Change Your Image
ceallenb
Reviews
NCIS: Los Angeles (2009)
Horrible Crap
I cannot stand the original NCIS, so I had absolutely zero expectations when I watched NCIS LA. I think just about everything negative about this show has already been written, so I'm not going to rehash all the other points that have already been made. I did however want to add one thing I don't think anyone has mentioned yet: Just what is the deal with the G. Callen "I don't know my own first name" subplot? How the hell do you become a federal agent without a first name? Did they skip that in the hiring process? Of all the shows that need spin offs, NCIS definitely not one of them. How does a show like this even get picked up?
Trauma (2009)
Why not just bring back Third Watch?
I was a big Third Watch fan and as a result I had low expectations for this show, and I was right. The fact that the show focuses only on the paramedics gives it a shred of originality, but honestly they should have just brought back Third Watch (which only ran for six years and ended before it's time). A mix of new cast and perhaps some of the original cast would have drawn new viewers and probably some old fans like me. All they would have had to do was to focus on the paramedic/fire aspect more than the police if that's the angle they want. But Trauma is nothing but another cheap rehashing of an old idea with an uninspired cast. Don't waste your time with it. Go rent Third Watch on DVD instead.
Wanted (2005)
Surprisingly Good
At first I thought this show was going to be a cheap rip off of The Shield, but I was pleasantly surprised. I normally would not be into a show like this (see my NCIS rantings) but Wanted had the unique idea of capturing one of LA's 100 most wanted criminals in each episode as the backdrop for all their stories. Unlike a lot of other crime shows in which the focus is usually "how can we find new ways/reasons for someone to be murdered?" I was on board from the first episode. At times it did try to channel some of the shock value violence that was hallmarked by The Shield, and The Wire to a lesser extent, but it played fairly well on Wanted. I was also surprised how well the role of the team leader was portrayed by Gary Cole, who I would not have expected in a role like that. Some of the other characters weren't quite as likable right out of the gate, but could have been if they'd had the time to develop. I can hope maybe Wanted will be given another chance in the future, but if not, I still look forward to owning the DVDs.
Conviction (2006)
I'll stick with Law & Order
I was finally able to catch a few reruns of Conviction, and I can see why it didn't last. I wasn't expecting it to be exactly like Law & Order, but I did kinda expect it to at least try to be realistic. I never had a problem with Alex Cabot on SVU but for some reason, I absolutely hated her in this. Her character seemed incredibly arrogant and egotistical, and many of the other characters were exactly the same way. Just see Eric Balfour's character threatening a guy with his prosecutorial powers in a men's room. "You see this badge?! It says D.A.!" I was rolling on the floor from that one. This show could not have had less to do with the criminal justice system. The breakdown goes sort of like this: 20% crimes, 70% their personal lives, 10% that hot brunette (who ended up playing a detective on the original L&O for a few episodes) banging her boss. If I wanted to see crap like this, I'd watch bad daytime soaps. Dick Wolf should be ashamed to have his name attached to this.
NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service (2003)
Am I the only one who hates this show?
As a prior Marine, I know what NCIS actually does, and chasing terrorists through the streets of Washington DC is not it. If they were trying to make this a serious show, they failed horribly. I gave the show a chance because I was intrigued by the two part JAG episode in which it was introduced, but on it's own it fails to hold water. It basically became "how can we make JAG more like CSI?" Half the time they are investigating crimes that would be under FBI jurisdiction (notibly terrorism). The absolute worst part is the characters which are so stereotypical and one-dimensional:
You got your hard ass burnout-cop leader (Gibbs). Your chauvinistic frat boy (DiNozzo). Your sexy but-I'm-still-tough token female agent (Todd, now Ziva). Your lost-in-the-sauce FNG (McGee). Your techie nerd (Abby).
On the plus side, I have to admit I like Ducky. He's pretty cool. If only they could write his character off the show and move him to CSI.
Those like me who are familiar with the military will probably not like this show. Everyone else will (apparently) love it.