Three episodes in, I totally see both the frustration and the appeal.
Shanola Hampton's stage presence is staggering; I could watch her walk, talk, and get business done all day. :)
A'zaria Carter also carries her fury and fragility *so* well.
But you're so right, too - the show's story and scripting are on par with The Equalizer (the hackers are similar, too!), & yet, it has this GEM of a novel concept, in the push-pull with Gosselaar's character, buried in the rough. 😬
@MLClark Yeaaass and welcome to my world ❤️
Shanola and A'zaria are CARRYING the best parts of the show and yet the showrunners don't want to make THEIR stories the focal point.
They want to write all these EXTRA characters and EXTRA conflicts to try and keep the show interesting but it's doing the opposite. Who cares about all of these other damaged people? They are only there to create the tension of the SECRET Shanola is hiding. They are only there is give her something to lose.
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@MLClark The best media is the media that gives you a chance to see something truly UNIQUE and EPIC like rare performances or introduce you to new actors and actresses. Its hard to do that in television because so many people WHO NO NOTHING ABOUT ACTUAL ART are the ones shelling out the $$ and making all the decisions. Getting a chance to see good writing and truly powerful performances on network TV is rare ... but I really love it when it happens ❤️
I'm really glad you put me on to this piece by "ranting" about what doesn't work in it. :)
I'm the same when it comes to story & scripting - I will *rage watch* series that frustrate me when I can still see an amazing core of something brilliant, lost to the dunderheaded decisions of the producers.
But... in this case I don't have to rage watch! Yes, it's a freaking waste they built the story as they did, but the acting still SOARS over the mismanagement. *Love* these ladies!
@MLClark ❤️ so so happy to hear it. Ideally, for any TV, especially TV that is partially financed by the actors IN IT, you want to really root for them to be able to showcase their vision before it gets cancelled. Shanola is very passionate about the social politics of the show and that is coming through LOUD AND CLEAR ... but I feel like the rest of it was probably dictated by the showrunners to "fill in space" and pull in a more "diverse audience". I'm watching for the THEATER and little else.
Going off The Equalizer comparison when it comes to quality of scripting, I also get the feeling that this story struggles because the producers wanted to fill a fuller syndicated season... when this could absolutely have been a tight, powerful 6-8 episode miniseries with a much more controlled exploration of that BRILLIANT core concept: the vigilante survivor who keeps her kidnapper in her basement.
Ah, the pressures of TV. :) Taking gems, grinding 'em up, and snorting them.
@MLClark With Equalizer I know part of it is the importance of centering Black-lead television. I know it's very important for a few people involved in that show to do whatever to keep it ON and keep it at the top ... the visual of having a Black, female-lead show consistent at the top of the ratings is a big deal.