US TV

In the US: Wednesdays, 10/9c, USA Network. Available on USANetwork.com

What is the secret of good drama? It’s a question that writers have been searching for, ever since the creation of theatre. Everyone from Aristotle onwards has had their own theory.

‘A compelling story’ is one of the usual requirements: the viewer/reader/audience have to engage with the story and want to know more.

Which, I think, is the biggest problem with Necessary Roughness, in which Callie Thorne of Rescue Me plays a therapist who bumps into Marc Blucas of Buffy fame on a girls’ night out. Blucas turns out to be a trainer for a professional football team and after Thorne cures him of his smoking addiction, Blucas thinks she might be able to help him fix the psychological problems that are holding back his team members – including one very expensive ball-dropper in particular.

And while it’s all executed well enough, the question that lingers over the whole enterprise is “Why are you telling me this story?”

Continue reading “Review: Necessary Roughness 1×1”