Yes, there’s another new guy on Inside Pulse. And it’s me. So, Hi – my name is Raffi and I’m the newest shows reviewer here on Prime Time Pulse. You’ll see me around here a couple of times a week, with reviews of several shows. And since I’m the new guy, it’s only appropriate to start with of this season’s new shows.
Studio 60 is starting to resemble a soap opera, with the slow pace the storylines have been progressing lately. Ever since the show came back from its holiday break, they’ve been following the same week, with two episodes (at least, I haven’t seen the previews for next week) devoted to one evening Harriet’s award dinner and the surrounding events. The multiple storylines continue to be all over the place, some of them working and some are cringe worthy.
In a series that has too many relationships storylines going at once, only one seems to be working and drawing real interest, and that’s Matt and Harriet. Their relationship is so dysfunctional, yet, like most dysfunctional relationships, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. This week Matt also showed, for the first, time that he’s not just a wacky jealous type he actually cares about Harriett and has deep feelings for her. Seeing him lost for words on the stage, after he heard that Harriett is considering sleeping with someone else, made him look more vulnerable and gave us an idea as to why Harriett was with him all those years.
The Danny and Jordan storyline just doesn’t seem to be working. After going all “crazy stalker” on her, Danny seemed ready to give up after spending the night on the roof with her (memo to Sorkin: Getting locked out on the roof? Couldn’t you find a bigger TV cliché?). But then, all seems right as Jordan just falls for him and sends him the message using one of her corny magic tricks. Hopefully with the relationship at a different level, it will also get better, storyline-wise.
And the third relationship is Tom and Lucy. I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy Tom as that innocent, inexperienced, nice country boy. He’s been in Hollywood for a few years. He’s been one of the stars of the show (“The Big Three”) for a long time, and we’re supposed to think he still doesn’t know how to handle himself on a simple date, even if it’s just a fake date? He somewhat redeemed himself later, when he told Lucy she’s too low on the totem pole. That showed that he does know something about how showbiz and Hollywood work. So please, make him more mature.
The two other main plots that didn’t involve relationship are Jack’s business dealings with Mr. Lee and the Simon/Darius “Black off”. Those are good storylines; however I was disappointed that Sorkin decided to put the battle with the FCC on the back burner and instead turn Jack’s storyline into a family story. The FCC storyline was vintage Sorkin, reminding people of the atmosphere on The West Wing, but it faded away too quickly. I’d love to see more stuff like that and less relationship drama, because that’s what Sorkin does best sharp political and ideological stories.
Hopefully, that’s the last we’ve seen of that specific week. However, reading the short one line description released for next week it seems like the show will continue to focus on relationships rather than TV and media. That’s too bad, as the premise for the show was different and I feel it’s losing its focus. But Still, Sorkin knows how to write and he has an amazing cast, so he somehow manages to make it all work.
