Roswell, New Mexico - Pilot (1x01) Review

DISCLAIMER: The review you are about to peruse may be chalk full of SPOILERS. So, this is your friendly neighbourhood spoiler alert to prepare you for that potential. You've been warned. Enjoy! 😊

It's been a hot minute since I wrote one of these reviews (what with school and everything) that I decided to ease myself in with the series premiere of Roswell, New Mexico (2019-). As a special disclaimer, I will say that the original series - inspired by the book series "Roswell High" - Roswell (RIP), which ran from 1999 to 2002 on the CW's predecessor (aka the WB) holds a place in my heart. It is, in my humble opinion, the golden standard from which this new series has to live up to. Now, I realize both series' are adaptations of the aforementioned book series; nevertheless, I maintain fond memories of Roswell of which this series pales in comparison to.

I can't say I held high hopes for Roswell, New Mexico (RNM) upon learning about yet another potential reboot of a childhood favourite series of mine. I don't subscribe to the train of thought that believes this is a way to get a new generation into a series that a previous generation has loved. It's B.S. The earlier rendition is still out there and - with the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and the litany of other online sources available for television viewing - readily accessible, in some form or another. So, I did not have high hopes for this series to begin with.

That being said, I was semi-excited to see how the showrunner and writers were going to take this series when I realized it was premiering tonight. I expected a solid nod to its predecessor while still treading new ground, RNM being set roughly ten years after the previous series ended - aging up its main characters to adults. And although this does provide new breeding ground - plus an additional political element regarding il/legal immigrants - sadly, RNM did not meet (or beat) my expectations.

Let's begin with the cast. Jeanine Mason is lovely as Liz, who is returning home to Roswell to honour a sister that has been dead ten years now. My issues with this series is through no fault of her's, and I hope this show improves if only for her sake because I really feel this is a character she could get attached to. Nathan Parsons, our male lead, plays Max, an alien and police deputy who may have had some part in Rosa's (Liz's sister) death - though a secret here is only hinted at the end of the episode. Parsons here acts better with his eyes than he does the rest of him; there is no gravitas here, and I really can't help but compare him to Jason Behr because Behr played Max much better. Time will only tell if Parsons improves.

With regards to the rest of the cast, Michael Vlamis as Michael holds his weight as the cocky, macho alien. He's not Brendan Fehr, and I'm a little disappointed nothing is going to go on with him and Maria, but I recognize that really is just me holding onto Roswell more than anything. Michael Trevino isn't awful as Kyle Valenti - I can't quite tell yet if he's nuanced enough for me to see him outside of The Vampire Diaries, but I can give him the benefit of the doubt. Same can be said about Tyler Blackburn as Alex; he's not Colin Hanks, but I didn't see enough of him to gather much of an opinion. Maria (portrayed by Heather Hemmens) was more of a blip than anything, so I'll move on to my biggest cast issue.

I never thought I would see the day where I would miss Katherine Heigl as Isabel. This isn't any big thing about thinking she's got an ego or whatever, it's more that I really didn't like Isabel much in the original series, especially in season three when she had far too much storyline that it pulled from Max and Liz. RNM has me missing Heigl's Isabel. That's just because Lily Cowles is just not good as Isobel. Now, I've never knowingly seen her in anything else, so I can't speak to her acting talents elsewhere, but in this pilot episode she was not good. Parsons wasn't great, but he had his moments; Cowles simply does not read as believable in her part. All I can say with regards to this is complete miscasting opportunity right here.

Moving on to the episode as a whole. I found there to be a very large overuse of close-ups. When I'm sitting in front of my TV - which is big enough - and I'm wishing I could back up to get away from the largeness of the faces on the screen, it's time to shoot some medium shots. Maybe I just came fresh out of seeing Aquaman, with its beautiful tracking shots and solid use of the camera, that I just wasn't ready for amateur cinematography, but that's how these excessive close-ups felt. Plus, the angles were rarely well-utilized. This is network television, I expect something a little more professional appearing.

Aside from that what bothered me was the overall story and dialogue. The dialogue felt incredibly disjointed, as if it would come out of nowhere - or, at least, it did not feel organic. The progression of what characters were saying did not come across as altogether realistic. Yes, I know, this is not a real situation, this is television, but the quality of the dialogue can still feel realistic. I'm not asking for some French New Wave here, just organic dialogue that has a natural-seeming progression.

Which leads me to my concluding point having to do with the overall storyline. This, really, is more of an extension of the inorganic dialogue the pilot episode appeared to be plagued with in that the storylines seemed accelerated. By this, I mean something like the jump from Liz discovering what Max is to just being completely okay with it. Or everyone in the town hating Liz and her family, but not getting all uppity when she dances it out with Maria at the end. And Kyle going from being a surgeon to informing the military - and them just letting him into their top secret facility. These things only make sense when there's a progression; they can't just be thrown in and resolved without issue, life doesn't work that way - and I don't want Surrealism either.

Going into this episode, I was cautiously optimistic about its potential. Having now completed its premiere episode, I'm bleakly hoping it improves, but not holding my breath. I'll give it two more episodes to catch me, to see if it irons out its missteps - something I did not give to the likes of the Charmed reboot (*cough*atrocity*cough*) - but I expect this one to not meet my standards. At that point, I really will just move back to my Roswell DVDs.

Anyways, I give this episode a 5 out of 10, and hope there are Roswell newbies out there that get a bigger kick out of this than I did - even with the Crashdown familiarity.

No soundbites from this episode stood out to me. This is Miranda signing off.

The Blacklist 1.08 Review: Who's Her Daddy?

For all those that have yet to watch yesterday night’s episode of The Blacklist, entitled ‘General Ludd (No. 109)’, now would be a good time to do so before proceeding ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

This series is amazing. Despite being a show about the FBI capturing criminals, although notorious criminals it’s not exactly a unique idea, this series always seems to be able to hold my focus all the way through the episode. It’s great because I have yet to think ‘when will this be over already’, and am more often thinking ‘it’s over already?’. Sure, it has its weaknesses that it eventually needs to get over, but nothing that’s really holding this series back.

Last night’s episode introduced to us Elizabeth Keen’s father – albeit adopted father – none other than Sheriff Valenti (that’s a Roswell reference for all those that don’t know). While I had thought he was supposed to be a criminal, perhaps it was who she thought her biological father was. But then, the man did know Reddington, so obviously there was something in his past. The fact that Keen’s father wanted to tell her something that Reddington refused to let her know inferred to the fact that Reddington may be her actual father. I was convinced of that, mostly, from the start, but then the young woman Red decided to search up in that violent criminals database confused me. She could either be his actual daughter, or someone else on his blacklist. This series really keeps going back and forth on the whole daughter situation, but I’m still hoping Red is Keen’s biological father, otherwise his connection to her seems a little loose.

There were a lot of great moments to this episode. I absolutely adored when Red went over to the kids swing and began swinging, such a childlike thing to do. Also, I enjoyed when Keen entered the soccer mom’s garage looking for Red and she was making up counterfeit money. That entire interaction between Red and Tom was also quite intriguing, although it was difficult to tell when Tom recognized Red as who he was, or just recognized another criminal with veiled threats against him. Further evidence that makes me second-guess whether or not Tom’s a criminal, because honestly, why would Red say he was if he wasn’t. This episode did bring up an intriguing criminal organization that wanted the middle class to succeed over the one percent. They definitely had a moral desire for righteousness, but not a great way of going about bringing it. But probably my favourite moment in this week’s episode was the subtle moment between Donald and Keen when she gets the call that her father has passed away, and his face look’s like his heart is breaking for her. I really love the idea of these two together, eventually. They fit much better than her and her husband. While I did enjoy the moments her and her husband shared last week, and in the beginning of this week’s, I just think Ressler is better suited for her, being that they both work in the same unit.

All in all, this was a really good episode. We got more evidence to both support the fact Red may be Keen’s father, as well as clues to him possibly not. We were able to meet the man who raised her and helped her become who she is today, and were given clues to the possibility her husband isn’t who he says he is. Although Keen told Red all they were was partners last week, we were still able to see a nice human moment shared between them a few times this week. There is a lot of great back and forth between these two characters that I really enjoy. I just can’t believe we’re already up to episode eight; soon we’re going to have to take a break if they don’t split up these episodes. A Monday without The Blacklist is a thought that makes me sad.

My rating: 8 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“The you’ll just have to find another criminal to talk to Elizabeth Keen and make fun of Agent Ressler.” – Reddington explains to Cooper.

“I have no interest in cases I have no interest in.” – Reddington states.

Okay, I’m all caught up from yesterday now. I’m going to go take a shower and eat something while I wait for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to come on. After that it’ll probably be Trophy Wife, followed by The Originals and Supernatural. As I said in my statement last week, I will no longer be reviewing New Girl; it got the chopping block this season with me.

Revenge 3.02 Review: Sometimes it's Best to Forgive

Anyone that hasn’t watched last night’s episode of Revenge, entitled ‘Sin’, should go do so now, otherwise this blog may spoil the contents. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

I’m going to keep this review brief, as it’s five in the morning, and I’m exhausted. So, I’m going to just hit the highlights, and go from there.

Quite possibly my favourite character in this episode was Charlotte. Christa B. Allen has grown so much just in the evidence of the last two episodes. As a strong, young woman, she is appearing very empowered, and much deeper than the whiny brat of the last two seasons. I very much approve of this strong willed, quite better dress young woman. And just her confession that her guilt for Declan’s death is what she believes caused her miscarriage was rather breathtaking in execution.

For the first time in Revenge, I honestly felt bad for the gentleman being taken down in this episode. By all accounts, he appears to have tried to make as deep amends for his actions as he can, and when Emily struck him over the head I felt a sinking feeling in my gut. I so strongly wished she’d been able to detract her revenge scheme in time, but it was too late. I’m just glad she, though too late, felt that this red X was wrongfully enacted, and I look forward to her attempts to exonerate the man in future episodes, because I honestly liked this character.

The way they’re writing Jack this season, I’m not sure I’m happy about. I don’t really like how he’s reacted to finding out he did not marry his childhood sweetheart, and that she’s actually this revenge-seeking woman. It doesn’t feel genuine, it feels like his emotions keep getting tossed from one end of the spectrum to the other, as if he’s a hormonal woman. To me, it doesn’t feel like the writing is doing a good job of keeping Jack around in this series. I mean, what’s the point of keeping him here, if this is all he’s doing? I do hope he has more scenes with Charlotte, because those were good, but otherwise, he needs better development.

Patrick this episode was a little strange. I understood, but didn’t like the way he closed the door on Emily. I’m sure his mother has imparted her dislikes of the woman on him, but that’s a woman who tried to give him hush money to stay away. Why would he honestly take her opinion of people to heart? Also, what is with the incestuous vibes she often gives off to him? That relationship doesn’t seem like it’s going to end well, they’ve got a rather strange connection. It makes for interesting television, but it’s odd nonetheless. I did, however, like the dinner table exchange between them where he gets up to leave, and she puts shame on her family for their shortcomings toward Patrick.

One thing I really didn’t like about this episode was the way they’re writing Aiden, even more so than the way they’re writing Jack. I know the showrunner bumped him up to a regular last season, but there’s really no necessity in having him around. This is really just away to keep the actor, when it’s not at all genuine to the story, or the characters. Especially when the way he left last season gave me the impression he desperately wanted to get to Emily, not back at her. Remember Aiden, you’re the one that killed her mentor, and she’s not too handy with forgiveness.

Otherwise, the momentum of the episode wasn’t bad, as usual Nolan was awesome, I just almost wish there was a little more of him, and a little less Victoria. Please get rid of this Aiden scheme and I’ll be happy, as well as giving Jack an actual storyline. I really liked the guy in the first season, and as a fan of Roswell, I don’t want the actor gone.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

I’m off to bed now, to continue rereading the first Harry Potter book. Tune in tomorrow for reviews of Bones, How I Met Your Mother, Sleepy Hollow, and The Blacklist, not necessarily in that order.