The big problem, really, is that a lot of things in the story just don’t make a whole lot of sense, most notably parts centered around the villain. I don’t really want to go into spoilers here, but Nero is just kinda boring, especially by Star Trek standards (Star Trek always has the best villains). Also, he does, says, and has a lot of things that seem either implausible or nonsensical, and sometimes both. I also struggled with some of the other plot points, and this bizarre feeling of isolation surrounding the Enterprise and its exploits. I mean, they’re supposedly part of this huge organization… what is everybody else doing? Why are cadets running the entire ship? What is going on?
Anyway, the effects are really good, there is a fair amount of well-done action, and the casting and acting range from good to excellent, and really that’s usually enough for me to like a movie. But in this case, it just seems too shallow; even the character development is really sparse, and that is particularly surprising to me, given that characters are usually what Abrams does best. I have to point out, though, that the big caveat to all this is that the first ten minutes are top-notch. Actually, maybe that’s the whole problem, that the film just cannot live up to the expectations set by the pre-title sequences. But then again, maybe not.
Also over the weekend, I finished up watching this season of Chuck, and I must say I was quite pleased. My opinion of Chuck as a series has varied rather wildly over the course of its existence, but it pretty reliably delivers when it matters most, and I am definitely excited for the potential of a new season, given the developments in the last few eps.
Around the halfway point of this season, Chuck started dragging for me. All the episodes felt the same, there was little momentum, and the limitation of the original premise was starting to show. I realized that, at least for me, this status quo could only be interesting for so long. Fortunately, the creators seemed to have felt the same way, and have crafted a series of fairly brilliant game-changers to lead us into a potential third season. Count me in for more in the fall.
Favorite Eps: 2x19, 2x22 (These eps start and finish the closing arc, which is pretty much fantastic through-and-through)
Least Favorite Eps: 2x15 (just too much awkward creepiness from Jeff and Lester. Really, they need to scale those guys back a bit), 2x17 (just seemed a little ridiculous)
Finally, I watched the network finale of Dollhouse (the elusive 13th episode won’t be seen until the Blu-Ray/DVD sets hit in July, and is reported to be a standalone episode). I really like this show. Even when it was struggling to hit its stride early on, I was very intrigued by it, and saw more than just potential for the future. It was good just as it was. Really, I wish it had been a full 22-episode season, so that the creators could have spent more time on non-ongoing-plot-type things, and done a few more standalone concept episodes. I feel like there was a fair amount of potential for good stories there that was kind of abandoned in favor of series progress.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the ongoing story; Dollhouse’s mythology is fascinating and incredibly well-developed. I do hope this gets renewed (though, by all accounts, this is unlikely), and if it does, I will be eagerly awaiting the premiere.
Favorite Eps: 1x08 (just a fantastic concept), 1x12 (I mean, it’s the finale)
Least Favorite Eps: 1x03 (just not really a fantastic concept), 1x11 (How can so much happen in so boring a fashion?)
Favorite Part even though it’s in a Least Favorite Ep: The Topher subplot in 1x10. Possibly my favorite idea in the whole series so far.
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