My initial opinion of SHARK last season was it was a spectacularly unspectacular show!
How’s that for the start of a column on a show that I want to write about? Please, don’t ask me why I tuned in the next week, and then the next… I can’t answer that question.
What did happen over the course of the first year is that I realized how very much I like James Woods and how perfectly suited he is for television. Even though he is usually impressive in the movie roles he has played, we never really get enough of his greatness before the movie is over and committed to IMDB purgatory. Another thing that happened is that writers and producers made lots and lots of changes midway in the season to the cast and characters, changes usually made off season on most shows. It amazes me that enough viewers stayed with the show amid all the tweaks and adjustments, but the writing improved and the characters began to spark as the actors began to take control. What resulted was…a very good show.
Not great, but no longer spectacularly unspectacular.
One problem that could not be tweaked was Jeri Ryan’s character. Ryan played the D.A. and thus, James Woods characters boss. There had been too many episodes where Stark had rolled right over Ryan’s character to make her believably strong. The most reasonable (and usual) decision would have been to let go of Ryan and her character all together. But late in the season a refreshing solution was decided upon.
TVGuide.com says:
At the end of the hit drama’s first season, a plot twist found Ryan’s character joining the ranks of James Woods’ high-profile crime unit, ostensibly further increasing Ms. Devlin’s own profile on the series. (Not that Jeri Ryan’s profile has ever, ever suffered.)
Jeri Ryan has never been considered a great actress, but she has her fan following (usually all male and almost all Trekkies) and the benefit of some very good roles on television.
The cast has also been excised some more for the new season and subplots from the first year that were going nowhere have been dropped. SHARK starts its second year in a much tighter and stronger position than the last, but the only reason to watch the show is still James Woods. He truly does elevate everyone around him can make the plainest script come alive.
SHARK begins its second season Sunday night on CBS.
This post was Guest Authored by Rob Walley
Comments
I actually only got to watch a couple episodes of season 1 of Shark, but was really impressed with the writing and chemistry that I saw. Maybe it was watching only the first and near last episodes, and not knowing that they changed writers (I was thrown aback when I saw the D/A working for Shark). Being that the show airs Sundays, it doesn’t allow me many opportunities to watch it (football, movie night, sometimes the occasional strip club visit - lol) but when I can, I watch for the theatrics of Mr. Woods. The guy really is one of the most underrated and probably under-appreciated stars in Hollywood he made a great guest appearance on Entourage).
If the show was on Tuesday nights instead, I think it would have a bigger following. Time will tell whether this show lasts.
Oh, and Jeri Ryan is smokin’ hot! Yummy!
“Jeri Ryan has never been considered a great actress” {Even though she IS a Marvelous actor!
As 7 of 9 she was able to project Much feeling even though as 7 of 9 she had to pretend to be a very rigid figure.
“but she has her fan following (usually all male and almost all Trekkies)” {of which I am neither
“and the benefit of some very good roles on television.”
I disagree. She has had a few good scripts on Voyager but that’s all.
I have yet to see Jeri in a role that lets her laugh.
“There had been too many episodes where Stark had rolled right over Ryan’s character to make her believably strong.”
{Do you mean when he talks with his back to her while hastily walking away?
“the only reason to watch the show is still James Woods” {Again I disagree.
I find it difficult to look at Woods for very long.
Jeri Ryan is the Only reason I’d watch Shark.
Wow, I love striking a nerve every now and then.
Tell me, Annette. Was there anything in my article that you agreed with or did I achieve a clean sweep?