The Nine

[zacandmax]

bstewart said:

Because I am twelve, I giggled when Kim Raver stifles a laugh after the bank manager tells her bitchy mother "I can assure you, no one has been inside your box."

I giggled too. I'm turning thirteen next week.

[Deleted]

I'm suprised by how much I liked this, I was hooked in the first five minutes. I'm glad Tim Daly is still getting work. And I also love John Billingsley. He's the perfect nerd.

[kafka]

After reading a NY Times review (which was a glowing rave review, btw), I was dreading seeing this because I didn't think I could really stand another Lost show where everything was draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggged out for season after season.

But I loved it. It was really rivetting and I was shocked at one point when I looked up at the time on the VCR tape to see that it was almost over.

I like a lot of the supporting cast, especially the lesser known actors like the guy who plays Ed (the DA)(who is probably not long for his relationship with Kim Ravers), Chi McBride and the Lourdes Benedicto who played Eva. (I wish they'd kept her on, instead of the actress who plays her sister, although she's good too).

But Tim Daly and John Billingsley... together? Amazing casting choices. One's gorgeous, and the other is a phenomenal character actor.

I'm guessing the big deal with Scott Wolf's character is that he tossed his fiancée in front of himself as a human shield in "a moment" of panic. His cowardice would explain Lizzie's withdrawal from him and her doubts about their future together.

I can't wait for next week.

[Deleted]

It was interesting to see subtle changes between the screener version I saw and the broadcast pilot -- it was even snappier and more pulse-pounding (something I hope they can maintain as the story progresses) and the final moments were trimmed so the final WTF? moment was even more of a surprise (you could see more of who was wearing the tee-shirt in the screener).

I'm even more convinced that this is one of the shows to watch this season, though I'm afraid it'll get overshadowed by the more-hyped (and vastly inferior & unsophisticated) crapola like Jericho, so everyone seriously needs to go to watch the episode on abc.com if they haven't (USA-only, typically). Please, people, don't let the Threshold syndrome sink this one.

[kafka]

bstewart said:

Please, people, don't let the Threshold syndrome sink this one.

BStewart, what constitutes "the Threshold syndrome" in your mind. Are you referring to how expectations of things can sink a show, regardless of whether it is good or bad? Or are you saying that it was "more-hyped (and vastly inferior & unsophisticated) crapola like Jericho"? I have the feeling it's the latter.

I actually really, really liked Threshold. But I may have been one of the 3 people on the planet who watched that show. I really miss it because I thought it was damn clever or engaging. I'm sure that shows my pleblian, utterly brainless taste.

FWIW, if it makes any difference, I don't like Jericho.

[Deleted]

No, you and I are totally on the same page. I loved Threshold. I should've been more clear: Threshold was really engaging, fun to watch good character actors* get their character on, and had a story that moved along nicely (I like to say it was the X-Files conspiracy story that they never quite got right on X-Files).

I meant to say: "Please, people don't let the Threshold Syndrome, in which good work was completely underpromoted and therefore underappreciated, sink another clever show".

*Also, I heart Carla Gugino, and I don't care who knows it.

[kafka]

bstewart said:

*Also, I heart Carla Gugino, and I don't care who knows it.

Heh. That's very sweet. My crush from that series was Peter Dinklage. And it's lingered on ever since. I don't care if he's the one man who may actually be more petite than me; he's just awesome. (And I normally hate that American word, but Peter Dinklage? Actually and genuinely awesome!)

<ahem> (blush)

Topic: I don't think this show will share my much-lamented Threshold's fate, simply because every major reviewer seems to have gotten on the adulation bandwagon. The shows most reviewers seem to be nutty about are "The Nine," "Studio 60" and "Friday Night Lights." I'm still not too sure why they rave so much about the last two (particularly the incredibly annoying Studio 60).

But I think "The Nine" will be one of those unusual things where the critics AND the audience will actually mesh in perfect unanimity. Based on the reviews here and elsewhere thus far, that might not be complete hyperbole.

I think the NY Times said it perfectly when it concluded that this was a show with a more mature appeal, while still having the faint underlying, theoretical, suspenseful appeal of "Lost." Namely, a story being carried out for weeks or seasons on end with only character interplay, intermittent clues, and occasional flashbacks being the main focus. Plot resolution may take a back seat to things, but it's a really appealing, riveting back seat.

Erm. I think I've taken babbling straight into the domain of incoherent generalities. Forgive me. I've had 4 hrs sleep in a bit more than 4 days and I'm waiting for my second 23rd wind.

[CAgirl]

I watched this show and loved it. It's definitely part of my tv schedule. I don't think it'll be cancelled because it's after Lost and I've only seen positive reviews. And sorry, but I am watching Jericho and like it. But that doesn't interfere with the Nine since it's on at different times.
I loved that almost all of the actors are people I recognize. I don't know their names, but found myself saying, "There's Bailey, that's the Third Watch lady, the dad from American Dreams (how I miss that show!), Mari Cruz from Prison Break who is apparently no longer on Prison Break, etc."

So the girl was in on it? Isn't it a dumb thing to go to the jail to talk to the guy that held the bank up? Am I missing something?
I really want to know what happened in the bank!

[sugarhigh]

Tim Daly is my husband. That is all.

[cocobean]

I don't know how to break this to you sugarhigh...but..um...I'm having an affair with your husband!!

Seriously. Great show.