Three Rivers - news, links, discussion - part 8 **SPOILERS**

[HotMicks]

Last night's episode is now available FREE on iTunes!

ETA: Apparently, when you download it you get both the HD and the standard version.

Thanks for the heads up, Lilly. Otherwise I would have missed it. Not sure which party is "responsible" for this, but I ended up having to search for it by name using the "search" box. It doesn't show up anywhere on the TV home page (when you click on the "TV Shows" tab at iTunes); it doesn't show up in "Recommendations for You" list (even though I bought every episode of Moonlight from iTunes and even every episode of The Shield in which Alex appears). It doesn't show up in the "New on TV" list. It doesn't show up in the "Just Added" list. Nor does it show up on, wait for it - wait for it... the CBS page! But guess what DOES show up on the CBS page for download? Moonlight! Go figure.


I don't think there's any way around it this time: monkeys with pencils.

ETA: Oh, and btw, iTunes is saying it will take 5 hours to download 3R (and I have the fastest Mac laptop there is)! However, if you don't want BOTH the 'regular' and HD versions of the show, as Lilly mentions above, click on "downloads" in your iTunes list on the left side of the page, and you can pause/delete whichever version you don't want.

[Lilly]

I found it by searching on "Three Rivers" when it didn't show up on the CBS page. Also, it took significantly less time to download than the estimate indicated for me. It might be worth a try for anyone interested in the HD.

[HotMicks]

Yeah, actually, I just checked it... about a third is downloaded and it's only been 20 minutes and I'm downloading both versions simultaneously.

Also, for anyone who is interested, there are NO "customer ratings" yet at iTunes (so 3R has zero "stars"). That could be one reason why it's not showing up anywhere on iTunes.
Just to show some luv for the boy , I'm going to go write a short review and give it some stars. He's probably a little bummed about the "professional" ratings (Nielsen's). Maybe we can all send him some encouraging words in whatever venues we frequent (MySpace, TV.com, CBS.com, iTunes, etc.). No matter what criticisms I had for the show, it wasn't horrid (as too many reviews suggested ) and I do want Alex to succeed (albeit selfishly, so I can watch him weekly and not just annually).

[wondergirl9847]

Just finished downloading both versions and will compare regular to HD....then delete one of them. Thanks for the headsup, Lilly!

I think it's important that we leave a review because we need to combat all the horrid reviews from the stupid critics who said it was horrific. It was NOT dark or depressing. I'm afraid if people don't read good things, they'll assume that it really is horrible and not give it a try at all.

[PNWgal]

I'm chiming in late, but...I liked it. I just hope it survives long enough to iron out the rough spots.

I don't mind a good medical procedural - I never missed an episode of ER until Anthony Edwards left. That being said...I had a bit of a disconnect with the characters in TR - I'm struggling with seeing Alex as a doctor. Surprisingly, it wasn't Alex that captivated me, but Katherine Moennig - she's a wonderfully gifted actress. Dr. Andy is too...perfect. I realize there's only so much you can do in an hour, but I hope they add some grit to Alex's character - he's just too nice for a surgeon. It seemed like Alex wasn't comfortable in Andy's skin - I've never had that feeling about any other character I've seen him play. He's always slid so seamlessly into each character, that Dr. Andy felt awkward. Hopefully that will improve.

I thought the death of the construction supervisor was so well handled, but that was completely ruined by the unrealistic delivery of that premature baby. Really - Dad holding a 28-weeker in the NICU? Surely a baby born that early would still be in an incubator.

I usually give new shows three episodes to impress me, and quite frankly - Three Rivers didn't impress me. I liked it fine, but wasn't completely hooked.

[HotMicks]

I think it's important that we leave a review because we need to combat all the horrid reviews from the stupid critics who said it was horrific. It was NOT dark or depressing. I'm afraid if people don't read good things, they'll assume that it really is horrible and not give it a try at all.

Yes, that's a good point, WG... it really wasn't at all dark or depressing... and that might be part of why we feel it was too "perfect" for real-life medicine. Nonetheless, I don't want all dark and depressing, either. I think there is far too much dysfunction on TV today and not enough that pulls us together. Here's what I submitted. iTunes said they have to review the comments first, before they'll post them, so I'm not sure when comments will start showing up... could be that people already left some but, like mine, they just haven't been posted by Apple yet.

Feel good on Sunday nights
When it's tough to think about Monday, tune into Three Rivers to warm your heart and soul. With a stellar cast including Alfre Woodard (St. Elsewhere, Mandela), Alex O'Loughlin (The Shield, Moonlight), Kate Moennig (The L Word) and Daniel Henney (X-Men: Wolverine), Three Rivers will make you feel good about humanity, just in time to jostle everyone on the subway come Monday morning. Set in the top transplant center in the country, Three Rivers brings together donor, recipient and doctor for an hour of drama, tempered by a light touch of humor to keep everyone's spirits up. This show has a lot of room to grow and some unique stories to tell. If you're tired of watching selfish, arrogant and twisted characters, try Three Rivers for some drama that doesn't come at the expense of your soul. These docs will have you feeling better in no time!

[Lilly]

Wow, HM!! Nicely done.

[coco]

Just managed to find some time to watch the ep and I have to say I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to. It wasn't fantastic and there are lots of things that annoyed me about the first ep that I'm hoping will disappear as more eps appear. I saw enough that I liked to tune in again next week (cos I actually thought before I saw this that I'd be watching just for Alex and that is now not the case ).

I'm a huge, huge fan of medical dramas and TR is not as good as some I've seen. It is very schmaltzy in theme which really irked me while watching it. It needs to be a little more "real" and Andy needs to have a few flaws too - no one is that perfect no matter how good they are.

I too am hoping they do away with so many close up shots - it just didn't work and actually in the end only succeeded in annoying me. I do like to see an Alex close up but there was just way too many and they weren't all that brilliantly filmed in the first place - it really took away from the look of the show.

I confess that I found the way some of the cast (including Alex at times ) delivered the dialogue was a little off. It just didn't flow as I thought it would. Hopefully that too will settle down as we get more eps.

I really enjoyed watching all the cast members - they all brought something to the ep - and I will enjoy getting to know them all better as the eps go on.

What worked particularly well for me was the way the wove the stories together. It added to the drama and this was also helped by the excellent guest stars. I thought the transplant donor's family was fabulous in particular. And I know my heart is just going to break over the Omaha patient (sorry his name escapes me right now).

All in all - room for improvement and I'll be tuning in next week to see if it does.

[lafluffy]

I think it's important that we leave a review because we need to combat all the horrid reviews from the stupid critics who said it was horrific. It was NOT dark or depressing. I'm afraid if people don't read good things, they'll assume that it really is horrible and not give it a try at all.

Yes, that's a good point, WG... it really wasn't at all dark or depressing... and that might be part of why we feel it was too "perfect" for real-life medicine. Nonetheless, I don't want all dark and depressing, either. I think there is far too much dysfunction on TV today and not enough that pulls us together. Here's what I submitted. iTunes said they have to review the comments first, before they'll post them, so I'm not sure when comments will start showing up... could be that people already left some but, like mine, they just haven't been posted by Apple yet.

Feel good on Sunday nights
When it's tough to think about Monday, tune into Three Rivers to warm your heart and soul. With a stellar cast including Alfre Woodard (St. Elsewhere, Mandela), Alex O'Loughlin (The Shield, Moonlight), Kate Moennig (The L Word) and Daniel Henney (X-Men: Wolverine), Three Rivers will make you feel good about humanity, just in time to jostle everyone on the subway come Monday morning. Set in the top transplant center in the country, Three Rivers brings together donor, recipient and doctor for an hour of drama, tempered by a light touch of humor to keep everyone's spirits up. This show has a lot of room to grow and some unique stories to tell. If you're tired of watching selfish, arrogant and twisted characters, try Three Rivers for some drama that doesn't come at the expense of your soul. These docs will have you feeling better in no time!

If I didn't already watch it, that review would pique my interest. Darkness does not equal depth, IMO. Well done!

[lafluffy]

It is very schmaltzy in theme which really irked me while watching it. It needs to be a little more "real" and Andy needs to have a few flaws too - no one is that perfect no matter how good they are.

See, this is what I don't get. I've seen this written so many times so I'm not pointing out your crit in particular, just using it as an example The characters are just being introduced. We've barely begun to get to know them. So why is there this assumption that Dr Y is going to be portrayed as a perfect saint? I saw a compassionate and caring man. This is not perfection- this is what I hope we all aspire to be. And it stands to reason that over time, his character will unfold, in all its other facets. I am puzzled.

[coco]

It is very schmaltzy in theme which really irked me while watching it. It needs to be a little more "real" and Andy needs to have a few flaws too - no one is that perfect no matter how good they are.

See, this is what I don't get. I've seen this written so many times so I'm not pointing out your crit in particular, just using it as an example The characters are just being introduced. We've barely begun to get to know them. So why is there this assumption that Dr Y is going to be portrayed as a perfect saint? I saw a compassionate and caring man. This is not perfection- this is what I hope we all aspire to be. And it stands to reason that over time, his character will unfold, in all its other facets. I am puzzled.

This was just what I experienced while watching it I'm afraid, lafluffy. I do get that they are just introducing the characters and yes, he may not always be like that in every ep but that was what they portrayed him to be, for me, in this one. I agree that he was caring and compassionate but he still came across as a little too "perfect". I like characters to have some flaws - makes them more realistic - and so far I haven't seen any in Andy hence my post. Bearing in mind I was giving my views on Ep 1 only - that is the picture CBS painted for me with this one.

[redwinter101]

Well, Andy can't tell the time (or be on time) apparently...

Seriously though, I'm going to watch again tonight. I want to watch it again, which has to be a good thing - and not just to see Alex but to get a better sense of some of the things I missed first time round.

Red

[wpgrace]

I thought the death of the construction supervisor was so well handled, but that was completely ruined by the unrealistic delivery of that premature baby. Really - Dad holding a 28-weeker in the NICU? Surely a baby born that early would still be in an incubator.

Jeez, you people with the babies... Mick babies, babies on tv needing to correspond to baby-sizes in real life...

I am clearly an awful mother... I know the chick on the show was sposed to have the baby, but did not care about the delivery, the size of said newborn, or the little scene with the daddy... and the baby rooting for the boob, did not trigger my "awwww" mechanism either... And all I kept thinking was, heart transplant and she only gets two weeks in the hospital... and THEN has to go home with a baby??????? Start faking some other illness now honey, cause if the bad heart didn't kill ya, the newborn will....(OH I AM A BAD MOTHER!)!

I prefer Mick sans babies (tho I'm reading y'all's fic) and it did not bother me that this baby was a giant...

And Red... Go for it, honey; I've watched it 3 times now. I actually like the show. Not love, but like. Still the 3 doctors... those are the characters I realllly like.

[redwinter101]

Three Giggles for Grace.

I'm afraid I'm no use on baby sizes either - but I did REALLY like the scene between Andy and the baby-daddy where he had to decide on the VAD or the transplant. I really felt the horrible pressure of having to make such a huge decision on his own ('cos it kinda seemed like mommy usually made the decisions in that household) but I also appreciated the understated anti-melodrama of the delivery (of the lines, not the baby).

Red

[coco]

Well, Andy can't tell the time (or be on time) apparently...

Seriously though, I'm going to watch again tonight. I want to watch it again, which has to be a good thing - and not just to see Alex but to get a better sense of some of the things I missed first time round.

Red

Oh! A flaw I totally forgot about. Maybe he's not that perfect after all.

It's true, Red. I was left wanting to tune in next week so it wasn't all bad and believe me, I want it to be good and I want to love Andy and to have him be a character that appeals to me and who seems real to me so here's hoping his character does unfold somewhat over the next few eps.