Sci-2 Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 As Gina would say, time for a hot cup of Tea Leoni... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoth Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Caught Ep 1 last night. I'll give it a couple of more tries. But, I thought it was sorta "Meh". I'm hoping they just need to find their sea legs so to speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sci-2 Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 Caught Ep 1 last night. I'll give it a couple of more tries. But, I thought it was sorta "Meh". I'm hoping they just need to find their sea legs so to speak. I liked it, but I agree it needs more "oomph". I don't know if adding the conspiracy angle was worthwhile. This show might end up splitting itself between trying to be Alias and trying to be West Wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecan Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 So I'm going to rant about this a little bit. I just watched the first episode and I can already tell it isn't going to work. Actually, I predicted this yesterday when I saw the commercial for it while watching the Seahawks-Broncos, which was a much closer game than it should have been, though it was totally worth going into overtime just to see the expression on Peyton Manning's face when the Seahawks scored. But anyway, when I saw that commercial, my gut instinct was that there was no way this show would work. Right off the bat, two things stuck out: 1) Tea Leoni in the lead which I think is an horrendously bad idea and 2) the title "Madam Secretary" implies that this show is mostly all about one character. I'll concede that I could be wrong about my initial impressions. But, after watching the pilot episode what I'm not wrong about is this: it's poorly written and it's boring. And actually, I think I'm right about my initial impressions. Tea Leoni brings nothing to the table as a performer. She's just blaaaaahhhhh. There's nothing about her as a performer I find at all interesting, especially in this role. Congratulations, you can play the part of a woman without one trace of femininity. And there's no subtlety, no impression of an inner dialogue in a character that is a key player in Washington and one of the most powerful people in the world. And as far as the show being entirely about the one character - go ahead and check that box as well. She's in every scene. It's suffocating. If there is any chance for this show to succeed, the writers need to mix it up and allow secondary characters space to grow, which I'm sure will happen to some extent. But, I don't doubt for a second that this show is first and foremost about the heroic Secretary of State, which is just a bad idea. I'm really pretty annoyed at this show. I loved The West Wing and I love the idea of a drama that continues in that tradition. I mean, The West Wing was puffery and not at all realistic, but at the very least it was a fun ensemble depiction of the work done at the highest level of government, which inherently lends itself to powerful drama. But when a piece of garbage like Madam Secretary gets made and then gets cancelled (which I think is inevitable), I know it's going to be years before anyone ventures into that space again, which is too bad, because it's a great backdrop for characters and storytelling. End of rant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorral Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 The writing -- the lines -- beyond awful. It won't get better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polishgenius Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I haven't seen this and I probably won't given the word of mouth, but isn't it a bit of a gamble to be making a show that's basically the thing Veep has been taking the piss out of for a couple of years already? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fionwe1987 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I haven't seen this and I probably won't given the word of mouth, but isn't it a bit of a gamble to be making a show that's basically the thing Veep has been taking the piss out of for a couple of years already?Veep doesn't invalidate all political shows, I don't think.Frankly, this could become a great show. If they drastically improve things, remove the idiot conspiracy theories, etc., you're left with a show that looks at world events through the eyes of the office of the Secretary of State. Not a half bad premise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecan Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Veep doesn't invalidate all political shows, I don't think.Frankly, this could become a great show. If they drastically improve things, remove the idiot conspiracy theories, etc., you're left with a show that looks at world events through the eyes of the office of the Secretary of State. Not a half bad premise. I dunno. I would just scrap it. At a very basic level, this sort of show should be an ensemble drama. The State Department is an interesting backdrop, but (in my opinion) the Secretary of State is pretty much the least interesting person in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Wolf Smith Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I'll concede that I could be wrong about my initial impressions. But, after watching the pilot episode what I'm not wrong about is this: it's poorly written and it's boring. And actually, I think I'm right about my initial impressions. Tea Leoni brings nothing to the table as a performer. She's just blaaaaahhhhh. There's nothing about her as a performer I find at all interesting, especially in this role. Congratulations, you can play the part of a woman without one trace of femininity. And there's no subtlety, no impression of an inner dialogue in a character that is a key player in Washington and one of the most powerful people in the world. And as far as the show being entirely about the one character - go ahead and check that box as well. She's in every scene. It's suffocating. If there is any chance for this show to succeed, the writers need to mix it up and allow secondary characters space to grow, which I'm sure will happen to some extent. But, I don't doubt for a second that this show is first and foremost about the heroic Secretary of State, which is just a bad idea. When she was young, she brought great legs, a nice figure, and sultry voice, with the ability to sound reasonably intelligent, when speaking w/ intelligent people at least for short periods of time. She has never been a really been a "lead actress" in the sense that her acting carried anything. She has been the "lead" in a group of actors. While she still looks really good for 50ish, her voice is raspy and annoying. As to the show, It was ok. Not something that I really will watch, but that is the kind of thing that usually stays on the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecan Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 When she was young, she brought great legs, a nice figure, and sultry voice, with the ability to sound reasonably intelligent, when speaking w/ intelligent people at least for short periods of time. She has never been a really been a "lead actress" in the sense that her acting carried anything. She has been the "lead" in a group of actors. While she still looks really good for 50ish, her voice is raspy and annoying. As to the show, It was ok. Not something that I really will watch, but that is the kind of thing that usually stays on the air. She was a bit better when she was younger. I remember she was in some comedy where she played this hot party girl that was kind of funny. Sort of. And you're right, she looks darn good for her age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoth Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I liked it, but I agree it needs more "oomph". I don't know if adding the conspiracy angle was worthwhile. This show might end up splitting itself between trying to be Alias and trying to be West Wing. Yeah, the conspiracy thing was overkill. I, too, was hoping for a "West Wing" sort of tale. But, I'm afraid you're right that it will be a ill conceived mash up if they're not careful. Although, if the Chief of Staff is involved, that's a good way to nail him. I already hate him. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sci-2 Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 Tea Leoni has an awesome voice. Love that huskiness. My god, her in Bad Boys? Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fionwe1987 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Yeah her voice is lovely. Hardly a reason for a whole show to exist though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Wolf Smith Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 She was a bit better when she was younger. I remember she was in some comedy where she played this hot party girl that was kind of funny. Sort of. And you're right, she looks darn good for her age. IIRC that was Herman's Head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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