Post by davnee on May 27, 2007 21:08:22 GMT -5
This episode is not bad. It has some good banter, but I just can't give it more than a 6 because it still feels bland compared to earlier seasons. They try in this episode to get back to the old formula, but the tone isn't quite right.
Some observations:
- I agree that Cybill does not look as good this season. Bad hair. Bad makeup. A really bad dress in this episode. Loss of the filter. They all conspire with father time and the fatigue factor to take away some of her allure. But I'd add to that the physical direction she is getting. Maddie clomps around alot during this season. I attribute this in part to the over-stoogification of the show during this season. I really miss the physical slickness and grace of Maddie. I hate the way she kicks open the car door in this episode or falls butt first into the wet concrete. The moments of physical comedy this season are less charming because they are less of a counterpoint, less of a send-up of who Maddie is day in and day out. The Season 5 Maddie is a klutz and a yukker on a daily basis, which makes the slapstick just feel redundant.
- The "pals" theme doesn't bother me in theory, because it is exactly the kind of stupid thing Maddie would come up with to try and rationalize and control her relationship with David. And David comes up with the response I'd expect with lampooning her and with trying to infuriate her by claiming he knows her better than anyone. The accounting of her intimacy track record is great. But I don't know if it is the delivery of the actors, the direction they are getting, or a lack of commitment by the writers, probably all the above, but the beloved formula falls flat. Maddie never does quite sell the denial of her true feelings. David never does quite sell his knowing, insouciant sabotage of Maddie's house of cards. And Mount St. Maddie never does quite blow. I think the scene where Maddie talks about them being on the middle rung of a ladder with no way off and no idea where they will end up is very telling. It's like they are admitting that the passion is gone and that the relationship needs to find a new footing. Season 5 would fumble around looking for that footing, never commiting itself to recapturing the sexual tension, and it didn't take a genius to predict that the "pals with a past" footing would be a ratings loser.
- I hate, hate, hate the bicycle race. More of the gratuitous slapstick that was typical of Season 5.
Some observations:
- I agree that Cybill does not look as good this season. Bad hair. Bad makeup. A really bad dress in this episode. Loss of the filter. They all conspire with father time and the fatigue factor to take away some of her allure. But I'd add to that the physical direction she is getting. Maddie clomps around alot during this season. I attribute this in part to the over-stoogification of the show during this season. I really miss the physical slickness and grace of Maddie. I hate the way she kicks open the car door in this episode or falls butt first into the wet concrete. The moments of physical comedy this season are less charming because they are less of a counterpoint, less of a send-up of who Maddie is day in and day out. The Season 5 Maddie is a klutz and a yukker on a daily basis, which makes the slapstick just feel redundant.
- The "pals" theme doesn't bother me in theory, because it is exactly the kind of stupid thing Maddie would come up with to try and rationalize and control her relationship with David. And David comes up with the response I'd expect with lampooning her and with trying to infuriate her by claiming he knows her better than anyone. The accounting of her intimacy track record is great. But I don't know if it is the delivery of the actors, the direction they are getting, or a lack of commitment by the writers, probably all the above, but the beloved formula falls flat. Maddie never does quite sell the denial of her true feelings. David never does quite sell his knowing, insouciant sabotage of Maddie's house of cards. And Mount St. Maddie never does quite blow. I think the scene where Maddie talks about them being on the middle rung of a ladder with no way off and no idea where they will end up is very telling. It's like they are admitting that the passion is gone and that the relationship needs to find a new footing. Season 5 would fumble around looking for that footing, never commiting itself to recapturing the sexual tension, and it didn't take a genius to predict that the "pals with a past" footing would be a ratings loser.
- I hate, hate, hate the bicycle race. More of the gratuitous slapstick that was typical of Season 5.