US TV

I was wondering a while back if three episodes were enough to really know if a show is good or bad. I then expanded my reviewing policy to include fifth episodes if the third episode was on the cusp.

Smith was very much on the cusp by its third episode, after which it was cancelled. But CBS was nice enough to put the remaining episodes onto its InnerTube service. So it’s an interesting test of this new policy: cancel at episode three, or wait till episode five before making a final decision.

I’ve now managed to wade my way through the remaining four eps and I have to say, if they’d let it get as far as the fifth episode or possibly even the sixth, I think Smith would have started to have found its feet. While Ray Liotta’s and Virginia Madsen’s storylines were still a bit dull, Jonny Lee Miller and Simon Baker were starting to develop an entertaining double act. They were also managing to inject some excitement into the storylines. Had the show progressed, I’m pretty sure TPTB would have given them more to do and made Smith a lot more entertaining to watch.

So the moral of the story is, if it’s on the cusp, always wait until the fifth episode. At least. Particularly if you’re a big US network.

Since we’re only two weeks in, thanks to a double-bill last week, it’s probably a little early for the Carusometer, but I thought I’d let you know how Day Break was going.

The action’s slowed down a little since its high-octane opening, although only a little since there are fights, shoot-outs and screeching cars aplenty still to be found. The deadly seriousness of the first two episodes has disappeared slightly, too, and a few welcome traces of humour are sneaking in.

But there are signs the format is starting to wear a little, even though the days Taye Diggs lives are proving to be reasonably varied. There’s a little too much repetition for comfort and the low-down on the plot against Diggs is taking some time to emerge. Beyond a mail-order hourglass, we’re not seeing much by way of explanation as to what could possibly be causing Diggs to relieve each day, so a certain degree of frustration is creeping in. Without some interesting human relationships to draw us in, it’s proving hard to stay motivated in watching the show.

So despite still being well made and well put together, Day Break is slowly sinking down the Carusometer. I’ll let you know in a fortnight if it’s been worth sticking with.