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kate_nepveuWe watched several episodes of Homicide over the past couple of weeks. The airing order and the order on the DVDs appear to differ by quite a bit, but here are quick comments on : "Hate Crimes," "Thrill of the Kill," "Heartbeat," "Sniper" (parts one and two), "For God and Country (2)," and "Full Moon."
"Hate Crimes": young man killed by skinheads because they think he's gay. It turns out he wasn't, to the relief of his virulently homophobic father (the actor who plays Locke on Lost). Interesting in light of (a) later events in the series, that I happen to be aware of, and (b) general unconscious prejudice stuff, as the father absolutely fails to realize that if the skinheads hadn't shared his prejudice, his son would be alive. Also struck me as pretty honest in the characters' reactions: "it shouldn't matter, but it does."
"Thrill of the Kill": sniper going up the Interstate. Repeating the cheap trick of mistaken identity (Gee's daughter, the real shooter) might be structural, but it's still a cheap trick.
"Heartbeat": overly-cutesy tribute to Edgar Allan Poe.
"Sniper": a two-parter about random sniper shootings. Tense, and Megan Russert gets a great moment in the second part with the interrogation; I was absolutely in agony when Pembleton and Bayliss were coming in and out, because I wasn't sure at first they understood what she was doing or, later, that they weren't disrupting the rhythm. Chad says he doesn't recall this being mentioned when John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo were attacking the DC area, probably because the show was never really that well-known.
Also, wow, is that higher-up guy (Col. George Barnfather, IMDB tells me) an asshole. If he's got redeeming characteristics, they were in an episode I didn't see.
"For God and Country (2)": second part of a cross-over with Law and Order. The pacing of the first half or so is absolutely killed by the cross-over nature; and later, even after they get the groove back, you can still see the bits they put in to try and sum up the characters for L&O viewers. Cross-overs: too much baggage to be dealt with, unless it's fanfic where the baggage is the point.
"Full Moon": a somewhat light episode set at a motel; despite the relative lightness, the mystery nevertheless goes unsolved, which struck me as a little odd. I got no clue either, though I hope it wasn't the Native American guy. I wonder if the writers knew whodunnit.
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no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 04:39 am (UTC)I didn't get "Full Moon" either, though a lot of people adore it. I think it was written by Eric Overmyer, who is also a playwright. I've seen some of his plays, and they are overly cutesy.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 01:49 pm (UTC)My enjoyment of the thrill-killers episode is the guest star, and the helplessness of the passive brother. You're right, though; the narrative tricks are pretty lame.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 02:41 pm (UTC)This was a point where having recently read the book was cool-- the real cop that Bayliss is (largely) based on was on the Quick Response Team for a few years, and did the Mayor's security detail as a short-cut to Homicide. It's cool to see that tidbit show up in the show.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:27 pm (UTC)That's what's on the back of the SWAT guys' vests in the episodes where they appear.
There's also a shot in an earlier episode of Bayliss at the firing range, when the whole unit goes to re-qualify, and it has him basically putting his second shot through the hole made by the first. Frank, on the other hand, barely wings the target, which is nice foreshadowing for an episode a couple of seasons down the line.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 07:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 02:02 pm (UTC)"Hate Crimes" is one of my favorite episodes, I know it by heart. I love that they revisit an old case and a whole heap of history. There's great material for Kay Howard and for Kellerman and Meldrick. I like the Thanksgiving bits too. Great use of musical montage (which is often done poorly, just not usually on Homicide).
It's also got guest appearances by Terry O'Quinn and Dean Winters which are always a good thing.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:02 pm (UTC)I like Russert on the job, but I never bought her affair with what's-his-face, the Baldwin brother.
I didn't _dislike_ "Full Moon"; I'm getting to appreciate Meldrick more and more as the show goes on. But it was a bit odd.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 11:04 am (UTC)I don't think he does have any redeeming characteristics. At least, I can't recall any episodes in which he was shown in a positive light.
That's part of why I was surprised by the episode of The Wire where some of the higher-ups turn out to be good guys, in their own way.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 01:45 pm (UTC)Yeah, on Homicide he's just a big ole ass-covering twerp.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:29 pm (UTC)Orlando, right?
I couldn't decide if it was the same actor or not, and I'm too lazy to look these things up.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:30 pm (UTC)Except I can't remember which character that is.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:07 pm (UTC)But, no, asshole.
How does the book treat the higher-ups?
no subject
Date: 2006-06-12 05:30 pm (UTC)Not much.
There are a number of stories about pressure being put on the unit for various reasons, which aren't terribly complimentary to the higher officers, but they really aren't characters in the book.
Barnfather
Date: 2007-01-10 11:24 am (UTC)Re: Barnfather
Date: 2007-08-06 06:29 am (UTC)