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

[Phoenix]

I like Lisa -- just not with Andy.

For some reason she reminds of the original Beth they had cast in Moonlight. She just has no spark.

Perhaps that's it with me ... the feeling they are going for a MickBeth ver. 2.0 with Andy & Lisa.

[wpgrace]

The show had started to grab me - it really felt like episodes 3-5 were getting stronger, more interesting and starting to have a real flow. Then this week just felt like a letdown - for all the reasons so many of you have stated.

One thing that struck me, or actually didn't strike me, this week - it felt like they'd dialled down the medical jargon to a more acceptable level. Or maybe I'm just tuning it out...

And Christy, totally with you on Back-Up Plan.

Red

Hmmm... think you are just tuning it out, Sweetie... tho this week they DID keep explaining what they had just said in Latin into English... so that helped.

Here is something I worry about with the show. I don't watch Baby NCIS... I tried and didn't like it. But I do see it come on from time to time. And their little opening scenes really suck you into the show. There's a compelling action, disaster, explosion, interaction of some sort, often with the guest stars, that DOES make you wanna stay tuned.

I am not feeling that from the opening scenes in 3R... I stay tuned to 3R 'cause I wanna get to the Alex bits and I know they're coming. But if I were just watching tv and saw MOST of the opening scenes, like that gymnast scenario this past Sunday, I think I'd probably change the channel or turn off the tube. It was boring. And too predictable. And I didn't care what happened to the little chick. And often the acting in those openers has been ever so trite.

To me, that seems like TV Writing 101... cause all these writers oughta be able to come up with a good opening scene. Even if you can't plot the rest of the show, almost anybody oughta be able to come up with a teaser scene... don't y'all think? Or else just hire someone who's really really good at that... it would be worth the investment.

[PNWgal]

Lisa really sets my teeth on edge. Don't know why; she's a nice person and a competent doctor, but...

Let me finish that sentence for you, Phee.

"Don't know why; she's a nice person and a competent doctor, but she's annoying as hell."

I absolutely don't buy Lisa as an ER doc. A Dallas Cowboys cheerleader maybe, but not a doctor. And she seems so overpowered by Alex's stage presence - and Lilly's right. No spark.

This episode, I hate to say, was trite and bland. I should have cared more about a little boy being crushed and losing a lung. I didn't. All I wanted to do was slap his mother. I should have been more pulled in by a 15-year old girl destroying her liver with OTC pain meds. I wasn't - although, I DID find the biological father's reactions to being a donor believable and sympathetic.

I DID enjoy David's dalliance with the drug rep and Andy's reaction to it...although the only thing I could think of when Andy asked him if he did anything illegal was "well, I'm betting some of what they did was probably illegal in places like Texas." Ryan's smugness when David was trying to navigate the computer made me grin.

I continue to ADORE Miranda, although that storyline seemed a bit contrived - but I WAS thrilled to see a story arc over a couple of episodes.

LOVED Kuol, especially when he's talking to David at the donor wall.

[francis]

I've seen half the episode, then the internet died on me. I haven't bothered to see the rest yet. That should tell you something. I feel more and more bored by TR. I don't connect to anybody, not even Andy. They just aren't interesting, not the donors, not the recipients, not the doctors. Once in a while there's a little tidbit I love. I mostly like Miranda, and Ryan and Dr. Lee. I like Dr. Jordan taking charge. I like Kuol, and the obnoxious patient from last episode. I think Rena did a good job. But, sad to say, I don't even remember their names.
In ML (and I know it's not really fair to compare them) there was an opening that sucked me in with the dialogue alone, and a last scene that made me want to see more. There was cheesiness too, but there was this overall melancholy to Mick that just made me want to know more and more, and the storyline delivered. I was upset when I didn't get the name of the teeny vampire, because everyone else, even the smallest roles, had a definite purpose, a characterization and a name to them. If I didn't get the name, I looked it up, because I cared.
I'm actually sad that it doesn't grip me. I wished they had given Alex something worth my while.

And the surest sign that there's not the littlest bit of subtext and background and development? I feel nor inclination nor muses nor ideas for anything resembling fanfic. I don't care about what scenes are missing. But I could come up with alternate storylines that would rock more than this. And I'm not even a writer.

[r1015bill]

I like Lisa -- just not with Andy.

For some reason she reminds of the original Beth they had cast in Moonlight. She just has no spark.

Perhaps that's it with me ... the feeling they are going for a MickBeth ver. 2.0 with Andy & Lisa.

I'm on the same boat as you guys. A blonde was a bad choice for a love interest. Maybe the actress who played Rena should have been the ER doc. She seems a little older, more mature and a little more commanding.

I really feel bad for Alex. You know he's working as hard as he can but I think that might be part of the problem. He's thinking too much and is too in awe of Gonzo. Sigh...

[darkstarrising]

Lisa really sets my teeth on edge. Don't know why; she's a nice person and a competent doctor, but...

Let me finish that sentence for you, Phee.

"Don't know why; she's a nice person and a competent doctor, but she's annoying as hell."

I absolutely don't buy Lisa as an ER doc. A Dallas Cowboys cheerleader maybe, but not a doctor. And she seems so overpowered by Alex's stage presence - and Lilly's right. No spark.

This episode, I hate to say, was trite and bland. I should have cared more about a little boy being crushed and losing a lung. I didn't. All I wanted to do was slap his mother. I should have been more pulled in by a 15-year old girl destroying her liver with OTC pain meds. I wasn't - although, I DID find the biological father's reactions to being a donor believable and sympathetic.

I DID enjoy David's dalliance with the drug rep and Andy's reaction to it...although the only thing I could think of when Andy asked him if he did anything illegal was "well, I'm betting some of what they did was probably illegal in places like Texas." Ryan's smugness when David was trying to navigate the computer made me grin.

I continue to ADORE Miranda, although that storyline seemed a bit contrived - but I WAS thrilled to see a story arc over a couple of episodes.

LOVED Kuol, especially when he's talking to David at the donor wall.

Lord, how I love the way you think, P'Gal. We've got to be related somehow....the bit about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader is pretty much what I was thinking.

Lilly/Pheonix - until you brought up the original Beth, I couldn't put my finger on what was lacking in Lisa....no spark, no real emotion. Yes, she is nice, friendly, but also somewhat bland. I know I may be in the minority, but I saw a definite chemistry between the actress who played Rena and Alex's Andy. I just don't see the same with Lisa.

Also agree that episode six was a bit of a let down after 2-5.

Anybody see much in the way of promos for ep 7 yet or is it too early in the week?

[redwinter101]

Here are the promos, dsr:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWGEgfYs-uM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sN8gInbLqs

Red

[PNWgal]

Lord, how I love the way you think, P'Gal. We've got to be related somehow....the bit about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader is pretty much what I was thinking.

Lilly/Pheonix - until you brought up the original Beth, I couldn't put my finger on what was lacking in Lisa....no spark, no real emotion. Yes, she is nice, friendly, but also somewhat bland. I know I may be in the minority, but I saw a definite chemistry between the actress who played Rena and Alex's Andy. I just don't see the same with Lisa.

Also agree that episode six was a bit of a let down after 2-5.

Anybody see much in the way of promos for ep 7 yet or is it too early in the week?

LOL, DSR...I don't think it's a secret that I'm not a Lisa Reed fan. Truly, when she's on the screen, all I can see is her with little sparkly pom-poms in her hands and jumping up and down, yelling "GO ANDY!! RAH RAH RAH!" And - I agree with you about Rena. She didn't have a lot of chemistry with Andy either, but much more than Lisa does. I LIKED Rena and I'm kinda disappointed we don't get to keep her.

I agree with you, r1015bill - a blonde was not a good choice for a love interest. I would have liked to see a redhead.

[darkstarrising]

Here are the promos, dsr:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWGEgfYs-uM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sN8gInbLqs

Red

Thanks, sweetie....I liked the extended one (the first one listed). A bit of conflict between Andy and Dr. Jordan about 'playing God'. And Kuol is there....I love his character soooo much.

[r1015bill]

I agree with you, r1015bill - a blonde was not a good choice for a love interest. I would have liked to see a redhead.

As a redhead myself - I think that's a great idea!

[darkstarrising]

FWIW, I just got a second acknowledgment from CBS for commenting on 3R....I know it's a canned reply, but at least I feel my comments are just going into the electronic ether.

[HotMicks]

In ML (and I know it's not really fair to compare them) there was an opening that sucked me in with the dialogue alone, and a last scene that made me want to see more. There was cheesiness too, but there was this overall melancholy to Mick that just made me want to know more and more, and the storyline delivered.

And the surest sign that there's not the littlest bit of subtext and background and development? I feel nor inclination nor muses nor ideas for anything resembling fanfic. I don't care about what scenes are missing. But I could come up with alternate storylines that would rock more than this. And I'm not even a writer.

Francis, both good points. I too don't expect Moonlight, but I am disappointed they apparently can't hire better dramatic writers. And no matter what you say, there are people here who can and do write better drama. I just don't understand how 3R managed to underwhelm with such life-and-death situations. Alex clearly gets drama - look at Feed, or even his earlier movies.

I don't mean to pile on and be all negative, because there are many much worse programs on the TV, but I think we're just being honest about the weaknesses. I think they have good subject matter, good character potential, good actors, I just hope they get the chance to improve it. I'm thinking if we don't hear something after sweeps week, it's maybe not so good???

[Moonlightsonata]

I have said a number of times I am a "Mick Girl" or old lady whatever the case may be. I know that Mick is a fictional character and the closest I can get is Alex which is why I went to see him. And I am still glad that I went. I will follow Three Rivers as long as Alex is on but I am just not loving the show. I didn't see any chemistry between Andy and Rena and I saw even less with Andy and Lisa. I definitely don't want him to wind up with Lisa because as hard as he tries for his patients, well he needs to try even harder on his marriage. Actually to be honest, I wish Dr. Andy hadn't been married to begin with since that story isn't working out. I would have rather he'd been single or already divorced.

I think a few others have mentioned it so I am not coming up with anything new, but I think part of the problem in addition to too much information on the patients and not enough on the doctors (that issue resides with the writers and other creative staff) is possibly that Alex is basing Dr. Andy on a real doctor who he has come to know, respect, and become friends with. Therein may lie the problem - perhaps Alex is trying too hard to be like this real doctor who is a superstar in his field, but who just isn't coming across as someone who is really interesting outside the medical arena.

I don't see Three Rivers getting a long term audience from people who want to be educated about organ donation. I think it is a very good cause but in the end, people want to be entertained in some way for the hour they spend watching this show. Moonlight was magical and took me away from the mundane reality of my existence for a hour. Some other shows are simply interesting diversions - I could say that about "The Good Wife" or "Fringe" or the "Mentalist" among other shows I am watching this year. I am watching Three Rivers mainly to continue to support Alex but I wanted that feeling to last for just a few episodes until a real desire to watch the show somehow kicked in. I keep hoping that it will but after six episodes, it just hasn't happened yet. And unless there are some major changes in terms of more focus on the doctors, not sure it will. But still I will stay.

[MoonMarg]

and a last scene that made me want to see more.

I was thinking about this the other day - ML had the best closing scenes. As soon as it aired I wanted to see the next episode, mainly because that last scene wet my apetite so much. I can't really compare it to TR because I've only seen the 1 episode that aired in Aust before it was yanked, but it didn't give me the feeling of excitement to see the next episode. I want TR to go well, mainly for Alex, because I don't wanting him disappearing again too soon, as I fear this could drive him away from TV and into movies. But if his loyal and supporting fans are finding this show too boring...what hope does it really have??

[redwinter101]

Oh the irony. It seems as though most of us had a lukewarm reaction to this episode - but the numbers were better. Just a little (and I'm certainly not looking to start a great ratings debate) both in total numbers and demo.

Red