In fact, the whole point of this Border episode was to see if the show could stretch enough to not take itself too seriously. You'll have a chance to judge for yourself how well we succeeded tonight at nine.
But the question I have to ask is this: is it just me, or is this, again, a very Canadian review. You can't say, "I enjoyed this," because it has to be qualified at all costs. Just seems rather...odd. That's all. And not funny-odd like the Torontoist review of a couple weeks back.
The Border (CBC, 9 p.m.), on the other hand, takes itself pretty seriously. Too seriously, sometimes; like most crime shows out there it is rather too full of tough cops delivering self-important lectures on impending threats through narrowed eyes. They always remind me of security-system salesmen, all in the job of manufacturing fear. I can't say James McGowan's work as the troubled detective Mike Kessler is growing on me: The guy just looks unhappy most of the time. What a relief whenever the darkly funny Jonas Chernick appears on screen as the unit's resident hacker and intelligence geek, Hieronymous Slade.
What draws me to The Border, however, is how effectively its writers keep it rooted in the here and now. Sure, its notion tonight that some FLQ terrorist is going to come out of hiding 30 years down the road to track down a Quebec premier may be far-fetched, but the way this plot is woven into the story of a Quebec-Vermont border town is delicious.
The town is supposed to be one of those places where Canadians and Americans live happily side by side, with the local doctor in Canada and the drugstore in the U.S., while a red strip along a barroom floor represents the border. But when a Canadian border guard with orders to be extra vigilant delays the local fire brigade with a passport check and a house burns down, angry residents show agents Hourani and Lipinski just how they feel about recent increases in border security.
The tough Toronto agents can't believe this place where a terrorist could cross the border as easily as he could cross a street - and, of course, in this paranoid universe, this is where Mr. FLQ is going to show up.
It's nice to occasionally see ourselves - or at least some pumped-up facsimile thereof - on the tube.
I'm pretty sure these kinds of reviews say something about this country. It might even be something endearing. And I think it has a lot to do with the kinds of shows we end up making. But I'm no longer sure what. I think it might have something to do with the phrase "pumped up facsimile" -- because really, isn't that what TV drama is supposed to be?
In any case, whether it's a qualified and measured mention from Kate Taylor, or another pan from John Doyle, the P.T. Barnum in me steps up to embrace the important thing: you mentioned the show, and you got the time right.
So a big, heartfelt thanks from me!
5 comments:
Us journos are taught not to revel in stuff just b/c it's plain GOOD. There will always be those who wrinkle up their noses & say they want criticism... as in, be negative, sniping, and bitchy. Ugh.
I run a fansite for Hulu, and I was wondering if you would like to be a member of a panel for our Hulu Awards Ceremony.
You would be one of 20 panel members who would be asked to suggest and vote on the best Hulu content in a variety of categories.
Please let me know if you are interested. Either email me at uictoday@homtail.com, or leave me a comment here: http://thehulureview.blogspot.com/2008/10/hulu-awards-ceremony.html
Be sure to include your name, website, and email address if and when you respond (and I really hope you do).
Thanks!
Matt "The.Hulu.Man"
"I run a fansite for Hula and was wondering if you would like to be a member of a panel for our Hula dancing contest..."
For me this kinda sums up what your review of the reviews is exploring.
Guy from Hulu isn't aware that the site is geo-blocked from viewing in Canada because as an American he's been taught that there's a whole big old world out there and everybody's interested in what he's up to.
Meanwhile Canadian reviewers keep assessing Canadian shows as if Canadians see them as separate and apart from the rest of what's on their dial; these little indigenous outbursts that probably haven't even been noticed by the locals and probably wouldn't find favor with them if they had.
Its as if our guys are afraid of rooting for the home team in case they might be the only ones in the stands.
Congratulations on trying new things on the show. I hope it works out.
If the value of television criticism is to evaluate a show's worth, I suppose it's up to viewers to decide if the critic's work is worthwhile. How many television viewers actually base their viewing choices on what the critics say? It's my understanding few people make choices based on critiques and more on program type and timeslot.
"program type and timeslot"
Timeslot? Get a PVR, it's liberating.
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