OK, a few additional thoughtsβ¦
The second storyline (βmeanwhile, back in the lab!β) is really dragging this show down. First, it takes away from the βleapingβ narrative for the week. Subsequently, we donβt give a shit about Ben or the people whose lives heβs fallen into. Since this was the heart of the original series- we connected with Sam and felt that he cared about the people around him- itβs taking the soul out of the whole concept. Feels like a V8 engine missing 5 sparkplugs.
Also, the writing on this second element is really terrible. Because theyβre limited in the amount of time they have to spend here, it really feels like theyβre just trying to jam two stories together, connectedness be damned. For instance, the most recent episode had the following climactic sequence back in βreal timeβ: βHey, the antagonist is at a house! Look, the door is unlocked. Wait, thereβs a rug out of place and a basement hatch under it. Wow, thereβs a lot of science-y stuff here, we should take some back with us. Hmm, the antagonist is calling me. Oh no, this place is booby-trapped and starting to blow up! Quick, try to grab something and get out! Whew, we made it out with a hard drive just in time! Hurry, letβs go back to the lab before any other person comes to see whatβs happening.β If you watched it, youβll know that it took longer for me to type that than the actual βactionβ was being portrayed on the screen.
Iβm sure that the actors involved are quite talented, but theyβre not being given anything to work with. The writing feels like something youβd see in a terrible CBS procedural spin offβ¦ this past week, it felt like the βCβ storyline from βCIS Tulsaβ.
Finally, a thought from a friend of mine (huge QL fan): βIβm really glad that theyβre working to diversify the cast and the plots/situations, but itβs terrible that theyβre still using such terrible stereotypes. Both of the super-smart characters are Asians. The African American is a weary guy whoβs seen some things (a low-rent Murtaugh). There are three white characters- a sassy gay guy, the villain, and the girlfriend. Just lazy writing. No reason for me to be curious about them or interested in what theyβre trying to doβ¦β