Three Rivers - news, links, discussion - part 10 *SPOILERS*

[wpgrace]

Of course I noticed the striped shirt, dearest Dark! And as always, the hand sanitizer... I just LOVE how he does that.

And rbill... he does underplay Andy, and I like that, but yes tonite, there was a lot going on even in the quiet moments... just amazing.

I agree too, I like the way they had the doctors interacting tonite... in the heated meeting, but elsewhere, with Sophia and Andy, Sophia and Miranda (a bit cold to one another) figuring out the blond chick, Pam interacted with the docs... and with the patient, that was good... and Miranda and David over the lungs. They are all at their best when in the scenes together.

And is tonite the first time that they dropped having those colored gels at commercial breaks? I kinda liked not having them. They've never bothered me, but it just seemed, I dunno, more real NOT having them...

[darkstarrising]

And is tonite the first time that they dropped having those colored gels at commercial breaks? I kinda liked not having them. They've never bothered me, but it just seemed, I dunno, more real NOT having them...

D@mn, grace, but you're good....I didn't like them either, but never noticed their absence tonight....let's see if they're really gone for good

[carniegal]

This was the best episode.

I never noticed they dropped the colored gels before commercials. Didn't like them so tuned them out.

[r1015bill]

The gels always implied some sort of time crunch or crisis. That would have been inappropriate with tonight's episode I feel. They didn't add much so I hope they are gone.

[helloeeze]

Best episode yet! It's all due to the writing, of course. I swear Alex "glowed" in a few of those scenes. Mandy was fantastic. I was really crying in that scene with the daughter and Andy. Her concerns seemed so real, so valid but, of course, she realized they were selfish. The ending killed me too. It verged on maudlin but it held its own. Very powerful. That writer needs to write every episode!! I hope this kicks the ratings up.

[redwinter101]

*sniffle*

(But don't set too much store by me - I'm a crier. )

I thought Mandy was great - and the daughter as well (who, coincidentally, used to be in The Shield). I think the scene where she was snoozing - and snoring - in Victor's room was just lovely. I loved this episode because I wanted to hit Andy - it made me feel that strongly. Mandy was awesome; the final scene was a little OTT, especially given the subtlety of the rest of the episode, but it's a small criticism.

I thought it was a brave bit of writing to show the mom going begging for a liver for her daughter, to show what people are prepared to do when they are desperate. Loved Miranda's reaction to that as well.

The scene with Kuol and Andy, when they discovered he had a fever, was really touching, I thought. And Grace, you are SO right. Alex was just lovely and subtle and, well, oh my...

Here's the promo for next week's episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIu_Di7UjvQ

Red

[redwinter101]

Oh and add me to the list of those who are delighted there were no split screen colour thingys. I hope they're gone for good.

Red

[allegrita]

This episode was beautifully written and beautifully acted. Alex was wonderful in this episode. He got a chance to really show some passion and conflict in his professional life... and now I know what he meant in those interviews about questioning the existence of god. Mandy Patinkin was absolutely perfect in the role of Victor. His interactions with Kuol, Andy, and his daughter were simply beautifully done. I was so afraid Mandy would overdo it (as he has been known to do on occasion), but he didn't. He did a perfect job.

I loved the side story of the guy who needed the lungs, too. That one could also have been WAY over the top, but thanks to good writing and very good acting by the young guest stars, it was just right. Dr. Lee showed competency as a doctor and a lot of heart. And he had to answer for his decision to let the boy go home, but he did it.

Miranda's story was also good. Her disgust at the people going to ask Victor for his body parts was palpable and very believable. That was pretty awful to watch, in a way... even though it was kinda cool that his recipients could thank him BEFORE he donated, instead of after. That scene in the hall was just... wow. But I was sad that Kuol wasn't there to say goodbye, even though he wouldn't be able to get the heart.

I liked the whole story. Even the part about the woman coming to the donor-recipient party was useful as a foil for the Victor story, although I thought that particular thread was the least fleshed out. The woman was pretty much only in the ep so that her story could set up Victor's, but it was still a nice story, and it was lovely to see a tangible reminder of the connection between the families of the donors and the people who benefit from that gift. Like an animated version of the wall (although I like the wall best).

I was so glad they dropped the colored splitscreen at the breaks. It was always distracting and it seemed like a bad 24 rip-off. I hope they don't bring it back.

[starbucksjunkie]

There were several moments of beautiful television here. But I liked Andy's interaction with Victor best. "You'll flog me until there's nothing left to flog (or words to that effect)." Flog is a slang term docs use to describe using heroic measures to save someone's life when common sense might dictate otherwise. The writer--Lance Gentile, I found out--knew what he was doing. An ER moment right there.

And Andy couldn't live with Victor's decision. He did want to play God. Flaws! I love it! I almost wish he would have not given in his position on that, but that's nitpicking.

And Mandy Patinkin was fabulous. And Kuol has completely captured my heart.

Lovely. Just lovely. Their finest hour yet.

[lafluffy]

This is the first ep of TR I've thoroughly enjoyed. It was absolutely lovely.

[PNWgal]

Stellar episode. Mandy. Was. Fantastic. I can't even nitpick at this episode, because I felt they got so much right in it.

I'm a crier, so I was SOBBING by the end.

I won't reiterate everyone else's comments about the cast and how wonderfully they did - I was more caught up in the premise of Victor's right to make his own end-of life decisions vs. his daughter's refusal to let go and Andy's desire to keep him alive at all costs. The right to make decisions about your own life is a precious and powerful one, and I think one that many people take for granted. Doctors don't always have all the answers and I welcomed watching Andy struggle with that.

[Josefismysire]

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/11/three-ri ... high-.html

'Three Rivers' hits season high

Of course it did. CBS has to decide on the fate of medical drama "Three Rivers" soon in order to prevent a costly production stoppage. Odds of the show getting a full season order are slim, to say the least. Naturally, the medical drama abruptly rises to its highest rating ever.

"Rivers" was up 11%, drawing 8.5 million viewers and a 2.0 preliminary adults 18-49 rating, followed by "Cold Case" (9.2 million, 2.1), which hit its best rating since early October, rising 24% from last week's season low. "Rivers" climbed despite its lead in, "Amazing Race" (11.6 million, 3.2) dropping 9%.

CBS' decision on "Rivers" is partly tied to the performance of "Cold Case." Though the veteran drama has been doing poorly this season, some analysts have blamed "Rivers," noting "Case" tends to perk up given a strong lead in -- as evidenced by last night's rise. "Rivers," in other words, is not only blamed for losing its time period, but also for the weak "Case" performance. Even if "Rivers" ratings holds up in the nationals (there was some NFL overrun in some CBS markets that may have skewed these numbers) it's tough to see the medical drama continuing, though stranger things have happened.

[wpgrace]

Hmmmm. Interesting JIMS.

So 3R is blamed for CC not doing as well... but given the numbers for this week, where TAR dropped but WE climbed... CLEARLY the audiences for TAR and 3R are different audiences... so maybe if 3R had a more appropriate lead in, 3R would be doing better.

So there.

[Josefismysire]

Mandy Patinkin Alert!
by Megan Walsh-Boyle November 13, 2009 03:46 PM EST

Spoiler:

Mandy Patinkin, the former Jason Gideon on Criminal Minds, makes a (literally) smashing return to CBS, playing Victor, the victim of a car accident who’s admitted to Three Rivers and put under Dr. Andy Yablonski’s care. (Patinkin apparently still has lots of fans: His guest shot boosted Rivers to its highest ratings ever.)

Unfortunately, the news is grim: Victor, who suffers from ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease (he describes it as “a nerve disease where you get weaker and weaker until you croak”), will now need a mechanical ventilator to help him breathe. To Victor, this is pretty much like a death sentence.

The only ray of light comes from the perennially optimistic Kuol, who as the president and lone member of the Three Rivers Welcoming Committee, drops in on Victor, giving the poor guy the best laugh he has had in ages (maybe somebody should turn him on to Modern Family) as they bond over baseball and their respective ailments.

Kuol makes quite the impression on Victor, who comes to the decision to terminate life support and donate his heart to the young Ethiopian. Andy is fiercely against this, revealing he isn’t much of a believer in the afterlife (maybe somebody should turn him on to Ghost Whisperer). But Andy is in the minority when Victor’s case is brought before the hospital board and it’s ruled that he can die to save Kuol’s life if that’s what he wants to do.

And what an ethical can of worms Victor opens as patients begin lining up in front of his hospital room, asking that he donate his organs to them, too. Even Dr. David Lee makes a request on behalf of his 22-year-old patient with bad lungs and no health insurance. But the prospective organ recipients may have their hopes dashed when Victor’s loving daughter refuses to go along with her father’s request, even getting her lawyer involved.

I kept expecting Andy to convince Victor that he does have something worth living for, but after speaking with Victor, Andy realizes it’s Victor’s right to die with whatever dignity he has left. After seeing the light, so to speak, Andy takes Victor’s daughter to a donor recipient party that just happens to be going on in the hospital and shows her how many lives her father will be impacting with his generosity.

Victor gets his final request, but things don’t turn out quite as he had intended when—oh, no!—Kuol has a fever and is unable to receive the heart. I guess if you’re a fan of Kuol that’s kind of good news since he’ll be sticking around the hospital longer. And when Victor received thank-yous from the families of the organ recipients as he made his way to surgery—if you weren’t tearing up, then you have no heart.

Should Mandy Patinkin get an Emmy nomination for this performance? How did you feel about the way Three Rivers took on the right-to-die debate? And would you like to know more about Andy’s spiritual faith (or lack thereof)? Leave your comments below!

editted to include spoiler tags

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/three-ri ... -3237.html

[aolver]

Still trying to figure out why that thr thought TR is still doomed even though it's ratings went up.