TV reviews

A complete archive of The Medium is Not Enough’s reviews of TV programmes since 2005

Canadian TV

Review: The Border 3×1

13 October 2009 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

The Border

In Canada: Thursdays, 9pm, CBC
In the US: Acquired by Ion Television
In the UK: FX probably

Firstly, as always, don’t go to the CBC web site if you want to have any surprises this season. They give the whole game away.

Secondly, where were we? Oh yes. Back at the end of the second season of The Border – Canada’s answer to 24 and Spooks in which its immigrations service, ICS, finds itself having to deal with nasty Muslim terrorists, and even worse, Americans – lots of people got blown up and shot. Maybe. We were left in a “Dynasty wedding scenario”, waiting to see who survived.

But it’s time for the third season so clearly we have to reveal how many cast members can withstand a fusillade of automatic weapons fire at point-blank range with near-zero cover to protect them.

Anyone want to guess if the number is greater than zero?

Continue reading “Review: The Border 3×1”

The CarusometerA Carusometer rating of 2

Third-episode verdict: Stargate Universe

12 October 2009 Rob Buckley 5 Comments

In the US: Fridays, 9/8c , SyFy
In the UK: Tuesdays, 8pm, Sky1/Sky1 HD

We’re three episodes into Stargate Universe (if we count the launch movie as a two-parter, which we do since the producers do), so time for a third-episode verdict.

On the whole, not bad. I’m not feeling enthused by it, but coming out of episode three – which actually made a brave stab at not being either Stargate Anything or Battlestar Galactica – I’m feeling pleasantly surprised by the whole experience.

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What have you been watching this week (w/e October 9)

9 October 2009 Rob Buckley 12 Comments

So, there’s been lots on tele this week – what have you been watching?

As mentioned on Monday, I’ve give up on quite a few new shows this week, including Eastwick, The Forgotten and Mercy, as well as – after nine years – Smallville. Since then, I’ve also decided to give up on:

  1. Hank, on the general grounds the second episode was excruciatingly bad
  2. Oh my God, after eight years, CSI: Miami, on the general grounds that I’m tired of having my intelligence insulted every week
  3. Three Rivers: started on Sunday, I tried watching it, but found after 10 minutes not one good thing about it – it’s Casualty but everyone needs a transplant at the end of it.
  4. Psych – a huge backlog of episodes that we have no inclination of watching is God’s way of telling you a show isn’t entertaining any more. No character development and it’s not even very funny, either. Oh well.
  5. Dollhouse – absolutely rubbish second episode suggests this thing isn’t going to get any better.

That means, beyond what I’ve reviewed this week, I’m still watching:

  • Trauma – a smart-ish programme underneath but with Bruckheimer-level accidents slapped in the middle that are so over the top, you actually laugh out loud. I’m hanging on in there for week three, but I think I’ll be dropping it after that
  • Being Erica – the addition of the new mythos element is interesting, but the overall show is starting to flag a little for some reason – not enough Doctor Tom, I suspect
  • Mad Men – I’m still a week behind, but last week’s (Seven Twenty Three) was a cracker
  • Supernatural – last week’s was a little daft and had an obvious denouement. And Jared P sucked as (spoiler) the devil
  • CSI – The character-building continues and interesting to see them build a story that references things all the way back in season one, to show the consequences of actions nearly a decade later
  • Dexter – A good episode overall, but I’m not sure if it’s got much of a message left to impart. Still enjoyable, though.

I’ve still got a backlog of viewing (Community, this week’s Mad Men , this week’s Supernatural, Micro Men, The Middle, this week’s CSI, the Seinfeld reunion on Curb Your Enthusiasm) – let us know what you think about any of them or anything else you’ve seen this week.

As always, no spoilers unless you’re going to use the <spoiler> </spoiler> tags, please

The CarusometerA Carusometer rating of 3

Third-episode verdict: FlashForward

9 October 2009 Rob Buckley 5 Comments

In the US: Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC
In the UK: Mondays, 9pm, Five

FlashForward is the new Lost. Apparently.

However, I distinctly remember Lost being interesting when it started – you know, having a decent set of characters, that sort of thing. That’s at least one differentiator between it and FlashForward.

Despite my misgivings about the show when it started, I’ve stuck with it. And you know what? My misgivings were right. I still don’t like it.

Continue reading “Third-episode verdict: FlashForward”

The CarusometerA Carusometer rating of 2

Third-episode verdict: Cougar Town

9 October 2009 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

In the US: Wednesdays, 9.30/8.30c, ABC
In the UK: Acquired by Living

I honestly don’t have much to add about Cougar Town since I reviewed the first episode. It’s exactly the same show in every way. It’s pretty funny, but never really reaching any great highs. It tries to address certain truths about being a newly single woman in her 40s, trying to date younger men. It has a decent cast, apart from Cox, who could do with being a bit subtler. It’s very watchable but not addictive.

You’ll like it, you might even like it a lot, you might even empathise with it, but I don’t think you’re going to love it. But whatever episode you watch, you’re bound to enjoy it, at least a little bit, I reckon.

Carusometer rating: 2
Rob’s prediction: Already picked up for a full season. It could continue for as long as Scrubs, but it’ll probably run out of ideas by the end of the second season at the latest.