THE ASSETS
JANUARY 2, 2014
Network television is attempting to challenge cable as they mimic some of the great shows such as “The Americans.” The major networks had years to grow and push the envelope, but they chose to dumb down their viewership. ABC, CBS and NBC began to pump out the same old same old and when they found a hit they would reinvent it, building another show from the first's success. The creative department of these networks had to be jumping for joy as their jobs were secure as long as they could build on a pevious hit show. It has become standard protocol and sadly, the spinoffs lack in almost every area. The writing is sub par and the directing is often atrocious.
Now they don’t even have to steal from themselves - they can let the cable stations develop award winning television shows, and then with a little tweaking, pump out the same thing in hopes that it brings in a larger viewership. “The Assets” has everything that “The Americans” has and ABC’s thinking was this can only be better because it is based on a true story. Sorry, ABC, true life stories are much less exciting than ones that can be built in the brain.
With "Under the Dome", which CBS plugged in as a gripping and thought-provoking summer mini-series, the viewership was so high that it was a walk in the park to upgrade it to a regular series. In addition, the show left the audience eagerly anticipating the next season. “The Assets” has little to build on after the 8 episode mini-series.. However, the story is quite intriguing, giving a feel of what goes on behind the espionage curtain. It gives a clear picture, often without that in mind, of how things can be spun in the media to calm the civilian population.
Having the book to easily access the research necessary to do true justice to the story helps to keep it real. Although we have become fans of “Scandal”, the long speeches and the drama acting (which never changes) of Kerry Washington, it is nice to see the dark visualness that give the real feel of what it is like to be literally under the gun no matter where you turn.
Taking nothing away from the great writing of “Homeland”, it too has become a victim of itself by listening to the viewers and directing the storyline as per their wishes instead of being true to their original developed outline. The last season just became a 2nd production mini series within itself. There was more minutes to fast forward through as the cameras panned the horizon and we were entertained with landscape after landscape. “The Assets” leave that all for the fluff shows and are sticking to giving us the meat and potatoes of the story.
Jodie Whittaker (Sandra Grimes) plays her character with such subtleness that as a viewer you can often feel like you are inside the scenes she is in as opposed to sitting watching it on the television. The lack of close ups of her playing her emotions to the camera is quite refreshing which allows her to act freely. This is one of the best performances going into the new year. Combining this with the established story is what will keep the viewership while bringing more to the show each week.
Paul Rhys (Aldrich Ames) has creepy written all over him as the counterintelligence officer who put the Central Intelligence Agency and their spy agents at risk. Rhys, like Whittaker, brings the subtle style to his performance which again just adds to the dark aura surrounding the show.
The cast is completed by Harriet Walter (Jeanne Vatefeuille), Stuart Milligan (Paul Redmond), Julian Ovenden (Gary Grimes), Christina Cole (Louisa), Ralph Brown (Lawrence Winston) and Akie Kotabe (Eric). Each bring a piece to the puzzle that adds to the theme of this mini-seies.
We believe that all dramas should start out as a mini-series, allowing for multiple endings if it is not as successful as originally thought and gives time to have an ending that satisfies those that began watching and stuck it out to the end. We are tired of watching shows that push the envelope like ‘Last Resort”, "Do No Harm", “666 Park Avenue” and “Zero Hour”, only to get canceled often due to the lack of push on the side of the networks. Sometimes the audience just is not ready for new themes but these shows open the door for potential future “not the same old crap” television.
RUSTY
1/2/14
