Tonight’s episode was tragic (and a little bizarre). The Dope is always a good resource for speculation and industry gossip, so I’m surprised that Thrid Watch threads seem really few and far between.
The editing is often really well done so important establishing shots don’t telegraph as “important establishing shots.” (Like tonight, there was something about the way a character laced up some boots, that made me think “hmm…” but it really wasn’t consequential until later when the boots help you identify what’s happening.)
It’s not always a stellar show, but both Sniffs_Markers and I enjoy it both as people who are way to familiar with the behind-the-camera stuff, and as couch potatoes.
Some of the way they’ve stage accidents and other calamities have been really quite impressive. Especially when you consider the pragmatics of a location shoot.
Rarely do I see Dope chatter about though. Interesting.
I liked the way the dead women’s severed limbs all landed in a neat pile beside her. I didn’t realize exploding gas tanks were so tidy. Did take a while for me to figure out whose limbs those were, but I missed the establishing boot shot earlier in the episode.
Seriously, though, shouldn’t she have been extra-crispy barbeque? She was standing right next to the explosion. Where’d that burned guy even come from? Looked like she was the only one anywhere near the car, and she didn’t have a spot of soot on her.
First time I’ve ever watched the show. Odds are, it’ll be the last, too.
I am a fan of the show (I don’t know why I duck my head in shame?), and let me tell you I was DISTURBED by last night’s death. I didn’t get the whole shoe thing either, but when I did I was mortified. I kept thinking, what that would feel like, to look over and see your foot next to your head. Why didn’t they all gather around her? They were in shock, but come on, even Davis, who used to sleep with her. I know its just a show, but yikes, it was a good one last night.
Margo
It actually depends on both the script and the director. Some days it can be really rather sucky. The show was strong early on when the story lines were more mundane and ordinary – as in more like a genuine day on the job. Recently they’ve been getting a little too melodramatic with their plot lines. I don’t consider it a “must see” but the show is growing on us (mostly for technical reasons) and we’ve become regular viewers.
From a technical point of view, we’re always in awe. We’re all too familiar with so many of the logicistics that go one behind the scenes, and some of their staged accidents are really well done. The big stuff they do on location is what really amazes us. They are also one of the few shows that make car chases “scary” rather than “cool” (because of the potential to kill bystanders, you cringe waiting for somebody to hit somebody). Although there is an extremely annoying habit that the actors have of not buckling up most of the time.
Miller it wasn’t a gas tank that blew, it was a pressurized tank of something else like nitro (?). According to a forensics show I once watched, depending on the nature of a blast, you can be thrown by the concussive force and appear to have minimal external injuries – but your insides will look like you got hit by a truck.
I’ve seen a similar scene in the show Tour of Duty – somehow in the carefully contrived scene of the studio lot, that was less disturbing than this one.
I a big fan, and was quite sorry to see Alex go. I liked Alex. I lost it when Kim and Davis were driving her mother to the hospital and she was talking about how Alex used to follow her dad around when she was little, and then her dad went and got himself killed at the WTC and then she just sort of trailed off…
I’m sick of the Cruz storyline, and am really hoping Yokas is the one who shot her in that final shoot-out. You just know both Bosco and Yokas are wearing vests.
Back to the OP, I’ve been watching since the series premiere but I’ve tailed off lately. Keep forgetting it’s on. I think the last one I saw was Sully drying out in that cabin, one of the best eps. IMO. I also liked the one with the drunk teens, also well done and very spooky. I caught it again on A&E recently, I think it was first run one October but wasn’t really a Halloween episode.
We were quite surpirsed at that actually (we both liked her.) Earlier this year they had an episode where she got hit by a speeding rubber-necker – which was one of those really well edited and put together accidents – so we assumed that nothing catastrophic would be happening to her character again anytime soon.
Bibliocat yeah the Cruz storyline falls under the “too much melodrama, starting to require too much suspension of disbelief.” Will be glad when that’s over. I also have my doubts about the whole Buford plot – the whole “mystery man” thing (not event he audience gets to see him – it’s like Charlie of Charlie’s Angels). It feels too contrived and I worry about the “unveiling of the master criminal.” Betcha it’s going to be Tom Berenger.
No, it’s not Tom Berenger, because while they were chasing Buford, Cruz called TB at his hotel room. Berenger is probably wrapped up in the drug dealing more than he’s admitted to.
I do agree there will be some mystery or surprise around his identity, though.
Damn, it’s gonna be a long summer.
Yokas and Bosco did kill Cuz, right? And they’re both okay, right? Right?
I thought last night’s episode was great. I knew Alex was gonna get it, only because her part seems so much smaller than anyone else in the ensemble. Do we know what she’s going to be doing now that she’s dead? I’m wondering what show she’ll show up on next fall.
I’m SO DYING to know what happens in the final shoot-out. I hope that bitch supervisor gets it. I love Yokas. She’s been taking way too much crap from her.
Yeah, I know, I thought of that too. But there’s still seems to be some kind of “Keyzer Soze” element to him, 'cause he couldn’t possibly be that big a boob and still manage to infiltrate the drug scene the way he claims to.
Bibliocat What? When’s the next episode? Don’t tell me they’re breaking already.
I still like Third Watch best when it’s not a serial. (That wrecked the X-files for me – when I missed an episode and then didn’t know what was going on.)
Ok, what happened to Jimmy? Did I miss where he got written out? I have noticed he is doing commercials for women’s hair coloring…I will miss his dimples if he is gone. Anyone fill me in? Margo
This was the season finale. Yeah, it’s gonna be a looong summer.
The actor who plays Jimmy, Eddie Cibrian, is slated to be in a new show called “The Street Lawyer.” It hasn’t been picked up yet, so there was some speculation that he’d be the one killed off.
Since the firefighters have been featured less, I guess he could still do both shows.
Useless trivia: The firefighter who plays DK (tall, dark hair, slightly goofy-looking) is married IRL to Molly Price, who plays Faith. He’s a FF in real life and they met on the set when he was an extra.
(I’m such a dork)
i gotta admit i was wondering exactly what happened to alex last night. i could figure out that some parts got separated but the metal thing kinda confused me. i was a bit disappointed in davis, i thought for sure he would make an attempt at comforting her a bit. yeah, it was a bit horrific, but most of them have seen quite a bit worse.
i was impressed with her face, particularly her eyes. she looked very realistic, like most of her had passed on and her mind hadn’t quite gotten the message yet.
Bibliocat, not a dork in my book, anyone else that has pointless (well, according to my husband) knowledge to share is OK in my book! Thanks for all the gossip! I had no idea that Faith’s hubby was on the show too!
rocking chair,
I agree that she did a great job, she really looked like she had died (I know, I need to get a life), did you notice during the explosion they super imposed her face in there? Very cool stuff!
I hope Cruz is the one that dies, I don’t care if she does voice work for Scittles candy…
I love Third Watch – I’m surprised that there aren’t more threads about it, too.
Cruz makes me itch-- her crusade to single-handedly end the availability of methamphetamine in the 55th Precinct is just stupid.
I do like the contrast of the isomorphism of Cruz and Bosco with the usual Bosco/Yokas dichotomy, though.