Three Rivers - news, links, discussion - part 9 **SPOILERS**

[Emerald]

I really liked this episode. Although I do have to say, in terms of ensemble cast work particularly, I did think last weeks episode was slightly better. Alex is really starting to settle into the role as well, which is great to see. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed though that he seems to look really pleased with himself when he says the medical terminology? That might be something he needs to watch character wise. A Doctor would be used to saying those words, not getting a 'cat that caught the canary' smile on their face whenever they pronounced something right.

This episode did touch me more on a personal level. The fear of the ex-addict before the tranplant, not thinking he deserved a second chance at life when he thought of himself as a screw up was something I could really relate to. This was the first episode I actually got a little choked up over. And the speech from the Nurse about people (presumably) in her family not lying when they said they were going to stick at being clean, but just not knowing exactly what it took...yeah, that was great, and rang very true. It almost made me think the person writing those scenes had had past experience with addiction themselves.

And yes...DAMN YOU CBS! Now I'm hooked on Three Rivers as well.

[jmc]

A Doctor would be used to saying those words, not getting a 'cat that caught the canary' smile on their face whenever they pronounced something right.

Never noticed that, Em, but it's a good reason to rewatch.
I'm getting used to the 'magical medicine' with the transplant patients so the sleeping Joaquin didn't jar as much as the pregnant woman in the first episode. The lawyer was presented much more realistically as a post-op patient (pain; wound drain) than any other patient I've seen so far. And the little blond girl actually had some symptoms and looked ill, beautiful but ill.
Alex does look like he's relaxing into the role more each week. That was the second week where the doctors had a moment to reflect at the end and I like that. I don't find myself warming up too much to the rest of the cast but maybe that will come.

[Moonlightsonata]

I really wanted this show to be what some call "appointment television." That is what Moonlight was to me - I had to be home to see it - didn't trust the TIVO. And as much as I adore and respect and want to support Alex, unless there are some drastic changes I just don't see this show doing it for me. I won't mention any downers on the Three Rivers board but I would like to think that I can do it here on a Moonlight board.

Yes it was great to finally see the rugby game on television considering they spent at least three hours shooting it in the heat. And yes it felt good to know that I was there. Actually that part felt really good. But something - maybe the editing - was lacking in that I didn't see a clear transition from that scene to why Dr. Andy was called to the hospital. In that sense it felt sort of gratuitous to me. And yes we actually did ask Alex why rugby in a town so committed to football like Pittsburgh is and he said it was a "shout out to his home" which was really nice of him to think of. I don't mean to be nit picky but like a fan somewhere else mentioned it seemed like Alex had a little trouble with hiding his Oz accent on that scene.

I liked getting to know more about the doctors especially Dr. Andy to learn he wasn't always the saint he seems. I want to find out more about them - they will be there every week. But I feel like too much time is spent on the patient stories (especially the lawyer one last night) and that is taking away from learning more about the doctors.

So basically the show isn't really entertaining me in the way I had hoped. While Grey's Anatomy borders on being like a soap opera and some of its characters can be a pain at times, I think something more on the order of Grey's Anatomy or ER would be nice. This almost feels like a Law and Order type show to me where the cases are everything. Sorry but just my opinion. But I will continue watching and I won't be posting anything negative on a non Moonlight board. And maybe just maybe some of the Moonlight magic will come through eventually. Thanks for letting me rant.

[lafluffy]

Yeah, I like this board because I don't have to walk on eggshells especially regarding TR. I really want Alex to be a success because he seems such a sweetheart but not at the expense of forfeiting my critical faculties or voice.

I am not looking for another ML (an extremely rare Bird of Paradise). Actually I rarely watch TV shows and ML was a compelling exception. Not much grips me so I'm not surprised that TR doesn't grip me either. But who knows, maybe one day TR will be "good enough". I must admit though, I am drawn in by the positive, idealistic spin with good, decent, compassionate people as leaders. How refreshing especially after that endless downer, House. The writing just needs to be less saccharine.

[wondergirl9847]

I hold Moonlight up on such a high pedestal (warts and all. Heh.) that there is NO WAY any show will ever compete with that. No, I don't enjoy TR like I did/do ML, that will never change....but no other show I watch makes me feel like that either.

How about a freaky analogy? Moonlight is kind of like my child (I have no kids, but go with it. LOL) and Three Rivers is like my dog. If some mean person came up to me and said "Choose between your child and your dog." OF COURSE I'm going to choose my child....it's my CHILD. I love my dog and I am going to be inconsolably, extremely upset to see my dog go, but between the two....it's a 100% no-brainer. That's how I feel about the two. Yes, I realize it's the wierdest thing ever, to say it like that.

Three Rivers is enjoyable, but I'm not as excited about the show as others. I have issues with it (some personal like the silly color transitions and some technical, like the medical stuff), but I'd follow Alex anywhere. If we lose it (PLEASE NO!), I have to be honest and say I won't be as upset as I was when ML was cancelled. That was devastation at it's height for me. I seriously cried like a family member passed. I know most of us did. Please don't read that as, "Christy wants them to cancel Three Rivers." It does NOT. I do NOT want that at all. It just wouldn't hit me hard like ML did.

I get what Faye is saying about it not connecting all the way with her. It doesn't really do that for me either. Like I said, I am enjoying watching it, but I'm not buying the episodes on iTunes like I did with ML. I'll probably buy the DVD when it comes out though because I'll bet you a million bucks, they'll have tons of extras on there just to tick us off about ML having none. LOL They irk me. They're irksome.[/The Mentalist] I realize we are only 3 episodes in, so I'm holding out hope that at some point, it WILL really connect, but so far, it's just like ER to me. I watched it every week for a few years, but it was just a show I watched every Thursday. I didn't talk about it, watch it over and over or buy the DVDs. Nothing like that.

All that said, I'll support this show, watch it, and I will NEVER stop supporting Alex. I cannot wait to see Back-Up Plan as well.

[redwinter101]

Christy, I LOVE the child/dog analogy. So very apt.

Red

[wpgrace]

Glad I am not WonderChristy's dog...

And I would be rather surprised if ANY of us find another show that affects us like ML did... and if I, personally, ever get that connected to a show again, you all permission to shoot me. Please.

So I was not expecting to connect to 3R in that way... shoot me, remember?
But I find I am growing to really like it very much. Getting rather hooked on it, in fact. Mostly because I like all 3 lead doctors and that little SpongeBob guy. The actors are quite lovely and most talented and I actually LIKE the doctors that they portray, unlike the self-centered @$$holes on Greys'...
And I'll watch every last drop of it, primarily of course, because Alex is in it... cause I've stated many times I'd watch him read the phone book. I would. But turns out that 3R is better than that.

[PNWgal]

Glad I am not WonderChristy's dog...

And I would be rather surprised if ANY of us find another show that affects us like ML did... and if I, personally, ever get that connected to a show again, you all permission to shoot me. Please.

So I was not expecting to connect to 3R in that way... shoot me, remember?
But I find I am growing to really like it very much. Getting rather hooked on it, in fact. Mostly because I like all 3 lead doctors and that little SpongeBob guy. The actors are quite lovely and most talented and I actually LIKE the doctors that they portray, unlike the self-centered @$$holes on Greys'...
And I'll watch every last drop of it, primarily of course, because Alex is in it... cause I've stated many times I'd watch him read the phone book. I would. But turns out that 3R is better than that.

What Grace said (with the exception of 'that little SpongeBob guy'...I really detest him). I'm finding myself becoming attached to a show I really don't want to be attached to. And you bet I'll be there until the bitter end, because that's how much I adore Alex - maybe little ol' me perched in front of my television on Sundays nights doesn't mean sh...errr, anything in the grand scheme of things, but I'll do whatever I can to support him and his career. But in supporting Alex, I'm learning that his co-stars are talented in their own right and are starting to mesh very nicely.

Allow me to play Devil's Advocate for just a brief moment. 3R is about organ donation and transplantation - it would make sense the storylines would revolve more around the premise than the doctors doing the surgeries. It stands to reason the doctors' backstories may take a backseat to the main story of someone needing an organ transplant, but...we've already learned things about the doctors and I have a feeling we're going to learn more as we go along. What I'd like to see is more arcing storylines - i.e., I would have liked to see the lawsuit story carried out over a few episodes instead of solved in 45 minutes.

All in all, 3R's not great television, but it's better than most.

[wpgrace]

My turn to agree with you now, Pgal... so... ITA.

Tho... poor poor SpongeBob. Spurned by Pgal...

[coco]

So I'm a little behind every one else but I've just managed to watch Ep 3 and once again I'm impressed. I'm starting to think that Ep 1 was just a blip in an otherwise watchable show. All the doctors are great. I particularly loved Dr Lee in this one. Alex is quite understated in this show. The other doctors are standing out more than him for me at the moment but I'll see if that changes over time.

I'm intrigued once again to see next week's ep and that has to be a sign that the show is working. Yay!

[wondergirl9847]

Glad I am not WonderChristy's dog...

Heh.

I like all the characters. I'm not in love with them, but I like 'em. "Spongebob" is a little too much of a caricature for me right now, but I'm sure he'll even out.

PNWGal, I agree with you about the arcs. Something I'd like to see less is "Everything solved in 42 minutes!" and more ongoing stories.

[darkstarrising]

I've just read through the comments and it seems like the strength of the episodes is increasing and the actors are 'hitting their stride'. Having seen 3 episodes now, perhaps the order was decided to get the weakest one out of the way first

Loved it that the rugby player was Mick....of all the names they could have chosen, even Mike, for heavens sake, they chose Mick.

One other note....I checked the numbers, and while not good, at least the pundits have stopped anticipating the show being yanked...they said very little,in fact. The fact that the show started an hour and 15 minutes later than normal may have pushed some of us on the east coast beyond our bedtime has to play into the drop off after 11. It would be nice to see this show at its regular time, although the competition at 9 is tough.

[darkstarrising]

I forgot....I sent feedback to CBS similar to above.

I've watched all three episodes now and can say that I'm pleased to see the show hitting its stride. The characters are developing nicely and the pace / content of the storylines have improved greatly.

This show has great promise and I hope you'll give it time to develop. Perhaps a better day /timeslot is in order. Trying to develop an audience when the air time keeps changing from week to week due to football overruns isn't helping.

Wonder if I'll get a response to this one.

[wpgrace]

So I'm a little behind every one else but I've just managed to watch Ep 3 and once again I'm impressed. I'm starting to think that Ep 1 was just a blip in an otherwise watchable show. All the doctors are great. I particularly loved Dr Lee in this one. Alex is quite understated in this show. The other doctors are standing out more than him for me at the moment but I'll see if that changes over time.

I'm intrigued once again to see next week's ep and that has to be a sign that the show is working. Yay!

Interesting point, dear coco... I think that's endemic to the character... Andy is the backbone of the staff and his wild days seem to be behind him. And if you saw that show, The Doctors, where Alex appeared, briefly, with the real Gonzo... you can see they did pattern the character like him. He's no doubt a skilled surgeon, and a lovely man, but he's hardly a traffic magnet, personality-wise. I think the essence of the character IS his skill, his steadiness, his kindness, his caring. Alex was brave to take that role, cause he's not the show-stopper. And he's playing the guy understated, as he usually plays his characters.

He played Mick in a similarly quiet, understated way, unless Mick was vamping out or meeting up with Coraline in a graveyard. Maybe we will see some rattled-Andy eventually ... tho Andy's version of the sexy vampire jumping thing is replacing lungs successfully with scalpel and thread. Not the same visual at all, is it?

[r1015bill]

1. There is no way that anyone could believe that that was anything but a Mick shoutout! Pander away!

5. How come Miranda gets to show tattoos and not Andy?

Sorry, I'm running way behind everybody.

Just wanted to comment on the similarity to ML OOTP episode. It was almost like that Mick guy was yelling Lee Jay's line - "I know what you are, Andy!" Alex's reaction was kind of similar too. And rather than the really dramatic reveal at the end, we got bits and pieces through the episode.

I totally missed the tattoos on Miranda. And if Andy really was that close to prison, why wouldn't he have had tattoos.