The Potential of Nashville

I am just going to come right out and say that if it wasn't for Connie Britton, I would have never given Nashville a second thought. When I first heard about the show, reading the synopsis and what we were to expect, I simply did not think that it would be a show for me. Especially the fact that it was to be heavy on the hee-haw country music. Oh, but Connie Britton is in the lead? Now you have my attention...

As ABC promoted Nashville, and as I watched the trailers and read reviews, I actually grew excited and curious about what this show would become. I generally enjoy a musical show. I watched the entire first season of Smash (mostly for Vulture's hilarious recaps, but also because sometimes, on a rare brief occasion, it was actually entertaining) and I stuck with Glee way past its peak. I am definitely not a country fan in any sense, but the promise that Nashville was more about the industry than about randomly breaking into twangy song and musical numbers meant I could feasibly put my personal tastes aside. The show also offers a sense of soap and camp which, again, is not necessarily something I respond to (unless done right). So Nashville had a lot going against it. And it is a testament to how much I admire Connie Britton that I gave the pilot a shot. And against all odds, I am really enjoying the show way more than I expected to.

Nashville presents an interesting insight on the music industry today, has fantastic lead performances from not only Connie Britton, but Hayden Panettiere as well, and it is particularly refreshing to see a show filmed in an American city that often gets overlooked. Heck, I'm even enjoying the political subplot because I am a sucker for politics and Powers Booth is just perfect in this role.

Again, I am by no means a country fan, but I genuinely liked the acoustic duet in the pilot. I'm also enjoying how the awful pop-country songs are juxtaposed with genuinely well-written refined Country music (with a capital C). It just adds another layer to the story. It is also refreshing that characters are not randomly breaking out into song. The music and the performances serve a purpose to the plot and character, but they also happen in a matter-of-fact way. These characters exist in the music industry so performances and music videos are bound to happen. And so far the musical performances are used in the same way football games were used on Friday Night Lights. It's a way to bring all the characters together at the same place while reflecting on what that moment means for each of them. And so far this has been executed quite well.

As for Hayden Panettiere, I think she is enjoying this seductress role of hers. Her character isn't just a villan. She is also presented with a desire to mature personally and professionally. The steps she takes towards this maturity is quite destructive, but she's a damaged character with lots of emotional baggage to sort through. And I believe Panettiere is doing a great job thus far. I have spoken to many people who are not Panettiere fans, but I have personally never had a problem with her. Claire on Heroes and Kirby in Scream 4 were two of the best characters in each respective project. And I'm looking forward to what else she does with Juliette Barnes (even if she is a main source of the show's soap). As for Connie Britton? I think we all already know how I feel about her and she is in top form as Rayna James.

Against all odds and expectation, I am thoroughly enjoying Nashville. However, it is currently walking the fine line between a genuinely good show and a soapy one. And I have a feeling they are going to one day fully embrace their camp. I will be very disappointed when that happens, but until then, I am considering Nashville my favorite new show this fall. On the other hand, I've made false assumptions about this show in the past, so hey...what do I really know?

Last Resort

I have mixed feelings regarding the pilot episode of ABC's Last Resort (cleverly entitled "Captain" rather than "Pilot).

I felt the episode itself was awfully paced, constantly throwing information at the viewer at breakneck speed. I understand the urgency in trying to set up a plot as tightly knotted as this into approximately 45 minutes (not to mention the network pressure to attain viewers and ratings), but I felt I had almost no time to absorb one thing before moving on to the next. I repeatedly had to shake my head and process information as more was thrown at me...and not in a good way. I don't mind working for my entertainment. I prefer taking a bite out of a smart, challenging program. But if that bite is underripe, it takes you out of the moment. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. And you are going to question whether it is worth continuing or not.

That being said, I find myself admiring this pilot episode. Its felt as if the writers had so many ideas that they couldn't contain themselves. The ambition and set-up is enough to get a viewer excited. You understand the stakes and how they not only affect the main characters, but also the entire world in which the show exists. That is awfully hard to do well in under an hour. The attempt alone is admirable and exhilarating.

In terms of a general impression, I couldn't help but compare the show to Battlestar Galactica. For anyone who has seen BSG, this is a natural comparison to make. Genre aside, the two shows are cut from the same cloth. However, BSG did it with so much more confidence, grace, and restraint that Last Resort's effort seems cheap in comparison. But as the episode continued, I also found myself thinking of shows like Lost, Alias, 24, and even Homeland. And any pilot that can do THAT is definitely worth my time. I don't care if I have a sour taste in my mouth because I'm pretty sure I've tasted something like this before. And I'm pretty sure it has traces of awesome in it.

Ideally, I would have liked the episode to be longer only so we could have built more tension and suspense throughout. Because the potential here deserved a much more confident and nuanced coming-out. I'd hate to see it dumbed down (which is a very real, unfortunate, and likely possibility for a network program). I just hope they take a moment to breathe and gather themselves before trekking forward. I'd love to see this show do well. I'd love to see where it leads. And I'd also love to see them lose the cheesy action-staple cliches...because this could be a legitimate smart show about militarism, politics, strategy, and humanity.

Its probably the best new drama pilot I've seen on network television in quite some time (since Lone Star at least). For what its worth, I'm personally giving it another shot. And I'm looking forward to it.