Smash 1.1

[ericadawn16]

Smash 1.1

I've been really looking forward to this show. In some ways, it completely fulfilled my expectations. In other ways...

I haven't seen the second episode. I've been busy and I watched Castle instead on Monday.

First of all, I don't care for Debra Messing's character. I assume at some point that she and her husband really loved each other but we definitely can't see it now. Her husband doesn't appear to do anything. She seems to be the one making money in the family so he's double emasculated. Their son was barely characterized but a teenager which is, I suppose, why they want a baby so desperately. Not only are they scared at their teenager growing up and leaving them, but they think a baby will help the marriage.

stupid

Now I do love how we get behind the scenes and everything like that, but I also have to agree with my mom's assessment. She found it boring because all of the conflict was based off character interaction instead of the process itself. She wanted more difficulty coming up with songs or choreography or something like that. Instead, we get that he hates him and he hates her but she wants him and stuff like that...

Grade school politics...

Also, did anyone else catch the apparent theme of "Men are pigs"? They're either being sneaky, being a horn-dog or just generally trying to hold women back...
I think they realize this as well since the ad for upcoming episodes made sure to show men telling the women how great they are...

The musical numbers were amazing and I loved whenever Jack Davenport or Angelica Huston was on-screen. Hopefully, things will improve as the season goes on.

Comments

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

No spoilers, but I think you'll find Debra Messing's family more fleshed out in the 2nd ep.

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

That is exactly what I was going to comment and say! :D

[amerally.livejournal.com]

Well, I have a feeling the show will be much too soapy to delve very deeply into the creative process. I didn't really have any problems with the pilot, but ep 2 presented some issues for me that could greatly hinder my viewing pleasure going forward. I'll be interested in what you think of it.

I'm with you (as well as almost every critic out there) that the Julia's-family-storyline is the weakest.

Although I'm obviously biased, I think Jack's performance and the complexities of Derek are the best things about the show. Oh, and the musical numbers are really good (something I usually can't stand).

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

So, I've seen it earlier tonight, do tell about these issues...

I'll explain my issues later in a post.

[amerally.livejournal.com]

I think my main concerns can be boiled down to lack of complexity and too much unbelievability.

1. One of the key things in the pilot that caught my interest was the seeming complexity of Karen. She appears to be a fresh, naive young thing, but then she blew me away with the sophisticated and clever way she cockblocked Derek on the couch. Yes, that scene was hot, but more important, it established Karen as a player who was going to play, but play it her way. Along these same lines, she blew the executive audition team away with her talent as well as hutzpah of showing up as Not Marilyn. Perhaps it was just an anomaly, but she seemed to be a completely different person in ep 2. Timid, not only on the dance floor, but also so much so that she couldn't have the courage to ask to make a quick call/text to let Dev know she would be late. Granted, the pilot might have given us a glimpse of who Karen will be to hook our interest, and moved her back to square one in ep 2 to develop her toward that ideal. I don't know.

2. Dev completely overreacted to the dinner situation. Yes, it was important to his career but he and everyone at the dinner table would totally understand that someone competing for the LEAD IN A BROADWAY SHOW might have to cancel on dinner. If the writers are wanting to introduce conflict in their relationship, please make it a situation that would be believable taking place between two reasonable, intelligent adults. And, please, let's not turn Dev into a one-dimensional douche.

3. Julia's family situation is ridiculous. You mean to tell me that the son of a show biz marriage is almost out of high school, and they want to start all over again? Frank even brings their age issue up and it goes nowhere. And to top it off, their son (portrayed by a terrible actor) gives a completely unbelievable speech about how they shouldn't rob him of the sister they'll be raising basically while he's in college. That had to be one of the worst written and performed scenes I've ever seen.

Perhaps these are issues that will be rectified rather than become a trend. There are some great things about the show: Derek and Eileen's relationship, Derek's complexity, Ivy's complexity, the musical numbers (did I say that again??). I'm just worried that what could be an interesting, complex show could be ruined by network TV's tendencies toward simplicity, lack of believability and whimsical tone. I'm really hoping ep 2 is not the standard going forward.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

2. I wasn't too bothered by this since I thought it just further struck home how she was green and he was used to her being a waitress, not a real actress.

However, yes, I bet everyone else at the table would have been familiar with her predicament and understood.

3. My mom and I thought maybe he was the son from a previous marriage so this baby would be their first together. When I told her this wasn't the case, she didn't understand it either.

[amerally.livejournal.com]

Seen ep 3 yet? It was SO MUCH BETTER than 2! Yay.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

I haven't yet but i did see an ad for next monday with...Nick Jonas?

Should be interesting.