Lights Out on FX - Page 3

I wouldn't call it the best episode overall (there's still the Crazy Ed stuff, and the pilot episode was very good- speaking of, loved that recap clip of the dentist's hilarious bitch scream) but Lights handing over the cash to The Rainmaker, then watching the big guy eat that address and icing his hand was definitely one of the best scenes they've ever done. It would even have worked without dialogue.

 

Morse was great. He's such a pro, one of those guys who can never be miscast. Liked the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (or given that this is FX, should that be Carl Weathers in The Shield?) vibe of his character. I also really liked Lights feeling some sense of responsibility about his friend's condition. One thing I think Lights Out does well is show that sense of camaraderie between guys who also happen to beat the living shit out of each other, how despite what the promoters would have you believe, in reality it's rarely personal.

I think that I've pinpointed my main problem with this show. I still like it very much but they don't seem to have a consistent arc progression for their characters. They have them too beholden to the plot sometimes.

 

Other than that, this was one of the better episodes. Lights looks more apt than I thought at the underworld stuff, although the "twist" was telegraphed like crazy.

The twist was telegraphed, but it's also the first time that Lights hasn't done the most obvious (and likely most stupid) thing.

 

Also, I know family have issues and they forgive each other and move on...but it's so impossible to judge time on this show and his sister going from banning him from the cafe to now being so caring a week later is a little jarring.  It sucks because I really liked the scenes with he and his sister, they played really well, but their fight is so immediate in my mind because there was no transition really from her being pissed to this.
 

 

Yeah, I have absolutely no idea about the show's timeline. Maybe a month passed between episodes, maybe a week, maybe a day. With no way of knowing immediately. And it's weird because it's actually building towards a set date. 

The twist that was telegraphed was what Theresa suggested- that the Rainmaker could provide a phony reason for Lights being at the councilman's place during that birthday party (Lights could tell people he was Jerry's last minute replacement). They did not telegraph that Lights would actually use a basically innocent/vulnerable guy like Jerry to put the councilman in hospital, while Lights himself was out in public establishing his alibi. The exploitation of Jerry's memory loss was icing on the cake. That's the best "surprise" the show has pulled so far, and the most nefarious thing they've shown Lights do. Good TV.

Never liked the wife, but unfortunately the entire show now seems to be suffering.  Hopefully Morse doesn't disappear as quickly as Walker.  I don't give a rat's ass about Leary's family - unfortunately, this is starting to include his old man and brother.  Lights Out is getting more and more contrived - former champ stalking hotels and beating up cops and witnesses.  The characterization established so well through the first 7 or 8 episodes is getting thrown out the window.  Maybe it's preparing for the possibility of only a single season, but in any event, it stinks.

Cancelled.

Not a surprise, but still sad.

So 2 episodes left, correct?  I thought the preview said something about the last episode before the finale.

Yep, 2 left and both will air.

Would have thought they'd have waited until the last 2 aired. Oh well. Fantastic show. Thoroughly enjoying Justified but in recent weeks I found myself more hyped for each week's Lights.

 

Here's the AV Club's interview with F/X's President about the cancellation, though it's pretty much the same stuff mentioned when Terriers got axed:

 

http://www.avclub.com/articles/exclusive-fx-president-explains-the-cancellation-o,53636/

 

Here's a classy statement from McCallany about the demise:

 

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1628593.php/Holt-McCallany-s-statement-regarding-Lights-Out-cancellation

 

 

 

This show has easily made McCallany, and Reg Cathy for that matter, go from "that guy" actors to the sort of actors I'll keep an eye out for in the future.

The FX upfront presentation is next week and people would've been asking questions when Lights Out wasn't in the lineup, so they decided to announce it now (and do the post-cancellation interviews explaining it).

As others have said, f nothing else this series has shown the viewing public and everyone else how good these folks are.

I thought it was a fantastic show.  I just loved it. 

 

The show was just good old fashioned story telling.  It wasn't trying to be subversive or edgy, and there was no gimmick.  Its just an excellent drama.

 

Along with Terriers, they were really my favorite new shows.

 

But, I absolutely knew Lights Out was not going to make it.  Even without knowing the ratings, its not one bit surprising this show only lasted one season.  At least, we get to see how it all pans out. 

Not exactly a shocker, this news. I guess people don't want real old school stoicism anymore, they prefer metro fakers like that imposterClint guy from Justified.

 

Even though it's unlikely given the figures, I really hope some movie/tv people noticed McCallany in this (and Stallone needs to look at cable shows other than Dexter once in a while when he's fishing for casting ideas!)

Woah there, with the Olyhate, sir.

 

There are far far worthier objects for your ire. Which in general I share.

The Wire (or even Oz) did not do this already?     Enjoying the show but not really surprised it got cancelled...not all that disappointed either provided that it ends satisfactorily.  This seems like a show destined for a limited run.  Since the show seems so traditional, I'm having trouble thinking of what they could've done with future seasons in order to maintain interest.

Lights would have retired after his decisive win over Reynolds, and season two would have focused on Jerry "The Rainmaker" Raines and his big comeback. His new trainer? Crazy Ed Romeo of course. A teamup the fans demanded! (all seven of us)

 

SPOILER FOR FIRST EPISODE: A heartbroken Ed slices his wrists after Jerry forgets to show up for training

You win.  I would watch this.

I've said it before, Lights Out seems like a show that would be best as two or three short seasons.  It doesn't appear to be a show like Terriers where it felt like there was unfinished business, and more stories that were needed to be told.

 

I'm glad FX let the season play out, that was cool of them.

Really felt for Keach at the end when he realized he'd been duped again,

He's been so good this whole series.  Just that shrug and smile followed with, "Pretty lady...".  It was a little bit of regret but mostly it was like he knew deep down how it was going to end anyhow.

 

They need Lights to not get in Johnny's face.  I'm very distracted whenever Johnny goes cross-eyed.

Whoever played Lights' mom was a terribly annoying actress.  Aside from Keach, I didnt think much of this episode at all.

Quote:

Nah, I think they do a pretty good job of inserting enough information to let you know how much time has passed if you pay attention.  For example, in the Rainmaker episode, we know that about one or one and a half months have passed between that episode and the preceding one.  How?  Primarily two things: In the preceding episode, Light's wife graduated.  Commencement is generally in mid-May or early June.  In the Rainmaker episode, the family is celebrating the 4th of July.  Ergo, month or month and a half.  Similarly, in preceding episodes, there's discussion of Daniella (is that the oldest daughter?) going to Europe at the end of the school year.  School gets out in late May or early June.  But she's back for the 4th of July.  Ergo, month or month and a half.

 

And let me just add that, as a fan of both good television and boxing, I'm bummed the show's getting canceled.  I don't think a show has captured such an absorbing depiction of family since the Sopranos.   

 

 

That was Lex Luthor's ditzy g/f from Superman 1 and 2! Lights would knock me the fuck out for saying this bout his mom, but she was super sexy back then. Definitely terrible on this show though. I actually felt bad for McCallany having to act and emote against her. Her final scene with her crying but at the same time checking how much money was in the envelope was supposed to be this sad conclusion where you realize what kind of person his mother really is, but it was just laughable.

 

Bit of a dud episode. I did like Lights breaking the drummer's hand, and that cruel little smirk afterwards.

Miss Tessmacher.  Wow.  She was bad in this episode, which wasn't particularly compelling.  Probably the worst of the season, frankly.  But not actively terrible.

I hope the show finishes with Lights' entire family (minus Lights and his younger kid) getting herded into a storage container and dumped in the Delaware River.

Super unsatisfactory as a series finale, but what else could you expect?

 

A bittersweet victory but the character earned it.

This show (or season at least) was running out of gas.  I think I actually said "Oh Jesus Christ" when the mom showed up.  Satisfactory conclusion for me though.  Lights not remember who won the fight was a bit of a gut punch.  You can sign me up for a revenge movie starring McCallany any day of the week.

Season finale/series finale, doesn't really matter.  This was not a good episode or a good finale.  They were ambitious in how much they wanted to get in to the episode, and because of that they shortchanged just about everything.  The pacing of the entire season has been an issue, but the pacing of this episode was just a train wreck.  The reveal of the fixed fight with Morales (which had been hinted at previously) held no weight.  Lights really didn't even have a chance to struggle with it so there was no reason to even bring it up.  The dinner between the wives could have been a powerful scene, but the only thing I know about Rich's wife is that she died on 24.  They haven't earned any dramatic tension with her on this show, we don't know her at all.  The fight itself was poorly shot and barely took longer than the Morales fight (3 rounds?  Really?).  With all the build up at least make the fight epic.

 

I've come around to the point that I'm glad it was cancelled as it will keep me from continuing to watch the show which I've been taking less pleasure in each week for the last month or so.

sure there were things that didn't work this season (Light's mom for instance), but I thought it was a really solid, well acted show. I don't know if I could stand more seasons of this though, this story is going nowhere good.

The storyline with his Mom would have been just fine (minus her acting) if they didn't rush through it in an episode.  They could have had her integrate herself with the family over weeks, convince the viewer that she's legit, then pull the rug out from under us.  Instead (like so many times this season) they knew where they wanted to get and were in such a large hurry to get there they didn't stop long enough to think about whether it would feel like it impacted the audience (and Lights).

 

Such good acting, and the writing wasn't all bad as there was some pretty good dialogue.  I keep going back to pacing though which was maddeningly uneven.  I can't help but feel that the first season probably should have ended with the Morales fight as they actually had plenty to chew on story-wise if this moved like a normal show.

 

I agree the fight could have been more epic, but it was pretty exciting for what it was, with the untrustworthy ref adding an extra layer of tension that hasn't really been done much in fight movies- if this show did one thing perfectly, it was those glimpses at the dirty game of boxing. It was a nice touch to have the love/hate reporter be the one to remind Lights that he's not a quitter (coming from wifey it would have been the oldest cliche). What I really loved though was the post fight scene in the hallway, with him trying the different doors. Really great, helpless "who won?" from McCallany. Yeah Lights won the thing, but what a toll. Other great lines of the night would be Pops telling Lights "THESE are your judges", and Barry's "Justice League" bit. Kinda sad now, I liked this show a lot. McCallany better not go away from our screens.

 

Goodbye, Lights Leary. Goodbye, Jerry "The Rainmaker" Raines. Goodbye, Barry K Word and your oddly shaped head. And goodbye, Crazy Ed Romeo- I'll miss you most of all!

 

 

And with that he clicked his heels together and dissapeared.

The brevity of the fight I think was a statement from the show runners. Boxing has become a sport for bums and Reynolds eventually turned into one. So when he fought an actual boxer he got his ass handed to him. And using my awesome powers of self presuasion I declare that Light's post fight incident ain't nothing too serious. He was a bit punch drunk, that's all.

I disliked the scene between the wives.  It was a fine scene, but it essentially told me the outcome of the fight.  Before that scene, I felt they could go either way, but after her generic bitchiness, there was only one conclusion.

 

Somewhat toothless through the fight.  I still enjoyed the show, but the season was set-up for more familial drama.  Which never really came.

 

Good finale.  I agree that if they had revealed the fixed fight earlier Lights would have doubted himself more and it would have carried more weight.   But Barry knew that telling him just before the fight is the best time to screw with his head.   In theory, anyway.

 

As for the fight, yeah it was short but well choreographed and exciting I thought.   

 

Shame he is probably going to end up like David Morse's character.