Any thoughts on Journeyman?

c.e.lawson · Oct 2, 2007

I love drama, and I can never resist a manly Scot (even when that manly Scot is forced to leave his sexy brogue at home), so I was really looking forward to Kevin McKidd's new television drama Journeyman. The trailers looked interesting and indicated some flangst would be in the offing, so I watched. And I am disappointed. Lots of potential for good stuff here, but instead it seems somewhat disjointed and forced, and the emotion doesn't ring true for me. And I REALLY wanted to like it!

Any thoughts?

c.e.

Calla Lily · Oct 3, 2007

I have the first 2 episodes on tape. Hopefully I'll be able to watch them tonight.

Serenity · Oct 3, 2007

I liked the concept, and I did like this weeks episode better than last weeks... but, honestly? It was only on my tv because it comes on after Heroes. I just don't... care about these characters, there's no emotional investment to keep *truly* watching. It will probably stay on my tv after Heroes again next week, but only because I'll be too lazy to turn the channel and find something else to watch.

PeeDee · Oct 3, 2007

See, and I'm happily invested in the series. Both episodes ended with me grinning after having been told a good short story. They don't get stupid with time travel like Quantum Leap. In fact, they mostly ignore time travel. "Time travel" is just the motivator for the characters to interact, and I love that. I'm hugely enjoying it.

Calla Lily · Oct 3, 2007

Oh, good. Quantum Leap annoyed me no end.

PeeDee · Oct 3, 2007

callalily61 said:
Oh, good. Quantum Leap annoyed me no end.

Dumbest shit on television, honestly. I don't know why it lasted umpteen seasons. Like I really needed to see Scott Bakula in a dress.

Susan Gable · Oct 3, 2007

PeeDee said:
Dumbest shit on television, honestly. I don't know why it lasted umpteen seasons. Like I really needed to see Scott Bakula in a dress.

You're just jealous, PeeDee, because Scott has better legs than you do. <G>

I have turned Journeyman off both episodes and gone to bed. Which obviously indicates I wasn't gripped by what I was watching.

Susan G.

PeeDee · Oct 3, 2007

Susan Gable said:
You're just jealous, PeeDee, because Scott has better legs than you do. <G>

Of course, at this point, *I* have starred in better TV series than he has (for example: I have not starred in Quantum Leap, or Enterprise). So he can keep his legs.

totidem_verbis · Oct 3, 2007

Serenity said:
I just don't... care about these characters, there's no emotional investment to keep *truly* watching.

I feel the same way. I tried to watch it twice and it just doesn't hold my attention.

nevada · Oct 3, 2007

I came in partways through the second episode, so I was a wee bit confused. But I caught on quick enough. I really enjoyed it. I don't think it'll last long though because people have to think for a second when he jumps. Smart shows don't last. Thats why quantum leap lasted so long. It was a dumb show masquerading as a smart show.

c.e.lawson · Oct 3, 2007

I just don't... care about these characters, there's no emotional investment to keep *truly* watching.

Yes, Serenity, that's exactly how I feel. I'm trying to pinpoint why.

I watched the season premier of Heroes before Journeyman and I was drawn right in to the characters. That was the first time I'd ever watched Heroes. What are they doing right that Journeyman isn't?

The women aren't very likable. The marriage stuff seems rushed. To me, that's just as interesting as his time-travel adventures, yet it's not treated that way. The stuff with his brother seems pretty good - there was one interaction between him and his brother that was the only scene that rang emotionally true for me in the pilot. There's some good baggage there. But...I just don't feel it yet for the rest. I'm willing to keep trying, for my Kevin.

We'll see.

c.e.

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 3, 2007

I thought Quantum Leap was fun.

I've never even heard of Journeyman.

I really need to subscribe to some email notification that tells me when "must-see" shows are debuting. They could call the service, "Further Ways to Waste Your Life."

PeeDee · Oct 3, 2007

If I had my way, of course, the TVs and the cable boxes would have gone flying out the window, and they would have made a very satisfying thump.

But alas, not everyone in the house is as grouchy as I am. So I'm trying to make the best of television as I can.

c.e.lawson · Oct 3, 2007

Shadow_Ferret said:
I thought Quantum Leap was fun.

I've never even heard of Journeyman.

I really need to subscribe to some email notification that tells me when "must-see" shows are debuting. They could call the service, "Further Ways to Waste Your Life."

LOL, Shadow_Ferret - that's exactly how I feel about television. I'd much rather write. This season I only watch Top Chef, Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares and Journeyman. But I was looking forward to this particular show and so I'm pretty disappointed.

Calla Lily · Oct 4, 2007

I made it through the first half-hour and gave up.

So totally didn't care about ANY of the characters would sum it up.

Predictable, boring, cliche.

And, um, the MC as a perpetually late guy with a decent life and a hot babe--didn't Michael J. Fox do that in Back to the Future? And I gave a crap about his character within the first 3 minutes.

Argh.

c.e.lawson · Oct 5, 2007

Yup, callalily61 - that sums it up for me, too. It'd be interesting and helpful for me as a writer to put my finger specifically on some of the reasons why his character doesn't come across well. I've got a few ideas, but I'd love to hear some others.

c.e.

Calla Lily · Oct 5, 2007

His regular life wasn't gripping. So when he travelled, he had nothing to lose--nothing to make him claw desperately back to his present. (Except that mondo house--and just how did he afford that house, in SF, on his reporter's salary anyway? Inherited wealth? Nefarious extraneous activities?

) Why should I care if he gets back, when, let's face it, bopping around to different times is kinda scary/cool. Why should he care?

It was like Rubber Mallet To Head 101: Make your readers care within the first couple pages, or they're putting the book down and heading to the B&N cafe to spend their money on a scone.

c.e.lawson · Oct 5, 2007

Oh yeah, callalily, I think you hit a major reason on the head - his regular life. Why would he want so desperately to return to that wife, for one? (I found her quite unlikable) And the ex fiance' just adds to the reasons not to return and makes it seem like he doesn't love his wife. So instead of making it more interesting, I found the ex an unnecessary and confusing distraction. We need him to yearn to go back to his real life. There has to be something palpable at stake.

And LOL about that huge house. I live in Southern California and my husband is from No Cal, and we have a friend who is a reporter and know they don't make much. We found that house hilarious. Why do TV and movie characters ALWAYS have to have a huge and beautiful house?

Azraelsbane · Oct 5, 2007

c.e.lawson said:
And LOL about that huge house. I live in Southern California and my husband is from No Cal, and we have a friend who is a reporter and know they don't make much. We found that house hilarious. Why do TV and movie characters ALWAYS have to have a huge and beautiful house?

Because the big shots like to remind us all of what we lack?

ottorino · Oct 6, 2007

...even so, I didn't realize that Boris Becker could act at all.

c.e.lawson · Oct 7, 2007

Yeah, Azraelsbane - to the hollywood big shots, that house is a shack.

And LOL, ottorino! McKidd DOES look like Boris Becker!

kristin724 · Oct 10, 2007

I discovered this show through my Homicide obsession and turly I really only watch for Reed Diamond. I like McKidd, but his accent is just not normal. Second episode my mom saw it and instantly thought of Quantum Leap, but my dad so far really likes it. It is nice to see it not go above and beyond to explain the time travel, but I hope it doesn't get too romancey. We'll see.

rkbentley · Oct 11, 2007

I been enjoying it since it started, liked Quantum Leap, Day Break and most timetravel shows/movies and even though the "save the innocent" plot may get stale the entire backstory of why the not really ex-fiance is jumping and stopped jumping when she met him is interesting.

The fact they're dealing with the fallout of him just disappearing every other moment is great because in most shows that would easily be dimissed like Clark Kent diasappearing and Superman appearing.

Hopefully the answer to them jumping about won't end up like the season finale of Quantum Leap in the bar...

Marlys · Oct 11, 2007

I like it so far. And I get why he wants to make it work with his wife--not only do they have the kid, but he stole the woman from his brother. If the marriage fails, there would be a staggering amount of guilt. I think when we watch TV, we're used to shortcuts--Oh, he should obviously be with the other chick, so why doesn't he leave his wife?--when it's more realistic to have it be messy and complicated. Also, the ex-fiancée is leaping through time herself, so it's not like they know when (or if) they'll see each other again.

nevada · Oct 11, 2007

Anybody else think the fiance is jumping through his life, the way he jumps through other people's lives? That he's the one she's supposed to help somewhere along the line?

Any thoughts on Journeyman?

c.e.lawson

Calla Lily

On hiatus

Serenity

NCIS...

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Calla Lily

On hiatus

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

totidem_verbis

nevada

c.e.lawson

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

c.e.lawson

Calla Lily

On hiatus

c.e.lawson

Calla Lily

On hiatus

c.e.lawson

Azraelsbane

Agony is defeat

ottorino

c.e.lawson

kristin724

rkbentley

Marlys

Resist. Love. Go outside.

nevada