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simbashrimp
Reviews
The Rookie: True Crime (2021)
It's not good, but it's actually an improvement over season 3 prior
So a few things to this now that it's not a new episode. First is that it's just not very good. Some of the regular cast is just out of character such as with Nolans partner, Harper, who regularly works undercover yet allows herself on a documentary. That just doesn't work. And of course more of Chen being made to look better than her senior more experienced partner because feminism, though it's actually toned down from the last few episodes.
It is nice to see Frankie Muniz again and how he's gone crazy after being a child star. That said the way the character is developed feels very limited and needed some serious work to improve the matter. I know everyone is excited to see other actors like Rainn Wilson to which I say..meh. Actors are going to act and he did nothing special here. Sorry.
It's not as bad as episodes 2-6 of this season but it hasn't reached any of the heights from even the bad episodes of seasons 1 and 2. Not sure if it will improve. I took a two month break after the last episode on Hulu so the show is losing me quickly.
The Practice: The Cradle Will Rock (2002)
Mediocre overall
It's an episode which was common in just about all tv dramas between 1993 and 2003 regarding the choices that a religious couple could make, or not, and how that impacts our laws. Babylon 5 did it in the first season with religious aliens instead and it's cropped up a few times in Star Trek, one way or another. So Practice had a turn and it's just not that exciting. It was pretty clear it would come down to the elements on if they should be allowed to put lives in danger for their religion or not, and having come out so soon after 9.11 the result was pretty expected. Not that I necessarily agree with it given how things have been for the non-religious groups but that is another topic.
While that case might be a 3/10 overall the episode is bouyed up by seeing Lindsey's attempt to make a new start for her life. Though I wished they would have pushed her towards the other David Kelly show of the time and put her in Ally McBeal, at least for another crossover. Also seeing more about the other DA having a mental breakdown helps this reach a 5/10 average episode for the series.
The Practice: Inter Arma Silent Leges (2001)
Below average episode on account of messaging
At the time this came out the terrorist attacks were still quite recent and of course that had a huge effect on fiction. Some shows like 24 ended up thriving from it while Star Trek faltered in it's ratings. Well in the Practice this week they decided to present a really unusual sort of story where the U. S government just up and took a foreign citizen who is of the blood of the current enemy, Arabs. I would never say that the U. S government is free of criticism and made negative actions during this frenzy after the attacks. But the messaging here with the willing Arab immigrant to undergo this as an American patriot is just too on the nose and not realistic as it's presented. I'm sorry but this is just not a well thought out plot. The other case is all about race relations and an obviously guilty client playing the race card to get out of a murder. More messaging though it adds some balance and how juries can be easily mislead.
JAG: Ice Queen (2003)
Not an equal treatment
For an NCIS episode this may be alright but for a JAG episode this is sub par. The NCIS plot completely shoves the JAG cast aside and in order to service the NCIS cast they make Rabb look weak in comparison. After all these years following Rabb it really shows a sense of disloyalty from the creators.
You can tell this is a backdoor pilot in only the loosest sense as everything including the title fonts are full on NCIS, skipping even the JAG titles.
A proper cross over or backdoor pilot gives credit to the new characters but also reinforces the current cast to place everyone in a good light. That just doesn't happen here. I can only say this is 4/10 for a JAG episode, if that.
Magnum, P.I.: Three Minus Two (1982)
Was this a holdover from season 1?
I cant help but feel this is a holdover from season 1. Everyone looks like they did in the beginning of season 1 and there is that exposition choice to explain all the characters, like how Magnum has a big bar bill. It all feels a bit awkward. Plus of course the clip of the girl snorkling in the opening. As a season ender its not very strong but its alright.