Tuesday, 8pm. So we’re moving into a Palladino-less season. Predictions?
Mine: won’t be as much of a drop-off as the first year of Sorkin-less West Wing. But will be noticable. Also, Palladino(s) return for the finale.
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| Originally Posted by PodBayDoor Also, Palladino(s) return for the finale. |
I wouldn’t count on that part. They left over a matter of principle, not scheduling conflict.
I expect the writing to be camouflaged by increased celebrity cameos, musical guests and sex scenes. Just like Buffy 7.
If the level of writing and storyline is as good as it was in the episode where they let the new guy write, I’m in.
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| Originally Posted by Hammerhead I wouldn’t count on that part. They left over a matter of principle, not scheduling conflict. |
I’m not counting on it, per se, just making a prediction that there will be some sort of reconciliation before the finale.
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| Originally Posted by Jason P. Thompson If the level of writing and storyline is as good as it was in the episode where they let the new guy write, I’m in. |
Jane Espenson seemed like a good fit, but she didn’t last long. Anyone know the story there?
She achieved her goal of getting more work for Danny Strong and then left, probably because the CW wouldn’t give Rosenthal the money to keep her or maybe she left out of loyalty to the Palladinos.
I don’t think Espenson’s been on the show for over a year, so I don’t think the Palladinos’ exit had anything to do with it.
And, back on topic, wow that sucked.
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| Originally Posted by PodBayDoor And, back on topic, wow that sucked. |
Apparently, the producers forgot that the viewers watch for the good dialogue, and thus hired shitty writers. Have these writers seen the show? I could mimic Palladino writing better than that! (and, WTF was with the rocket thing?)
I’m going to withhold judgement until they get past the summer break. The board hasn’t been set for a new game yet.
The Paris subplot was spot-on. The Kirk/Taylor business was so-so. The Sookie/Michel bit was forced, though it was nice to see Michel’s famous post-it notes. The Twilight Zone rocket was an appropriately obscure reference, but the old show would never have stooped to spending so much time explaining it. As long as the writers remember that Lorelai is nobody’s role-model, we should be OK.
I tried this show for the first time today… And it was snarky and annoying. Booooooo.
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| Originally Posted by Domingo I tried this show for the first time today… |
Season 1, episode 1, right? Otherwise, what’s your point?
Back on topic, it should be noted that the Palladinos fumbled Season 6 pretty badly. If nobody told me there was a new showrunner this year, I might not have noticed.
Nope. Hopped in this season. The writers think they’re wittier than they are.
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| Originally Posted by Domingo Nope. Hopped in this season. The writers think they’re wittier than they are. |
Try starting at the beginning. It helps.
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| Originally Posted by Hammerhead Back on topic, it should be noted that the Palladinos fumbled Season 6 pretty badly. If nobody told me there was a new showrunner this year, I might not have noticed. |
Fumbled plot more than dialogue, IMHO. I think they peaked at season 2/3. (I think it was the first ep of Season 3 - the Luke dream - best season opener ever.)
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| Originally Posted by Belethedheliel Try starting at the beginning. It helps. |
Yes it does. Sucks that this new episode was off it’s game, but it was expected. Scenes went on for too long and the wit was out of place in some places.
The scene with Luke rambling was pretty good, as was the Kirk/traffic light thing. Probably the most “actiony” scene they’ve had on the show. Utilizing the capablities of the full outdoor set.
Oh… and I got the rocket reference right away. One of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes as well.
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| Originally Posted by Hammerhead The Kirk/Taylor business was so-so. |
Except that the entire town seemed to be pro-Taylor and his dumb idea.
Everybody’s characterizations seemed off to me except Paris and Michel.
Thinking about this a little bit more, a few things occurred to me: Rosenthal seems to be trying to throw lots of little odd references to jokes from previous episodes into the mix (Bop It, Michel’s Post-Its, a few other ones I’ve forgotten)–a strategy that, as far as I can remember, the Palladinos never traded in. They would throw in a goofy thing like Bop It because it was funny at the time–if they needed more funny at a later date, they went fresh, and never recycled their old throwaway stuff.
Then, maddeningly, Rosenthal ignored major established characterization. I mean, Lorelai throwing out all of Luke’s stuff? Didn’t Rosenthal see the episode where Rory tried to do the same thing, and was talked out of it by her mother? If he was going for a deliberate reversal, shouldn’t some lip service have been paid to Lorelai’s previous opinion regarding stuff-purging?
Most importantly, though, the zip has gone out of the dialogue. And as much as I’ve grown to like these characters, I have no interest in following their stories if the show doesn’t have the same characteristics that led me to start watching it in the first place.
I’ll give this a couple of more episodes to get back on track, then I’m out.
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| Originally Posted by PodBayDoor Thinking about this a little bit more, a few things occurred to me: Rosenthal seems to be trying to throw lots of little odd references to jokes from previous episodes into the mix (Bop It, Michel’s Post-Its, a few other ones I’ve forgotten)–a strategy that, as far as I can remember, the Palladinos never traded in. They would throw in a goofy thing like Bop It because it was funny at the time–if they needed more funny at a later date, they went fresh, and never recycled their old throwaway stuff. |
Yeah, the fans haven’t forgotten the Bop It, and we remember that the correct way for Lorelai to get over an old beau is to put a box of the stuff associated with him in the closet. In this case, perhaps the solution would have been to put all the stuff in the garage (since it holds too many boat memories, and there’s too much stuff for the closet).
It also would have made more sense to me if they had duplicated the road trip - like right after the Max breakup.
I agree the Luke scene toward the end was spot on. Otherwise, it was all “off” - everyone watching Taylor (and seemingly thinking it would go well), the dialogue (esp. the racquetball sequence).
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| Originally Posted by Pod Bay Door Most importantly, though, the zip has gone out of the dialogue. And as much as I’ve grown to like these characters, I have no interest in following their stories if the show doesn’t have the same characteristics that led me to start watching it in the first place. I’ll give this a couple of more episodes to get back on track, then I’m out. |
Yep.
Also, Luke sitting in his diner at night could have been expanded a little bit. Maybe a dolly out shot to show the gaping hole in the wall with him sitting in the middle of it all. Would have enhanced the final scene, I think.
The racketball stuff was pretty funny, if not a bit expected in the result.
Speaking of the diner, what was with Rory’s glee at relating the story of its destruction to Lorelai? In an episode full of out-of-character moments, that one took the cake.