no idea what’s going to happen next, the writing is phenomenal, and the acting is always spot on. Plus, Person of Interest has the biggest Heart I’ve seen in a while. Also, the show dares to ask philosophical questions that haven’t been touched since Battlestar Galactica went off the air. Not surprising, coming from Bad Robot creators of Lost.

I’m very much looking forward to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s return next week, and seeing what will happen when Samaritan comes online. Also, I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve been enjoying the final episodes of how i met your mother quite a bit, but I’ll write another post on that at some point. Meanwhile, I’ve been catching up with Scandal, based on some advice from friends– gotta say, I’m not too impressed so far. These things, my secret guilty pleasure show, and more in future posts!