If you blinked once over the last two months, you may have missed the lightning-fast second season of Dark Blue. Ten episodes aired in seven or so nights, and that’s all she wrote. I have no information on whether or not the double airings (save for the first two) were planned, or what the show’s future looks like right now.
Frequent commenter CJ was kind enough to cover for me last week. My absence was unrelated to this, but I was really disappointed in those two episodes. And I think the lack of connection between the two may be an indication that the network was dumping the second in an effort to end the season prematurely.
Last night’s pair, on the other hand, were clearly interrelated, and it was nice to have a longer-arched case for a change. But was it any good?
It all started with Carter pretending to be looking to buy counterfeit Viagra. That was insane when Amir ratted Carter out! It’s really not the safest thing for the team to continue navigating in the same tiny circles over and over again. There has to be some overlap within the criminal universe (as we saw later), so it was about time something like that happened. But I still wasn’t expecting it.
I loved Dean behind the counter at the convenience store. I was wondering how often Nick (Seamus Dever from Castle) could possibly stop there to make it worth Dean’s while when we got the reveal on the credit card scam. But that’s the kind of thing we don’t ever see — the groundwork for these covers include lives and jobs. I’d really like to see more of that.
It was amusing that Sharon (Michelle Borth) was working with Nick to sell the Viagra through her lingerie store. Pretty reasonable place to sell it, although you’d think it would undermine the other product being offered there. Why spend money on lingerie if a pill will get you to the same place?
I loved Ty posing as a lawyer. Did you recognize the look? That was his season one banker outfit from when Dean was under with that bank robbing crew (see the picture above). It was perfect, and a nice throwback to olden times.
The Homeland Security wrinkle was intellectually interesting, but it was unnecessarily disruptive to the story. There could have been plenty of other reasons for the team to continue its investigation into a second episode. During the buy Nick and/or Danny (Johnny Messner) could have mentioned something that screamed “bigger fish” to Carter or Dean. It just didn’t work for me with the dirty bomb thing.
The idea that drugs (and apparently bombs) can be smuggled into the country with flowers is interesting and terrifying at the same time. I wonder if the port workers on season two of The Wire ever thought of that. But I kind of lost my focus with the Homeland Security thing. Todd Stashwick as an ICE agent (is that what he was?) was much less interesting here than he was on The Riches. What was up with his interest in Ty? That weirded me out.
So did Jaimie and Sharon getting all buddy-buddy. And that also stuck out when compared to the rest of the season; previously Rice would have been assigned to work with Carter. Was this the writers hearing us fans about being tired of her, or was it something else?
Unfortunately Rice seems determined not to leave for Miami, but I imagine that’s the writers hedging their bets. If the show gets a renewal with lots of network notes (which is what I assume happened prior to season two), they may discover that the addition of Rice didn’t solve the problem, in which case she’ll go to Miami … and I’ll be very happy. If, on the other hand, the network has missed my reviews … well, I guess maybe Carter’s ring won’t go to waste. Because that made sense.
I knew that Danny couldn’t have actually shot Ty, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little nervous when they slammed the doors of the truck. Dean’s almost crazy enough to have let it happen without reacting (Carter could do it). Wild.
The season ended in a lot of weird places — Ty signing his divorce papers (it was nice seeing Meta Golding as Melissa again); Carter shot and in the hospital; Dean and Jaimie possibly back together (their “date” was cute, but we don’t need that); Rice seeing the ring among Carter’s belongings.
I’m not really sure what kind of message all of those things send — with mostly mundane events left hanging, it makes it feel as if of course the show will return to continue those dangles. At the same time, with nothing major hanging in the balance, it’s easy enough to simply walk away.
I would like to see Dark Blue return again. I think there’s a lot of good in the show, and it’s a shame that people didn’t see that … last season. This season was a bit of a mess, and Rice really was destructive, despite what some viewers may think. She’s not the answer to the “How do we fix it” question.
My answer? Longer cases with more in-depth detail. It’s worked many times before on other series.
What did you think of the finale? The season? Do you think Rice should head to Miami, or stick around?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Sep 16, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
I don’t think that Rice makes the show better or worse. Her actions might sometimes seem out of place or not fitting in with the way the team was run in season 1, but she seemed to adapt as the season went on. With her being a more normal member of the team now, I don’t see her being as much of a burden as she was in certain episodes. I do agree with you on the whole “longer story arcs” are good premise. In fact, I think it would be amazing to see a season long arc of trying to take down a big bad.
*POST AUTHOR*
I have two problems with Rice – 1) her presence has changed the gritty, cash-strapped LAPD orphan unit into a Federally-funded one, which is very different from what made the show so gritty. And 2) she and Carter make zero sense.
I don’t get it why you hate Rice so much…I actually like her there and her chemistry with Carter is actually refreshing. I agree with the longer story arcs but I don’t think that would happen since Jerry Bruckheimer’s shows are not serialized. They tend to be procedural which I guess doesn’t really work for a show like Dark Blue. I hope the network renews it but I have a bad feeling they won’t. If they do, I hope they try to make the longer arcs, or at least have a big bad for the whole season.
I enjoyed this season and I actually liked most of the last two episodes. Dean’s comical side is really emerging and he is so perfect in his ‘cover characters’. Pre-bust..’hey, how ya doin..LAPD!’ Post-bust ‘Keep in touch’..
I actually liked the Homeland Security turn just because of the vehicles that they use for investigative work..the cell phone as a ‘wire’.
Jamie and Ty were both great..I think that I liked the ‘team working together’..Carter planting bad cocaine..When Rice yelled that she ‘wasn’t going down with him’ about his tactics..I Knew that she was ‘history’..When she turned down the Miami job, I figured that it was temporary. On S3, if it happens, she’ll be gone and if it’s cancelled she’ll be gone. I found myself gritting my teeth when she was in the scene. And did Carter get his housekeeper back?
Also, Again supporting actors were great! Nick, Danny, Sharon..
Lighting, dialogue, camera work, all Great!I would love a Season 3 without Rice.
Would it help to contact the sponsors to get a Season3? I am already tweeting Jerry Bruckheimer.. It’s a fabulous show. I will miss it..Thanks!
*POST AUTHOR*
I think it’s all about the network. It could be a plus for the producers to know that there are committed fans out here, but it’s all about the network now.
This season was great and Rice was the perfect compliment. I can’t disagree more with Aryeh S more, Rice and Carter fit perfectly and I sincerely hope this show is renewed as it is one of the best shows on TV IMHO!
*POST AUTHOR*
Then you must not have liked season one, because Rice totally changed the entire fabric of the team. It’s fair to like her, but it’s definitely not the same show with her.
definitely keep Rice on board make the shows dynamic better, at least i think so. I think Rice and Carter compliment each other perfectly. comparing the 2 seasons i enjoyed season 2 so much more. I am actually going to buy season 2 dvd but i will not be buying season 1.
I highly doubt that “Dark Blue” will have a third season. The handling of the second season is classic TNT behavior. When they unceremoniously dumped “Saving Grace,” due solely to a failure in DVD sales (on-air viewership was better than ever at the time), it became clear that this was how each new program is going to be judged. (“Saving Grace” fans got no real warning, only a spate of new shows, followed by a horribly rushed-to-filming series cap that left most reeling from crazed insanity of it all. One must credit series creator and writer, Nancy Miller, for saeeing that there was any kind of ending at all, though. Had TNT had its way, things would have ended just as fans of “Dark Blue” are seeing with their show now.
This is happening, mostly, because the network is in something of a bind, having used up a lot of money and good will- funds that would normally be spent attracting viewers for its programs- by betting wildly on “Rasing the Bar.” A lot of money went to paying off the contracts of the people involved when it was cancelled significantly sooner than anyone had planned. Viewership was just awful, though, and tied together with DVD sales that were almost nonexistent, the show clearly had to go. Alas, the network had a very heavy investment in that production. They bailed out as soon as they could, but by then, TNT was clearly bleeding severance money.
Instead of learning from their own mistakes, it looks as if the suits welcomed yet another goat, what with the encore of “Hawthrone.” Imagine, if you will, just how much money an actress like Jada Pinkett has to be paid, versus, say, someone like Donal Logue. Yet the quality of writing and acting between “Hawthorne” and “Terriers” couldn’t be any more distinct. The disparity in the talent at all levels is enormous, yet, it is because of the moeny they have invested that we will almost certainly see “Terriers” cancelled long before Miss Pinkett-Smith will be looking for a new job. The only thing that is going to save “Terriers” is an early prediction of a healthy home disc market for our scruffy beachless-boy detective.
Right now, “Dark Blue” really only has two things going for it. First is that it has not yet been cancelled, simple as that, while the second finds that there is still time for DVD sales to improve. If, then, you are truly serious about not wanting “DB” to end, then the only answer is a massive surge among fans. Without a serious willingness to shell out cash for season one and two, you may rest assured that season three is but a dream in the cold, dark night that is H-h-h-hollywood.
*POST AUTHOR*
Interesting. So what bought Dark Blue a second season?
I hope you’re wrong about Terriers; it’s such a great show! :)
Hope I’m wrong, too. I absolutely agree with you. I think “Terriers” is, quite literally, the best written and acted program to come along in years.