tom-rusch Reviews

Smith (2006–2007)

strange that CBS canceled this after only one season

[9/10 · 9 October 2009]

after watching many of the balance of the episodes on DirecTV's 101, i'm puzzled why this didn't get more that a showing of the pilot.

interesting characters. definite possibilities for the direction the show might have gone.

all the characters might have great back stories that would give the writers an option to move beyond the mere caper plot of other similar series.

the second to the last episode on 101 suggested the background for simon baker's character and suggested a little redemptive option.

and the same episode hints at the history of ray liotta's and virginia madsen's troubled relationship.

ah well, another example of 'if i like it, they'll cancel it.'

Merlin and the Book of Beasts (2009 TV Movie)

another variation on merlin and the round table

[2/10 · 20 July 2009]

i'm a sucker these costume rehashes of Merlin and the knights of the Round Table. not much in the way of character development in this film - i guess you're required to know the general story well enough to understand who/what the characters reference.

Merlin, who i guess is supposed to be one of the leads, plays the character like a homeless person who's inhaled too many dangerous chemicals and is permanently deranged. 'daisy,' from Dead Like Me, tries to provide a moral center for the film, without success.

the rest of the cast stays in the background. even the 'bad guy' has minimal screen time and doesn't make much of an impact.

made it too the end only by using the 'fast forward' function of our DVR.