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ALCATRAZ on Fox - Page 2

post #51 of 122

I wonder if it's a reaction to Lost.  In an effort to avoid the mystery, they just ended up making the characters not care at all about it.

post #52 of 122

If I remember correctly in the first episode Hurley (I'm just going to call the character that) starts to show concern of the fact that prisioners have all time traveled + have been set loose + seem at time to be on missions.  He is told by the doctor that it doesn't matter why its happening, just deal with the fact that it is.

 

I took it as a sign by the writers that "we are not going to even try to answer any of those questions".

 

post #53 of 122

Ehh im sure they will eventually but I don't know if I will be around to see it.

post #54 of 122

Now that a few episodes have aired, I ask you this; should I give a shit about it?

post #55 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by stelios View Post

Now that a few episodes have aired, I ask you this; should I give a shit about it?

Wait about 3 more weeks and ask me again.

 

post #56 of 122


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by stelios View Post

Now that a few episodes have aired, I ask you this; should I give a shit about it?



How busy is your life? smile.gif

 

Currently, it's about 5th on my weekly list. I have time to watch 5 shows.

post #57 of 122

Caught up with the first three eps, and willing to go the whole first 13 before bailing. There's the previously stated, obvious reasons: It's impossible to not like Jorge Garcia, the dude just oozes friendly awesomeness. Although that he looks even larger than he did at the end of LOST has me concerned for him -- he'd be just as charismatic a guy at a third his weight, so I hope someone helps him to do a Jonah Hill soon. And, Sarah Jones is one slick-mag photo shoot and/or red carpet jaw-dropper from showing up in a certain other, extremely popular CHUD thread. Jury's still out on her abilities, but I'm a sucker for a woman with a strong alto voice, even when couched in adorable chubby-bunny cheeks.

 

The main reason I'm giving this a go, though, is the strength so far of the 1960s scenes. Almost everything set in the present day, writing-wise, is everything that's wrong with the show, whereas most of the past action is where the show's been really showing its potential. Alcatraz needs a whole lot more of "This conversation will take exactly four matches" -- best scene in the show yet, and I'll be surprised if it's topped -- and a whole lot less "There's only one place to go fishing around [San Francisco]."

post #58 of 122

My wife's a big Sam Neill fan, and always a sucker for anything filmed in our City by the Bay, so we're probably in for the duration.

 

But apart from Garcia's enjoyable presence, I'm not gettng much out of it: what's-her-name is certainly cute, but she's one of the least convincing female detectives I've seen on TV (and that's saying something); Neill's performance is making his work on Daywalkers seem subtle; and (maybe this is Lost hangover) I'm not expecting the time-travel/secret experiment answers to be compelling (always assuming they are even supplied, whether or not the show is renewed). The flashback scenes are usually well done, but I've never particularly pictured Alcatraz as Shutter Island, and they ring false for all their coolness in the moment.

 

Which leaves the stop-the-baddie-of-the-week plotting of the sort that finally got me to drop Person of Interest. I think this will be the kind of show I watch out of one eye over the laptop sceen.

post #59 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeb View Post

stop-the-baddie-of-the-week plotting of the sort that finally got me to drop Person of Interest. 



Mistake!

post #60 of 122

Wait, Person of Interest isn't crap anymore?  I'm not sure I believe it!

post #61 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Farsight View Post



Mistake!



I've made bigger...

 

post #62 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by fuzzy dunlop View Post

Wait, Person of Interest isn't crap anymore?  I'm not sure I believe it!



It'll take six seasons and a movie for me to test this theory.

post #63 of 122

So wait...there's a monster or something living under the prison now?

post #64 of 122

A smoke monster perhaps?

post #65 of 122

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul755 View Post

So wait...there's a monster or something living under the prison now?

Hopefully it was created by throwing convicts into a piss river.

post #66 of 122

The flashbacks continue to be the only remotely interesting aspect.  I kinda love that the warden threw a black tie dinner party, complete with prisoner waiters, ala Warden Gentiles on Arrested Development.  But fuck everything else.  

post #67 of 122

Yeah, these folks would have been better off just making a period prison drama in a fictionalized, stylized Alcatraz. Because they can't work the modern-day cop-show half for shit, despite a cast I can't help but like.

post #68 of 122


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by fuzzy dunlop View Post

Wait, Person of Interest isn't crap anymore?  I'm not sure I believe it!



As it has gone along, they've focused more on the serial stories, flashbacks, character development, and some touches of humor. It's much less procedural now.  Probably more like a 50/50 split, which makes for a far more interesting show.

 

For example, I could probably list a dozen significant plot bits or character changes since the premiere, most of which took place in the last few episodes. Add that to the fact that the show is essentially "Batman: the Series" and it's a good time. Fringe is the only network show I'm enjoying more.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul755 View Post

So wait...there's a monster or something living under the prison now?



It sounded like a man to me. (I forget the name they gave it/him) wanted to meet the guy. I'd assume the lock+keys are to protect 'him' from outsiders, and/or to protect the secret that eventually causes the time travel.



Quote:
Originally Posted by neoolong View Post

A smoke monster perhaps?



One can only hope!

post #69 of 122


Quote:

Originally Posted by Farsight View Post

It sounded like a man to me. (I forget the name they gave it/him) wanted to meet the guy. I'd assume the lock+keys are to protect 'him' from outsiders, and/or to protect the secret that eventually causes the time travel.

 

It's Calendar Man!  Alcatraz is just like Arkham Aslyum!

post #70 of 122

Yeah im out.

post #71 of 122

Man, when I said I wanted more east Asian characters on this show, I didn't mean as one-shot waitresses and flower shop owners.

post #72 of 122

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waaaaaaaalt View Post

Yeah im out.


Yep.  I think its time for me to throw in the towel as well.

 

post #73 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by fuzzy dunlop View Post

Quote:


Yep.  I think its time for me to throw in the towel as well.

 

Try Lost Girl.....much better monster of the week show.
 

 

post #74 of 122

You guys, why you gotta leave me alone?

post #75 of 122

So question on last nights episode.  During the start of guard training, the head guy calls Alcatraz "the most dangerous prision ever".  Is that true or is he just trying to scare the new recuits.

 

I noticed a few incidents (Battle of Alcatraz) but haven't notice any true statistics of death counts.

 

post #76 of 122

Finally caught up with this show in full.  It's interesting enough to keep me watching, as I don't watch much TV anyway.  Yes, the flashbacks are the most interesting part, but Hurley is really pulling me in, and I want to know how they're time traveling.  So I'm in for the time being.

post #77 of 122

Is it just me or does Sam Neil look absolutely miserable on this show?   I know his character is supposed to be surly and grumpy but he looks like he's acting in this show to pay off some tax debt.

 

As for the show itself, it's something to watch while waiting for Fringe to come back round.   I'm hoping, like Fringe, that it will right itself and give us some good stuff.   The potential is there for sure.

post #78 of 122

I could not stay with this. But also bailed on Fringe, so I may end up missing out on a few good ones.

post #79 of 122

I also bailed on Fringe in the middle of season 3, but am trying to get back into it.  God, these shows lately are so frustrating...like the girl you can't seem to stop thinking about, but who keeps pulling stupid shit all the time.

post #80 of 122

The shows aren't really changing. You're the one executing a "woman's prerogative" to change your mind about them for no particular reason. smile.gif

post #81 of 122

Might as well re-label this thread 'Post-Lost Withdrawl / Infinite Disappointment' thread.  I too jumped ship on Fringe mid-way through season 3.  It was frustratingly close to greatness at times, but always hamstrung by boring repetitive MotW episodes and terrible writing.  I'll probably give it another shot at some point, but nothing irritated me quite like Fringe.  

post #82 of 122

Fringe is 70% great, 30% retarded.  Most good shows have flaws, but they don't go full retard like Fringe.  What the fuck is with Olivia's bad Spock impersonation?  That alone made me want to stop watching for the sake of my ears.

post #83 of 122


It was a nice change of pace to get a guard insted of a psychopath.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by neoolong View Post

You guys, why you gotta leave me alone?

I'm still gonna watch. I'm too intrigued by the flashback stuff and the bigger mystery. I can't give a shit about the villian of the week though.
 

 

post #84 of 122

If they hook up Jorge Garcia with the hot, geeky coroner gal, I am done with this show.   That would just be a bridge too far.  

post #85 of 122

~Wiping hands clean of this~  I'M OUT.

 

Chick has the guy who just bombed the park in her sights, he takes a bomb and rolls it at her. She doesnt shoot?

 

she goes to the evidence with hurley, everyone jokes even though people just died, hurley and chick around the evidence like its not important.  Still no mention of anything ... i turned it off.

post #86 of 122

That opening scene was dumb as hell, no excuse for the writing there, any cop would have dropped him.

post #87 of 122

Let's face, the writing on the whole show is really really dumb.  Nobody really cares about anything, and Neill's character seems crochety and assholish simply because he can.

post #88 of 122

You know, there are just sooo many ways to make this show's core concept better. I mean, is there a nefarious plan in place? Are the Alcatraz inmates specifically asked to target specific people? Do their overlords have time travel abilities, and if so, are they using these inmates to eliminate say...person A who will later go on to create a cure for a specific disease and thus make the world a better place, something these overlords DON'T want? If there was some sort of plan in place, some sort of plan our protagonists were actually INTERESTED in solving, rather than just REACTING to events taking place, it would improve the show by leaps and bounds. The old "keep it a mystery till the very end" thing needs to die a quick death. Let us know who's behind everything, then move on. Let the show become some sort of kick-ass time travel adventure show rather than a "catch a bad guy every week" type show. 

post #89 of 122

Just about to start Monday's episode, but a question immediately comes to mind.  The middle eastern woman who's now in a coma at one point asked one of the baddies of the week how he got to the future without aging (in an interrogation room I believe).  But we found out later that she's gone through the exact same process since she's in the flashbacks looking the same.  

 

So why is she asking him what she apparently already knows (them being both untouched by the ravages of aging)??? 

post #90 of 122

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambler View Post

Just about to start Monday's episode, but a question immediately comes to mind.  The middle eastern woman who's now in a coma at one point asked one of the baddies of the week how he got to the future without aging (in an interrogation room I believe).  But we found out later that she's gone through the exact same process since she's in the flashbacks looking the same.  

 

So why is she asking him what she apparently already knows (them being both untouched by the ravages of aging)??? 



It's a mysterious mystery. 

post #91 of 122

My guess would be, like this week's villain, she doesn't know how she jumped in time, but she's hoping one of the inmates will have some answers.

post #92 of 122

Isn't she also Indian?  I could have sworn she was.

post #93 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by kernel View Post

My guess would be, like this week's villain, she doesn't know how she jumped in time, but she's hoping one of the inmates will have some answers.



Which means Jurassic Park guy doesn't know either?  I thought he knew but wasn't telling.

post #94 of 122

The most boring episode we've had so far.  But I'm inclined to keep watching to see if anything significant happens.  

post #95 of 122

I'll keep watching because I'm still curious as to what's happening. In answer to an earlier post, I thought Sam Neill's character said in the first or second episode that he wanted the 63s caught alive because otherwise they can't find out shit if they're dead? I think that's why we've only seen them kill one prisoner and that was after the guy shot the Indian doctor.

post #96 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ambler View Post

So why is she asking him what she apparently already knows (them being both untouched by the ravages of aging)??? 



So far, none of the characters we've seen has had any idea what happened to them. It's not that surprising that she doesn't either.

 

It seems like they've misjudged how interesting these prisoners are. Every episode is like an origin story for a character we're barely (if ever) going to see again. Having one or two not be a complete lunatic that has to be locked away forever would be a nice touch - even the one guard we've seen acted insane.

post #97 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Farsight View Post

So far, none of the characters we've seen has had any idea what happened to them. 


But they were told to hurt and/or murder certain people and seem happy to oblige; even the prison guard.  Obviously they have some idea of what's going on.  

 

post #98 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ambler View Post


But they were told to hurt and/or murder certain people and seem happy to oblige; even the prison guard.  Obviously they have some idea of what's going on.  

 



I thought the Guard was chasing blondies grandfather?  Is it possible that he was possibly recovering an escaped prisoner?  One who hadn't been given a mission or something?

post #99 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by drunkdrgonzo View Post



I thought the Guard was chasing blondies grandfather?  Is it possible that he was possibly recovering an escaped prisoner?  One who hadn't been given a mission or something?



He was chasing her grandfather, assuming he would know something because of his strange situation within the prison.

 

The rest don't seem to know themselves why they're doing what they're doing in the present. They act brainwashed.

 

I think a better show would've made one of the inmates and/or guards the protagonist(s). Having them seek answers from fellow escapees while adjusting to present-day life would've been more compelling than watching a standard procedural with thin scifi elements.

 

I never got the complaint that the castaways on LOST should've asked more questions, since their goal was survival, not mystery-solving. But the characters in ALCATRAZ have a -primary- goal of solving mysteries, and yet still aren't asking questions! This week's escapee says there was a female doctor on Alcatraz, Hurley says there wasn't, they get interrupted... and he never follows up despite having the opportunity. Argh.

post #100 of 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Farsight View Post

 

I think a better show would've made one of the inmates and/or guards the protagonist(s). Having them seek answers from fellow escapees while adjusting to present-day life would've been more compelling than watching a standard procedural with thin scifi elements.

 

They had one tailor-made with Sylvane.  Sympathetic enough with a skillset that would have been plausibly useful in the situation.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Farsight View Post

 

I never got the complaint that the castaways on LOST should've asked more questions, since their goal was survival, not mystery-solving. But the characters in ALCATRAZ have a -primary- goal of solving mysteries, and yet still aren't asking questions! This week's escapee says there was a female doctor on Alcatraz, Hurley says there wasn't, they get interrupted... and he never follows up despite having the opportunity. Argh.

 

Charlie: Guys... where are we?

 

In the pilot episode they were already asking questions.  Ha.

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