Review: CTV's Intelligence

Intelligence follows the adventures of Gabriel Vaughn (Josh Holloway) an Intelligence Agent with a computer chip inside his brain and a cyber security division supporting him led by Lillian Strand (Marg Helgenburger).  The first episode introduced the characters, and followed them as they struggled to keep the technology behind the chip from getting into the hands of the Chinese.

The chip makes him the most valuable asset to American security, even in need of his own body guard.  Enter Megan Ory as Riley, the capable Secret Service agent whose job it is to guard him.  Ory and Helgenburger signal a new age of strong female roles.  Helgenburger's Lillian isn't without a heart encouraging Gabriel to go after his wife, a missing and presumed dead deep cover agent.

That's one of the long-term story lines, the "is she/isn't she alive" is meant to keep people guessing.  The other is Gabriel's back story, how did the intelligence chip program start? And what's going to happen to the Chinese agent? What's Lillian's back story?
  Through the chip Gabriel sees the whole picture, and walks himself through the situation so that the audience sees it too.

Overall I love it.  It's very topical: How close are we to putting these chips inside human beings?  What lengths would people go to in order to possess that technology? After developing a phone as small as a watch the chip inside someone's head isn't that far behind.  I love the perspective too; Gabriel is able to see a three-dimensional model of an event, and walk himself through it.

 A new episode of Intelligence airs Monday at 10pm on CTV, and CBS.  CBS is re-airing the pilot tonight at 8pm.  Can't catch it tonight?  Watch a 3 minute preview below.

Hilary Mantel's Bring Up The Bodies Review

Bring Up The Bodies is Hilary Mantel's second novel in her trilogy about Thomas Cromwell.  In the follow up to Wolf Hall we join Cromwell as he successfully brings down Henry VIII's second Queen: Anne Boelyn. 

In Wolf Hall I felt as if I was transported to the 1500's, following Cromwell as he rose through the ranks at Henry VIII's court.  There was a great blend of historical detail, and fiction that made it worthy of the Man Booker Prize.  At the end I felt I came away feeling as if I knew the man a little bit better.

Bring Up The Bodies is a clunky read.  It has the same attention to detail as its prequel, and similar characters of course because of the time period.  But that's where the similarities end.   A big difference is the narrator. In technical terms I think what Mantel was going for here was either a "3rd person first"  or maybe a second person narration?  She tried to make the narrator a separate character, and yet was also trying to see inside Thomas Cromwell's head. 

On page 182 Mantel writes: "He, Cromwell, stands back while Thomas Cranmer, pale and smooth takes charge of the king's bereavement."  She uses the expression of "He Cromwell," a lot to get into his head.  The lack of commitment to a point-of-view makes it a tough read.  If the character Thomas Cromwell is a mysterious figure, then why not use first person? The failure to commit to a narrator makes it confusing.

Mantel writes sections of the book without dialogue.  I appreciate there is a lot of detail to cram into a book about Henry VIII and Anne Boelyn. But, as a writer, and reader too, I find dialogue key to advancing the plot, and showing a character's background.  She's not successful at it here.  Basically the only thing I'm left with after reading it is that Cromwell is  good to his friends/family.  This I can see through his conversations with his neighbour Ambassador Chapuys, and the occasional exchange with other characters.

And then there's Henry VIII himself.  He's relegated to a secondary character for most of the book.  That makes sense since the primary focus is Thomas Cromwell who struggles in the background. Towards the end Henry VIII becomes a little more prominent as he reacts to Anne's betrayal, and is played up to be melodramatic.  In everything I've seen on television or read in history books, this King was anything but melodramatic.  I found myself thinking; she betrayed you, and you do get a chance to mope around... but honestly it's time to get over it now.

Overall verdict on this one: Great for historical detail, but not if you're looking for a good story.  

Downton Abbey Season 4, Episode 1 Review

Downton Abbey reopened its doors to North American viewers last night on PBS.  Lady Mary was in deep mourning for her husband Matthew (Dan Stevens left the show) while life slowly moved on around her.  Edith resumed her life with her beau; the newspaper editor. Robert spent most of his time trying to protect Mary from the outside world, even offering to handle baby George's wealth- we all know how well he managed his own.

Below stairs the servants were astir with news O'Brien had quit for a position with Lady Flincher.  This left Thomas (Rob James Collier) without a foil, and Cora without a lady's maid. He managed to cause trouble on his own, first by getting Nanny West fired,  then by going after Anna for advising new maid Bratihwaite against being friendly to him.  Anna, and Bates worked together to help Mosely who had fallen on hard times following Matthew's death.  Bates ended up giving Moesley 30 pounds to pay off some debts.

Violet as usual had her hand in a lot of pies last night.  When she wasn't helping Molesley try to find work, she was helping bring Mary out of her depression.  She invited Mary and Branson to her home and proposed that Branson tutor Mary on the estate's affairs. "But what would Papa say about it?" Violet answered: "There is sometimes too much truth in a relationship."By the end Mary  was starting to come out of her depression, and Molesley felt a bit better about himself, and Isobel was starting to find purpose again through nursing an old friend of Carson's.

I loved the pacing in this episode.  It would have been easy to milk the grieving widow storyline for all that's worth, but Julian Fellowes didn't and that helped capture the whole life moving on around Mary story. So much of the last three seasons has been about Mary and Matthew's love affair that you forgot that hey this is an ensemble show and there are other characters.   I love how in the premiere at least we're getting separate storylines for Violet, and Isobel, and Carson, and Daisy.  I hope this is a hint of things to come; if so then I think we're in for a great season.

This week's memorable lines from Lady Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham:

What did A&E Expect?

What did A&E expect when they hired a redneck family?  This question keeps popping into my head the more I hear about the Robertson's latest controversy.  Family patriarch Phil was initially in trouble for remarks made to GQ regarding homosexuality, and was suspended by the network because of those views. 

Now his latest comments are about marriage; Robertson married wife Kay when he was 19, and she 15.  He thinks other men should do the same.  In comments uncovered in a Youtube video Robertson says: "You wait til they're 20 years old, and the only picking that's going to take place is in your pocket.  You got to marry these girls when they are about 15 or 16. They'll pick your ducks. You need to check with mom and dad about that, of course." The remarks were part of a 2009 speech to a Sportsmen's Ministry event in Georgia. I disagree with his comments; in the first case they're homophobic, intolerant and crude.  In the second, they degrade and insult women by implying most of us are gold-diggers once we reach 20. 

This says more about reality television.  It's all manipulated to fit into storylines. Clips can be made to say anything; make people look however they need to in the name of ratings.  On the show Willie Robertson (CEO) looks like an idiot, and Silas looks like a crazy old fool.  These characters are maybe 30-40% true.

That brings me back to Phil.  A&E must be going crazy as they realize that Phil won't be controlled or molded into a character for the sake of the show.  He hasn't denounced any of his comments, and why would he? Like them or not, they're his beliefs and they come from his background, and knowledge. Having the courage to speak them out loud makes him probably the most honest person on reality television.

A&E should quit worrying about what Phil Robertson does, and focus more on network content.  This way the next time a Robertson does something they don't like, they can just pull the show.

The Time Of The Doctor Review

 

 

"I will always remember when the Doctor was me."

This episode had all the things that have made me love Doctor Who.  It had humour, wit, drama, and emotion.  And even though it was Matt Smith's last, I still managed a big smile on my face at the end of it.The story followed the Doctor and Clara on Christmas day to Trenzalore where the Doctor's enemies were massing.  The Doctor pledged to protect Christmas Town, ended up dying there.

A fabulously written episode, it brought together lots of past stories.  The crack in the "fabric of reality" (wall crack) from season 5, River Song from season 6 and the "impossible girl- Clara herself from season 7.  It even included an appearance by Amy (Karen Gillian) at the very end.  It even brought threads in from the "Day of the Doctor (50th anniversary)- references to Gallifrey, the "war doctor" (John Hurt).

Some thought Clara's (Jenna Louise Coleman) Christmas cheerfulness a bit over the top.  I thought it was to cover up the fact she was worried about the Doctor. I felt sorry for her too as her family tried to keep setting her up. She ended up bringing the Christmas magic by convincing the Time Lords to give him another regeneration. As usual she believed in him.

It was an emotional ending.  Clara standing there in the Tardis helpless to do anything, watching it happen. "I will not forget one line of this, not one day I swear," he promised her.  It was simple, and sweet, making her feel like she mattered to him.  Amy's appearance: "Raggedy man, good night."  It was as memorable as Peter Capaldi's first line as the Doctor: "Do you happen to know how to fly this thing?"

Predictions
1. Peter Capaldi's Doctor will come in somewhere between Mad Hatter, and absent-minded professor.

2. We will see River Song again.  Tasha: "We sent a psychopath to kill you."  The Doctor: "I totally married her."

3. Maybe Tasha Lem is a Time Lord? (would explain her ability to fly the Tardis)

Longing in London

Writing prompt this morning from a friend: Write down your favourite colour, month of year, and city.  Here's my response. 

She walked along the jubilee trail beside the river.  The Thames had an iron grey look today, reflecting the clouds above.  It would rain later; she thought.  In London it always rained, when it didn’t there was a wet feeling on the air.  ‘It’s an island in the middle of the sea,’ she reminded herself.

She stopped looking south along the river; what an impressive sight.  Tate Modern loomed straight ahead.  She knew the path on that side of the river twisted, and turned through Southwark; past Shakespeare’s original Globe theatre, the London City Museum.   Straight ahead was probably the most impressive sights; the Victorian marvel that was Tower Bridge.

She knew without looking the north side was equally impressive; the Gherkin stood looking over the river.  St. Paul’s cathedral balanced out Tate Modern.  The tower stood; a stubborn fortress guarding the river, and the city as it had for centuries.  How could she give this up?

She was bored of the landscape; so much grey, white, and black.  She longed for colour; a splash of red in the fall leaves.  The trees would be changing colour at home; rich reds, and gold’s.  She closed her eyes leaning against the railing; she could almost feel the warmth sunlight on her face.  She took a deep breath opening them again.  She was surrounded by grey, and, white.  The red bricks even carrying a dull sheen. 

She couldn’t fault the city for that; she loved it here.  She loved its nooks and crannies; Carnaby Street tucked away almost as a private treasure.  Loved wandering through the museums; she could disappear into the British museum for hours at a time.  The Churchill War Rooms were her favourite, it was as if stepping through time into the 1940’s.  You expected the old bulldog himself to come wandering out of his bunk, asking you to take notes.

Home though held its allure.  She missed the changing seasons; the changing leaves in fall, the blossoms in spring.   She missed family, friends.  The homesickness was on her now, and she stopped to rest on a bench staring out at the river.

What was to stop her from going home? She knew almost before she thought about it.  Home wasn’t the same since he’d married her.  She’d been accused of stealing jewellery, and her dad took his new wife’s side over his original daughter’s.

What about her mother? Her mother had remarried, and made it clear there was no room for her there.  She’d had a second family.  So here she was in London; an amazing city, yet longing to be somewhere  else.

The death of the honour roll?

Honour Roll at my high school was around the 75% mark.  I managed to make it three times in five years; I still have the certificates somewhere.  There was always a special breakfast once a semester for honour roll kids.  It gave me something to aim for; to see if I could make it again next semester.  Usually I'd try my best, but wouldn't necessarily get it.  My attitude was "there's always next term." And no matter what I always felt I had done my best.

School boards in Alberta are doing away with the honour roll, and all year-end awards.  No more most-improved, no more best mark, or best attendance.  Officials at St. Basil Catholic School in Calgary argue in a Calgary Herald article that awards eventually lose their shine.  They're also citing the effect on self esteem of students singling them out. 

It's unrealistic.  In the real world you're singled out for doing a good job, and told when you're not.   What better place to teach kids this key lesson than the relatively sheltered environment of a school.  Recognition for doing a good job is never a bad thing; it encourages people to keep doing it.  And it inspires others to join them.

Awards lose their shine.  I'm at the point in my career where it matters more that I can get the exclusive, or make the front page of a newspaper than whether I made the honour roll in high-school.  The work ethic involved in making the honour roll never goes away, and that can be attractive to universities, and future employers.

It makes me wonder about this generation of kids coming up.  If they have no hope of recognition for a job well done, then what will they be like in the work force? Will they try as hard? Will they learn as much? If they can't understand failure, and success what hope is there? If we don't teach them the importance of achievement then what kind of Canada are we making?

What role do parents have to play? When I was at school, my marks were always okay by my parents as long as I could look them in the eye and tell them I'd done my best.  Even now as I'm taking an online class as an adult, I'm finding the mark means less than the knowledge.


Keep the honour roll in place; give kids something to aim for.  Achievement inspires excellence.