"Looks like I just bought myself some insurance." —Bridget
After three episodes of
Ringer, about two things are clear. One is that the show has adopted the
Damages-esque way of naming their episodes which can be a detriment because this French lessons quote from the episode has absolutely nothing to do with it as a whole. (Also, episode two was named after a Siobhan quote too; a trend?) The second is that Sarah Michelle Gellar is probably in the running with Nina Dobrev for female star who has kissed practically every male co-star on her show. It also doesn't help my ego that this show has several good looking men, but I'll let the female audience determine which show has the better group of males —
Ringer or
Vampire Diaries, or of whom they're more jealous, Geller or Dobrev.
The three main problems with
Ringer were the music, the visual effects, and the writing plus direction. Well, thankfully these problems didn't surface this time around and I was able to fully enjoy the latest installment. (Or is it that I was fully enjoying the episode and didn't notice the three main problems?) And I have no hesitations about it: "If You Ever Want a French Lesson" is the best episode — by far — of
Ringer. Of course, there's only been three.
I often felt that this show would be able to drastically improve by becoming self-aware and campy. Obviously, it seemed that was the direction it was taking with the horrid musical score and casual writing. Well, tonight, the show hasn't quite dropped its serious tone but something felt different. If I may, I believe some simple character development allowed us to root for a few people this time around.
I didn't know whether Bridget was dimwitted or smart when she decided
not to leave the phone on the bench in the park. (No, literally, I wrote that down: "Ooh. I can't tell if Bridget is stupid or cunning!") But all I know is that I was rooting for her once she turned around and began to briskly walk away. And I
loved when the hitman's… boss? we really don't know who he is… found her in the apartment on Pratt (sp?) Street, to which she escaped and met up with the FBI agent. I was duped! I thought she was maybe going to clue him in that someone was stalking her but instead she used him as bait.
These are the kinds of moves I want to see these characters make, not incredibly stupid ones like leave a dead body in a loft several people have the keys to. I mean really. At least this isn't
as air-headed.
But I can't help notice that our bad guys don't seem that intimidating. We've got Bodaway Macawi, the mobster, who's supposed to be this big bad that's killed "at least nine" people but he's taken forever and a day to grab Malcolm and "interrogate" him. I do however find his form of torture quite pleasurable to watch — drugging up the addict, perfect. And on the other side we've got the, who we'll call, Hitman's Boss (or Boss for short). Shouldn't the boss of a hitman be a little scary? The most this guy can accomplish is getting Bridget to shut a cellphone quite loudly at times.
Speaking of hanging up cellphones, the person on the other end of Siobhan's conversation from the last scene of the pilot could very well be Boss. My theory is the following: Siobhan and Andrew haven't been going through the best marriage. She planned to leave Andrew and take half (or all) of his stuff but perhaps hit a snug or remembered an abuse clause in a prenup she signed. This is where Bridget comes in: her way out. She could leave her inheritance to Bridget in a will; feign her death; have Bridget assume her life; then, she'd get a hitman to kill her without a gun (if I remember correctly, he had a crow bar or something) to make it seem like someone was abusing her and went too far; frame Andrew; then she'd show up as Bridget and try to claim Siobhan's inheritance? It doesn't make much sense. But this is
Ringer. Stop thinking. Just enjoy.
Other thoughts:
- Bridget has to refuse alcohol but she's not even pregnant. I found that a bit humorous. But when is she going to draft up a plan for when she's not exactly showing in a few months?
- Sarah Michelle Gellar is doing a superb job at playing these two different characters. But is it only because Siobhan's on the show for so little?
- I believe I'm beginning to "ship" Bridget and Andrew. But you'd think the topic of sex would come up by now.
- Olivia gets snarkier. And I can't tell if I'm annoyed or if I love it!
- Why didn't Macawi notice how many calls Malcolm had made to the same number? He didn't erase the voicemail so am I to believe he's deleted his call history? Yeah, didn't think so. I assume Bridget isn't using her old cellphone, if she even had one, so wouldn't the number show that it's a New York City area code? I'm having a really hard time believing this didn't come across his mind at any time during his interrogation.
The second and third episodes of the show decided to focus on just one thing. Previously it was just the body; this time it was just the cellphone, and I'm liking the new route. If you saw the promo, you know that next week is another focused episode — and I can't wait! Three hours in and I believe I'm hooked. Now I need to decide if it's a guilty pleasure or if it's genuine. Though, neither would particularly be bad.
All I know is that I can't stop playing "Set Fire To the Rain"!
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More of my reviews:
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MichaelCollado
Nice review thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think this was the best episode too, but I still had a few problems with the story.
1. You mentioned it... If Bridget wants to pull off being Siobhan she needs to get preggars yesterday! She needs to be having sex with Andrew or somebody now!
2.While like you I cheered a little inside as Bridget walked away from the bench with phone in hand, I was annoyed she did not wipe the fingerprints off of it when she thought she was going to leave it. She is hiding her identity and twins have separate fingerprints, if the phone ended up with the police she would want no connection to the hitman's boss or the dead body of the hitman!
3. I thought her ruse with Agent Eyelashes was a hollow threat to Boss at best. She always carries the hone on her. All the Boss would have to do is call her, when she answers he knows she is carrying the phone. Then kill her and grab the phone. No threat of it going to the FBI at that point. I guess one can argue that Bridget will not carry the phone on her person anymore. If that's the case my point is moot, but if she answers it again it's the same old Scooby-Doo-like plan that is doomed to fail.
I did not notice the terrible score music.. so that's a huge positive. I hadn't even realized I was not hearing it until I read our review. So kudos Ringer for getting rid of it after 2 episodes.
thanks for the review. the show is starting to grow on me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI also think this was the best episode. This show is improving with each episode and getting better and better.
You're welcome! :D
ReplyDelete1. Seriously. She needs to work on getting pregnant already, sheesh!
2. I didn't think about fingerprints. Though, I don't expect Boss to give the phone to the FBI or anything like that so maybe she didn't pay attention to it either because of that.
3. Hahaha!!! Agent Eyelashes! YES!! The only thing that makes sense here is that Boss isn't interested in killing Siobhan/Bridget. Instead of threatening to kill her, he threatened to expose her murder to the police.
And yes, the music was non-SeeDubish this time around. Good stuff.
It's definitely getting better.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're welcome. I find it kind of amusing that you guys (Rob and DarqueMode included among many other people who have read my reviews) thank me for it. It's not like I'm recapping them. But I'll take the thanks! :D
LOL
ReplyDelete1) No. No. She's not going to get preggers. She's going to use that old soap opera stand by and "have a miscarriage."
2) IMHO....writer lazy. She wasn't going to leave the phone so....no one even thought about the prints. Sometimes, I wish these types of shows would 3) I like Agent Eyelashes. It's cooler than what my friends and I called him when he was on Lost. "Eyeliner Dude"
I agree that this episode was by far the best. Every episode has improved on the last. Of course after the dreadful pilot that's not hard. I find that I am intrigued in most of the characters which is a plus. Although there were some plot holes I am purposely not dwelling on, my biggest complaint is that I liked Siobhan as ruthless and probably revenge/money-driven. I don't want to feel sorry for her character. At least not yet. Oh and I'm rooting for Bridget and Andrew too although it's got a whole Maury show vibe when it comes out that Siobhan is still alive.
ReplyDeleteI thought she was going to double play the Agent too so having her use him to provide leverage shocked me. I liked that twist. Good point about the Boss threatening her secret and not her life. It adds tension and mystery to the plot.
ReplyDeleteI know that the show runners have continuously said "don't think you have it figured out that one sister is good and the other one is bad" and whatnot but my theories only work if Siobhan is ruthless, so I'm with you. She should just be mean-spirited. Now, this baby might humanize her in a way… and could it actually bring her to New York faster than she wanted?
ReplyDeleteAlso, you're right. She should have gone to some unknown country. We're thinking too much here, though! This is RINGER :D
great review & I agree with most of it, I really loved this episode more than the previous two and I found myself looking for more after it ended.. The cellphone thing was a smart twist, though I can't help but laugh at those Hitmen (Machado included).. they need to get them to be more intimidating!
ReplyDeleteWhat pissed me off in this episode is the constant cluelessness of Bridget when she met that friend in the elevator and with her divorce attorney .. plus Gemma looks like someone who can pick up on things "like her husband's affair" & I kept thinking that she'd pick on the change of Siobhan's behavior especially since Bridget clearly suck at playing the part.. just watch the scene when she finds the attorney's card and when they met to give her the dress.. I just can't bear it more..
Overall, It was a very enjoyable episode..
Enjoyed reading the review! I've been behind on Ringer so I just saw this a few days ago. I think "Shevet" will have a miscarriage because there's really no other way considering how skinny she is. With the not drinking alcohol, I think it's easier for her to be sober when she has an excuse not to drink because an addict shouldn't really be going to parties where there is alcohol everywhere. I feel bad for Malcolm, he was just trying to help and there's no one looking for him. I saw the episode in the Hamptons and looking forward to the new episode!
ReplyDelete