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THIEF on FX

post #1 of 62
3/27/06 at 12:24am
Thread Starter 
I'm really looking forward to this one. Hopefully Thief will be able to step up and fill the very big shoes of one of the best shows out there, The Shield. Also, I need the taste of Heist washed out of my mouth. Anyway, if you want an early look, head on over here:

http://microsites.ign.com/thief/

That's the link to the official sweepstakes site. Watch on Tuesday, get the code, and enter at the above address to be elligible to win 100,000 dollars.

http://media.filmforce.ign.com/media...67/vids_1.html

That's the link to 3 clips from the show; two short clips highlighting "the job" and "the crew" and the third one is the first five minutes of the pilot.

Looks like there's only gonna be six episodes. Here's hoping they're as good as the promos have been promising.
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post #2 of 62
3/27/06 at 12:47am
Mighty big Tuesday 10 PM shoes to fill indeed. But I like the look of the show in the previews. Braugher and Michael Rooker are signs of quality.
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post #3 of 62
3/27/06 at 1:42am
HUGE fan of andre braugher. loved loved loved his character on Homicide (my favorite cop show ever)

local paper said the show was a downer, braugher was never happy, never smiled...they gave it a bad review. sounds like braugher on the top of his game to me!

can't wait.
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post #4 of 62
3/27/06 at 2:45am
Only 6 episodes?! That's such a very short season. Anyhow, I've been looking forward to watching Thief for awhile now. How can you go wrong with Andre Braugher and Michael Rooker? You can't. And where has Linda Hamilton been exiled to? She hasn't worked in quite some time...
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post #5 of 62
3/27/06 at 3:07am
I'm up for anything with Andre Braugher.

Thanks for reminding me to add this to my season pass list.
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post #6 of 62
3/27/06 at 7:31am
HEIST was a bust so I'm hoping this show doesn't disappoint as well. Then again, Dougray Scott couldn't act his way out of Andre Braugher's nutsack.
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post #7 of 62
3/27/06 at 9:27am
Man, I rememeber when I first saw ads for this show during the primere of The Shield Season 4. Hopefully it'll be worth the wait and the fact that it not only has a Homicide alumni, but an Arrested Development alumni as well makes it all the more tempting.
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post #8 of 62
3/27/06 at 11:08am
It looks like every other thief with a conscience story. Braugher will be the responsible one who doesn't want innocent people getting hurt, just wants to get in, get the job done and get out - and he'll have some loose cannons on his team fucking things up.... But hopefully it's good enough to rise above the cliche. Braugher deserves some success.
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post #9 of 62
3/27/06 at 11:36am
I'll be watching Thief because if Braugher is attached it's gotta be decent. I didn't give Heist the time of day because it looked to be a flashy, hollow Ocean's Eleven wannabe.

That last sentence may have been redundant to some of you. I loved Ocean's Eleven and Twelve.
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post #10 of 62
3/27/06 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert_Squirrel
Man, I rememeber when I first saw ads for this show during the primere of The Shield Season 4. Hopefully it'll be worth the wait and the fact that it not only has a Homicide alumni, but an Arrested Development alumni as well makes it all the more tempting.

Also, a "Kingpin" alumn. Not Trejo, but who is?

I'm up for this... regarding the contest, will they re-air at 11 and feature the numbers?
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post #11 of 62
3/27/06 at 1:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fabfunk
Also, a "Kingpin" alumn. Not Trejo, but who is?
I thought that looked like Yancey Arias but I've gotten to the point where I change the channel when a commercial for the show comes on cause they seem to be giving away a lot of the plot up front that I never confirmed it.
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post #12 of 62
3/28/06 at 3:02pm
looks good to me too...ive found a new love for FX ever since i fell in love with the shield.
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post #13 of 62
3/29/06 at 12:39am
Is it just me or does Jack look like a miniture T-bag (from Prison Break)? Also, did anyone catch why Mae Whitman was arrested at the beginning?
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post #14 of 62
3/29/06 at 1:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert_Squirrel
Also, did anyone catch why Mae Whitman was arrested at the beginning?
She was a look out for a B&E

Lacked the punch of great pilots but Andre Braugher is enough to stick around for.
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post #15 of 62
3/29/06 at 1:06am
It has a few problems, but I liked it well enough to stick around and see where it's going.
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post #16 of 62
3/29/06 at 1:07am
I guess Thief wasn't the comeback vehicle Dina Meyer was hoping for after her Starship Troopers heyday.

But seriously. I liked the low exposition levels; not sure what Dad's deal is, Rooker still a little mysterious. Liked the first episode body count. Love Braugher.

Hated the girl. Kids on TV need to chill the fuck out. And by "chill the fuck out" I mean "not be on it anymore". I don't think there's ever been one I've liked (with the exception of George Michael and Maybe on Arrested Developement).

And anything on television's a letdown after last week's Shield episode. Moltisanti was right about needing an extra week to get past Lem's death and into another show.
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post #17 of 62
3/29/06 at 1:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Bodhisattva
Hated the girl. Kids on TV need to chill the fuck out. And by "chill the fuck out" I mean "not be on it anymore". I don't think there's ever been one I've liked (with the exception of George Michael and Maybe on Arrested Developement).
I actually thought she was one of the better parts of the show. I actually felt her frustration at Nick's absence was understandable and I sympathized with her. There were a few moments where she wasn't great (but she was going up against Braugher) but she's far from being my least fav. part of the show.
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post #18 of 62
3/29/06 at 1:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Bodhisattva
But seriously. I liked the low exposition levels; not sure what Dad's deal is,
I got that the dad was racist and the girl didn't like him because he was black.
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post #19 of 62
3/29/06 at 1:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert_Squirrel
I actually thought she was one of the better parts of the show. I actually felt her frustration at Nick's absence was understandable and I sympathized with her. There were a few moments where she wasn't great (but she was going up against Braugher) but she's far from being my least fav. part of the show.
I'm not saying I didn't like the acting or think that her actions were indefensible. What bothers me is the very existence of her character. Every protagonist on every TV drama these days needs two families; work family, crime family. Tony Soprano, Vic Mackey, Nick (Braugher? Didn't catch his last name). And obnoxious teens get under my skin more so than precocious elementary school kids. I notice that I said "every TV drama" up there which really isn't true but I only watch like two shows so it's every one to me.
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post #20 of 62
3/29/06 at 1:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anyawatchin Angel
I got that the dad was racist and the girl didn't like him because he was black.
Yeah, I got that too, but more from the "This season on Thief" preview than from the episode proper.
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post #21 of 62
3/29/06 at 2:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Bodhisattva
I'm not saying I didn't like the acting or think that her actions were indefensible. What bothers me is the very existence of her character. Every protagonist on every TV drama these days needs two families; work family, crime family. Tony Soprano, Vic Mackey, Nick (Braugher? Didn't catch his last name). And obnoxious teens get under my skin more so than precocious elementary school kids. I notice that I said "every TV drama" up there which really isn't true but I only watch like two shows so it's every one to me.
I agree that it has become a cliche. I just don't think it's as bad in this show as it is in others (The Shield-she can't act, so it's almost painful to watch her when she's one screen. The Sopranos-AJ annoys the living fuck out of me, but I think that's intentional.)
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post #22 of 62
3/29/06 at 4:02am
I liked it. Even having Meyer's death shown in the ads for about the last 6 months didn't stop that from being a nicely acted moment in the hospital. I was hoping the other major death shown in the previews would take place tonight but maybe that will be next week.

Braugher's core group of thieves play well off each other. It looks like the "New York Undercover" guy is going to be the cause of the most headaches for the crew but maybe that's just what we're supposed to think at this point.

Not a lot of Rooker tonight but I look forward to seeing how he'll function within the show as the story unfolds.
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post #23 of 62
3/29/06 at 5:13am
Thought it was pretty bad, with portions of it bordering on atrocious. The idea that giving the chinese mafia back its loot through a face to face meeting would be safer than keeping it and disappearing is ludicrous.

The idea that you would have a team of six plan for weeks and risk decades in jail to break into a bank vault, but then take only the one item that they were supposed to and leave the rest untouched is moronic. 32K for that kind of job? That's horrible.

If you're going to cut the guy out, maybe think about whether you want to kill him before doing so. Why waffle about it? Just to piss him off and risk exposure before killing him? Why let these guys hang around your house while you're gone? Why let them stay when you and your kid return home?

Kids as plot points, rather than as characters, suck. This kid's just a plot point.
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post #24 of 62
3/29/06 at 8:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Bodhisattva
And anything on television's a letdown after last week's Shield episode. Moltisanti was right about needing an extra week to get past Lem's death and into another show.
Crap. That'll teach me not to read anything on the Internet again. We're currently on Season 3 of The Shield here.

As for Thief, I found it to be pretty weak. Will give it a couple more episodes mainly due to the cast to see if it'll pick up.
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post #25 of 62
3/29/06 at 1:55pm
I've never seen Andre Braugher (that I can remember) in anything else before, and thus far I don't understand the praise he's been receiving. Maybe it's the way the character is written, but his mannerisms and stunted soliloquys seem forced.
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post #26 of 62
3/29/06 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Overlord
I've never seen Andre Braugher (that I can remember) in anything else before, and thus far I don't understand the praise he's been receiving. Maybe it's the way the character is written, but his mannerisms and stunted soliloquys seem forced.
You've never seen Homicide or Glory?

As far as the show Thief goes. I liked it, but there was something about it that didn't feel right. I think the problem I had was I kept comparing it to the Shield (I know I shouldn't).
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post #27 of 62
3/29/06 at 5:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wee-Bey
You've never seen Homicide or Glory?

As far as the show Thief goes. I liked it, but there was something about it that didn't feel right. I think the problem I had was I kept comparing it to the Shield (I know I shouldn't).
I don't think it's unfair to compare it to other FX shows (as far as pilots go). It doesn't come close to The Shield's pilot, but it was better than the pilot for Over There.
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post #28 of 62
3/29/06 at 6:46pm
I loved Homicide warts and all. And Homicide showed me that Andre Braugher circa Homicide was one of the greatest actors alive. But this is an older Andre Braugher who seems to have lost a lot of his earlier dramatic fire, starring in a vehicle he sems to know is sub-par, and in my opinion it shows onscreen. Thief is not a good show, it's a barely decent show and so far in no way is it a good vehicle for Braugher. But like the Unit it gets a pass from me because of its star.

The Unit seems to be a post-24 show with a dash of Desperate Housewives, and Thief seems to be a kludge of the Shield, and a certain Michael Caine caper vehicle from 1969. Both shows have the shine but not the substance of the tv dramas they emulate. I'm glad to see Braugher and Haysbert in something, I just wish their respective shows were better written.
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post #29 of 62
3/29/06 at 10:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alobek
Crap. That'll teach me not to read anything on the Internet again. We're currently on Season 3 of The Shield here.
Sorry about that. I'm not considerate enough of Scandanavians in general and Fins in particular.
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post #30 of 62
4/1/06 at 3:11am
Thread Starter 
I finally got the chance to see this. I had to go out of town on Tuesday and the shit hotel I stayed in didn't have FX. Really liked it. Wasn't great, but it was good. I don't know what you people who thought it was horrible watched, but I don't think it was this. There were some things I hope they work out as they move along, but all in all, a good opener. Molti, you were right about Dina Meyer's death still being a pretty well acted scene even though we knew it was coming. Hopefully this doesn't pull a Heist and get worse as it moves along. And yes, I watched Heist again!
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post #31 of 62
4/1/06 at 3:48am
If I've learned anything from tv this past year it is that I have to give a show more than an episode or two before I make a decision on whether I like it or not. If I gave up on Rome after the first three episodes then I would have missed out on some great stuff (Especially the last two episodes of the season).
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post #32 of 62
4/1/06 at 3:34pm
I rewatched Thief last night to more thoroughly digest it after the first viewing on Tuesday night. My verdict is that I liked it. Sure, it has flaws, but what pilot episode is perfect? The Shield's pilot episode wasn't shit-splatteringly amazing, but the show developed from there into television's best crime serial bar-none. Thief has an excellent cast, well-rounded, which helps elevate the writing, which is solid but not spectacular. The show also has a very refined, high-quality visual style with murky, deep, dark colors that reflect the tone of the show very well. Most of the pilot's flaws are due to the inherent nature of pilots themselves anyway, which must introduce us to all of the major characters and set up the entire world and story arc within the span of an hour (minus commercial time). I'd have to say my favorite scene was when Nick Atwater returns from the hospital after learning his wife died and he tries to collect himself and lay down another job for his crew. Braugher was just great in the episode overall. Any scene he was in, he dominated it pretty much. But that's just my opinion.
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post #33 of 62
4/2/06 at 1:13am
I liked this show. It definitely owes a lot to Heat and every other heist movie, but it has its own flavor. Its well acted and it has set up a lot of interesting story lines that I want to see explored more.

Braugher was great as always, but I am waiting for him to really have a stand out moment, which I am sure is coming.
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post #34 of 62
4/5/06 at 3:17am
I'm a little tired of the daughter at this point but I understand that this episode had to have her as a major focus. Now maybe the dynamics of the new score will become a bigger storyline starting next week.

I like that Rooker's place in the show hasn't been spelled out completely as of yet. It will be interesting to see what causes him to play a larger role with respects to finding (and possibly helping) Braugher's crew.
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post #35 of 62
4/5/06 at 2:52pm
Another fairly solid episode last night. Was a bit surprised they killed off Linda Hamilton this early on (although that does explain why she got such a late title credit). I'm not on the daughter hate train yet, but those scenes involving her and that guy who offered her pot aren't doing her any favors. I'm also w/ Moltisanti in being curious as to how they work Grant Grant into the story line (would be great if they don't even meet but his storyline somehow completly fucks up the heist in the last few scenes or something).
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post #36 of 62
4/5/06 at 5:18pm
Good episode last night. A little slower than the pilot last week, but still good. There was quite a lot of focus on the step-daughter, but she's been putting in solid work--not TOO annoying or bitchy. And Braugher really put the scare into that priest.

I've liked Malik Yoba's character, Elmore. He seems to be the most amoral character of the crew, but he's the real family man back home and all that.

Surprising that Linda Hamilton got squibbed off so soon. She didn't really have a chance to go anywhere. Guess that's on account of the six-episode season. Maybe that will free up some room for Michael Rooker to go to work.
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post #37 of 62
4/6/06 at 4:19am
Show lost me fifteen minutes in, probably forever. If I hear fantastic things, maybe I'll netflix season one.

Just not impressive, whatsoever. The characters are annoying and the plots are telegraphed.
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post #38 of 62
4/6/06 at 2:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Bodhisattva
Hated the girl. Kids on TV need to chill the fuck out. And by "chill the fuck out" I mean "not be on it anymore". I don't think there's ever been one I've liked (with the exception of George Michael and Maybe on Arrested Developement).
It's interesting that you mention Arrested Development since Mae Whitman played George Michael's girlfriend, Ann.

I still have a hard time believing she's all grown up. I still remember her as little Bernice in [i]Hope Floats and that heart-wrenching scene when she pitches a fit when her mother forces her to leave her father behind, after he admitted to cheating on national TV.

I am surprised that no one's said that Linda Hamilton got terminated.

This is one of those shows that seems like it'll be a real slow burner.

Braugher's doing a great job in the role and I especially liked his reaction when his step-daughter finally admitted to witnessing the shooting and calls him out on the steps of the church after the funeral. His grin said it all.
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post #39 of 62
4/6/06 at 6:18pm
braugher definitely has the most sinister and meaning-filled grin on tv. recall it so fondly from the homicide days...
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post #40 of 62
4/12/06 at 2:12am
watched the first two episodes - did not like it. was just filled with corny ass dialogue all over.

anyone know if they are ever going to replay homicide on tv? I never caught it but I love the WIRE and I am reading the Homicide book now. anyhow - thief is just not doing it for me.
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post #41 of 62
4/12/06 at 3:13am
Not much grabbed me in this episode. For only a 6 part series they sure are drawing things out. I did like the technique Braugher used to get the electronic safe combination.
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post #42 of 62
4/12/06 at 3:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moltisanti
Not much grabbed me in this episode. For only a 6 part series they sure are drawing things out. I did like the technique Braugher used to get the electronic safe combination.
It did strike me as a bit odd that someone who was as safe (no pun intended) as Roz would pick a number that meant something to her rather than something random, but other than that it was a good episode. I'll agree that it does feel a bit drawn out in places, but I'll wait till it's over to see if it forms a satisfing whole ala The Wire. Braugher was excellent as well, but the daughter is once again testing my patience (and her BF needs to die. Now.) I'm hoping they focus more on the angle of the rest of the team wanting to get rid of her and the tension it will create. Like I said though, I'll wait till the end of the season to hold off on judgement.
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post #43 of 62
4/12/06 at 2:13pm
Thread Starter 
I too am kinda suprised that they're taking a "slow burn" strategy with a show that's only supposed to run six episodes. That said, they've hooked me. I think Mae Whitman has toed the line between believable teenage brat and annoying teenage bitch pretty well. Andre Braugher has also dominated every scene he's in. I'd like the crew to start getting highlighted more and more, and it looks like that's starting to pick up. Moltisanti, if you end up hating this, I'll fly out to your place and punch you in the face. You liked Wanted, didn't you?
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post #44 of 62
4/12/06 at 3:04pm
I did indeed like “Wanted.” Overall I like “Thief” as well. I’m just a little tired of the repetition of this:

-Braugher argues with stepdaughter
-Braugher has tender moment where he bonds with stepdaughter over his late wife
-Braugher argues with stepdaughter
-Rinse and repeat

I don’t have a problem with Rooker, the hitmen, or the majority of scenes involving the crew but the show has made the Braugher/stepdaughter relationship too much of a focal point.
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post #45 of 62
4/19/06 at 3:52am
Definite improvement over last week. As bad as some of the scenes between Braugher and his daughter have been their blow-up at the end of this episode was handled well.
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post #46 of 62
4/19/06 at 3:56am
Gotta agree, pretty good this week and only looks to get better. Best line of the night was when the two Chinese hitmen were talking:

"Parkinson's is like banging Scarlett Johansson....it doesn't get any better."
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post #47 of 62
4/19/06 at 9:19pm
Liked last night's episode. That was a great culmination at the end of the show, leading up to the step-daughter dropping the "nigger" bomb, so to speak. I thought Braugher was gonna come back in that room and lower the boom on Whitman right then, but it was a great scene. Also, it looks like Rooker is getting more screen time.

With the slow pace of the show, I expect the next two episodes (is that all there is left?) to be full of action. I just hope the finale doesn't leave too many loose ends, with the hope of another season.
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post #48 of 62
4/26/06 at 3:10am
Now that was the type of television I've been expecting from this show. I half expected the main hitman to kill off the younger one at some point but the way he just quickly blew away Rooker was a stunner. That sequence kind of upstaged the heist, which was also interesting.

Sad to see that Rooker won't be around for the finale but the preview looked as though we might be getting James Remar. I repeat, an unconfirmed James Remar appearance on next week's finale of "Thief."
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post #49 of 62
4/30/06 at 9:20pm
Not sure if anybody is still with this show but F/X is going to play last week's superb episode tonight at 10 and tomorrow night at 11 in preparation for Tuesday's finale.
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post #50 of 62
4/30/06 at 9:36pm
Yep, that was James Remar.

A few years ago, I had the chance to meet the actor who played Rooker's captain in this show. His name is Mike Pniewski and if I not mistaken, he lives in the Atlanta area when he's not working. Anyway, he was a very friendly guy and lately I've been seeing him pop in movies/TV quite often.
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