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

[darkstarrising]

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.

the other thing that was cool was when 'Mick' called Andy out and the look on Andy's face was really dark for just a brief moment, then he recovered and left the field.....wonder what Andy did and has he really conquered all his demons...

[starbucksjunkie]

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?

And if Andy really was that close to prison, why wouldn't he have had tattoos.

We haven't seen Andy shirtless yet. One can hope . . .

And I, too found that this episode had a real rhythm to it that the others lacked. Characters, speech patterns, even some mannerisms are beginning to gel. Daniel Henney also impressed me in this episode. Both the actor and the charactor have more depth than I previously thought.

I, too hope that we learn more about Andy's backstory and that we see his struggles. We are all so used to ML, with its angst and long takes and atmosphere, that this is a big change, and it is more difficult for an actor to make an impression and create a character with less screen time, rapid dialogue, and lots going on. I think they are all doing an admirable job in that regard.

[Emerald]

... 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?

Yes, 'I love that sexy Doctor cutting thing you do' doesn't really have quite the same ring to it, does it?

[MoonMad]

Great comments ladies. Christy, I loved your child/dog analogy; it's really apt actually!

I understand that TR will always be a very different show to ML, and as we're all fans of ML, it follows that we won't all like TR. Most of us are only watching because of Alex and most of us realise that it will never have the same pull as ML had. It seems to line up creatively with other CBS procedurals (except they are crime related of course) and as such, we will never get the characterisation that we all love and want so badly, and which made ML so special to us. The episodes are stand alone and I seriously doubt we'll get the backstories on the doctors to our satisfaction either. I would love to see the show trend away from the stand alone/ medical focus and become more serialised, but I doubt that will ever happen. CBS tried to make ML less serialised as well, and seeing those types of shows don't fit in with CBS's successful formula, I doubt it will happen in the case of TR, even if the current formula isn't working that well for it.

One of the things that sets it apart from other medical dramas is that the transplant stories are the prime focus, and not the doctors. Sadly they aren't writing the stories in a very exciting or original manner at the moment, and the doctors' personalities aren't making up for that lack (although they are really meshing well as a cast I think) but hopefully that will change if the show gets it's back nine order of episodes. Personally, I really like that they haven't gone down the well trodden path of making any of the doctors social misfits with addictions or personality disorders; these are realistic doctors and I don't think the audience has to see them fall low to relate to them.

With a cast as big as TR has, it's hard to get under the skin of any of them in 40 odd minutes, and I think it would really help if each episode focused on one medical story and one regular cast member in a way that tells us more about them personally as well as telling the medical story of the week. But that will probably never happen either because it would mean changing the 'three-pronged' approach in story-telling.

I really want the show to succeed for Alex's sake, but also because I can see that the show, and especially the cast together, has great potential. Here's hoping they sort themselves out and go on to great things.

[r1015bill]

One more ML moment...

When Andy was running up the stairs to the roof, did anyone else have Mick jumping down the stairwell in FDL flash through their brain?

[darkstarrising]

One more ML moment...

When Andy was running up the stairs to the roof, did anyone else have Mick jumping down the stairwell in FDL flash through their brain?

O yeah....just a little different with the white lab coat

[helloeeze]

I think we know by now that TR is a different kind of show from ML. It's procedural (as is a lot of CBS shows) with a shmidgen of regular character development each episode, which is NOT what ML was all about, so naturally it's slightly disappointing.

I'd be happy if TR was successful for Alex's sake, proving he could portray a doctor on a procedural TV show, and not have to resort to "sexy" or "hot" or "hunky" to make a living. So in that aspect I want TR to succeed.

I think there are enough people out there to enjoy this kind of show. It's not something I would normally watch, as is the case the with Cold Case, Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, CSI, The Unit, Flashpoint, and on and on and on. I want something that is a little different, more character-driven, more quirky --- something that makes me go "OOOH! that was cool." TR is NOT that kind of show. It's pedestrian, formulaic, the writing isn't particulary clever .....but it has really cool actors, I would agree with that.

The one thing I admire about TR is it is doing some good, it is telling a wholesome, earnest drama surrounding life and death issues, showing real-life trials and tribulations in a homey style. It's like we are back in the 1950s or something. That is somewhat heartwarming to me.

[Josefismysire]

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/three-ri ... -2868.html

Dr. Andy's Past Revealed!
by Megan Walsh-Boyle October 19, 2009 09:29 AM EST

Alex O'Loughlin's Dr. Andy Yablonski shares the Three Rivers heartthrob spotlight this week with a patient who has Johnny Depp-esque good looks and a rotten ticker. His name is Scott and at 17 had a heart attack from years of cocaine use.

Scott’s clean now and Andy goes to bat to have him placed on a waiting list for a transplant. Who would you rather have in your corner than Dr. Andy, huh? Even if a ruffian rugby pal has issues with Andy for not being true to his roots, which apparently is a good thing since Andy came this close to going to prison.

Anyways, Scott is the Romeo to another heart patient named Brenda’s Juliet. She has been on the waiting list for like six years. She’s a good girl and he’s a bad boy who’s trying to be better for her. (I kept waiting to hear Dire Straits “Romeo and Juliet” or John Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane”—either of those songs would have been perfect for this episode, don’t ya think?)

This sweet couple charms Andy and Miranda (and me), but the docs are also worried that their patients don’t need the complications of love. And their cause for concern is justified when Scott gets a heart before Brenda, leading Scott to go AWOL as David is retrieving the organ in Portland from a 48-year-old father and victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. When Andy finally finds Scott he’s about to make the ultimate romantic gesture—jumping off the Three Rivers rooftop in hopes that the heart will go to Brenda instead.

But that isn’t the way the transplant chain works, explains Andy, and besides, Scott is wrong to think he isn’t worthy of this new lease on life. This is when we learn about Andy’s misspent youth. Moral of the story: There’s hope yet for Scott to become something other than a screw-up!

It isn’t a fairytale ending—for that, Brenda needs to get a heart, too—but it was heart-warming seeing Brenda curled up next to Scott after his surgery (even if I was wondering would that really be allowed?)

This definitely was my favorite case of the season so far, even if I had trouble getting into or caring much about the B-storylines, like when a workaholic legal aid sues Sophia for saving her uterus—I’m thinking the real crime is wasting Alfre Woodard with such a predictable, throwaway stuff. And then there’s Ryan’s crush on Alicia—I’m not buying that he couldn’t get a pretty nurse’s attention, because he’s purty to look at himself.

What did you think? Make yourself heard in the Comments section below. And if you love Alex O'Loughlin, vote for him in our Hottest Doctor Poll!

Visit and vote in the Hottest Doctor Poll!

[lafluffy]

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.

I haven't watched any shows or read anything much about the character or TR. Yes, that is exactly how Andy comes across to me! And I really like it. So it seems that Alex has really nailed the character.

[MoonMad]

I think we know by now that TR is a different kind of show from ML. It's procedural (as is a lot of CBS shows) with a shmidgen of regular character development each episode, which is NOT what ML was all about, so naturally it's slightly disappointing.

I'd be happy if TR was successful for Alex's sake, proving he could portray a doctor on a procedural TV show, and not have to resort to "sexy" or "hot" or "hunky" to make a living. So in that aspect I want TR to succeed.

I think there are enough people out there to enjoy this kind of show. It's not something I would normally watch, as is the case the with Cold Case, Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, CSI, The Unit, Flashpoint, and on and on and on. I want something that is a little different, more character-driven, more quirky --- something that makes me go "OOOH! that was cool." TR is NOT that kind of show. It's pedestrian, formulaic, the writing isn't particulary clever .....but it has really cool actors, I would agree with that.

The one thing I admire about TR is it is doing some good, it is telling a wholesome, earnest drama surrounding life and death issues, showing real-life trials and tribulations in a homey style. It's like we are back in the 1950s or something. That is somewhat heartwarming to me.

Yes, I agree H. A lot of people want easy to digest TV and TR is definitely that. I think it would find an audience if it was put on another night that didn't drag female viewers away from it (which I'm sure Desperate Housewives does), not to mention the rough start it's had with football going into overtime. I really think that it's a good fit for CBS apart from the fact that I don't think many men would find it appealing. The cast and their chemistry IMO lifts the show above the norm, very much like The Mentalist does; a mundane kind of show but with a good blend of characters, if not character development. It does seem a bit of a throwback to old time medical shows. I can see why some people made Marcus Welby remarks, although that may be just a little too far back - it actually has a really modern vibe. All I know is that I really look forward to seeing it (as I do other easy to watch shows) and it's not just because Alex is in it.

[wondergirl9847]

I'd be happy if TR was successful for Alex's sake, proving he could portray a doctor on a procedural TV show, and not have to resort to "sexy" or "hot" or "hunky" to make a living. So in that aspect I want TR to succeed.

I think there are enough people out there to enjoy this kind of show. It's not something I would normally watch, as is the case the with Cold Case, Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, CSI, The Unit, Flashpoint, and on and on and on. I want something that is a little different, more character-driven, more quirky --- something that makes me go "OOOH! that was cool." TR is NOT that kind of show. It's pedestrian, formulaic, the writing isn't particulary clever .....but it has really cool actors, I would agree with that.

The one thing I admire about TR is it is doing some good, it is telling a wholesome, earnest drama surrounding life and death issues, showing real-life trials and tribulations in a homey style. It's like we are back in the 1950s or something. That is somewhat heartwarming to me.

Your post said it perfectly. I want him to succeed as an ACTOR and not a MOVIE/TV STAR. There's a difference.

I like quirky, cool shows too. Supernatural is the perfect example of a quirky show with MAJOR character development. One of my favorite shows ever is Twin Peaks...talk about quirky and awesome character development. Wowza! LOL

Hopefully, Three Rivers will bring information about organ donation into people's homes that didn't think much about it. That would be worth it.

ETA: My uncle's brother (he's probably 40-50 something years old) likes Three Rivers. He brought it up Friday night at dinner.

[redwinter101]

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

I'm not sure what you mean, r1015bill - that tattoos are the sign of a criminal?

Red

[helloeeze]

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

I'm not sure what you mean, r1015bill - that tattoos are the sign of a criminal?

Red

I would like to see statistics on it but I wouldn't be surprised if a higher ratio of those who have been in prison have tattoos compared to the regular population. I know tattoos are more in style in the general population in recent years but still....it would be interesting to see the stats on it, if such a thing were kept.

[redwinter101]

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

I'm not sure what you mean, r1015bill - that tattoos are the sign of a criminal?

Red

I would like to see statistics on it but I wouldn't be surprised if a higher ratio of those who have been in prison have tattoos compared to the regular population. I know tattoos are more in style in the general population in recent years but still....it would be interesting to see the stats on it, if such a thing were kept.

I'm sure you're right, helloeeze - but we're not talking about prison tats or gang tats here. We're talking about Alex's tats and how they relate to Andy, i.e. that he hasn't been to prison but it would be more convincing to believe that were possible just because he has tattoos, if I'm understanding r1015bill correctly.

Red

[wpgrace]

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.

I haven't watched any shows or read anything much about the character or TR. Yes, that is exactly how Andy comes across to me! And I really like it. So it seems that Alex has really nailed the character.

I agree; I think he has. And that is most definitely NOT Alex's own personality... so he's totally acting... and I would imagine quiet acting is much harder than melodrama... Also I believe Andy is older than Alex, so again, is in a different stage of life, slightly at least, than Alex is. And Andy has reached the apex of his career. Fingers crossed that Alex has not...