Homicide 3x01-3x03

[oyceter]

Hrm. Not sure how I feel about the white-glove murder case. On the one hand, I really liked getting a look at Pembleton and his complex relationship with the church and faith, but on the other, I really disliked the soapy feel of the serial killer thing, and especially the dissociative personality disorder thing, which made me roll my eyes.

I really love that they put a woman in as the other shift commander after Pembleton turned it down. And I love that they're already dealing with gender issues, and the prickly nature between Russert and Howard, particularly in their first conversation, when it felt like Russert felt like she needed to take something out on someone and did so on Howard because Howard was female and therefore safer. There was a lot of interesting stuff going on in there.

On the other hand, I really disliked that they had her sleeping with Beau. Yeah, drama and whatnot, but it'd be nice to not have that. I already dislike the looks we get into the detectives' personal lives, I already hate love triangles and cheating, so yeah. That plus the fact that I am a bit annoyed that they had to introduce the second female character by having her be romantically involved. I am glad that they ended up breaking it off though.

Also, Beau's wife is insane!

But I loved that of course the men started joking about Russert sleeping her way to the top and that Howard slapped them down. It felt so real. That and the scene when that asshat detective reacted by bringing misogyny into it, and Russert's frustration and anger about that later, and that excellent scene with Gee on the roof.

I was so yelling at the asshat detective. And you could see it, you could see the derogatory remarks coming. Just scratch the surface, and all the misogyny and racism comes right out. I think I was yelling at the TV when he called Pembleton "boy." First, "Noooo! You didn't!" and then "KICK HIS ASS PEMBLETON! Beat him up!" I'm sad that Pembleton was pulled back and that there was some acknowledgement of just how insulting that was, but not fully. It didn't annoy me, though, because it feels real, and it feels like the show is commenting on the fact that Pembleton has to swallow it, that it happens to him so often, that it's always there, just like the wall Russet keeps running into.

ETA: Oh! I forgot. Another scene that made me feel a bit squiffy was the discussion about sports between Bolander and Munch, in which Bolander concludes, "It's Americans like you who are the problem." I think normally it wouldn't have made me feel funny, because the show's clearly poking at Bolander's seriousness about sports. Except this time it did, because Munch is Jewish, and because of the history of labeling "undesirable" people as "not truly American." So... yeah. A bit uncomfortable.

Comments

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

But that's the thing with Homicide. You're always meant to be a bit uncomfortable (which is probably why NBC was always a bit uncomfortable about having it on its schedule). That series confronts you with your own discomfort and makes you think about it.

[oyceter]

Well, I was actually more uncomfortable because I wasn't sure if they meant to have that subtext there are not. It wasn't framed like how the show usually seems to frame difficult subjects, and I was more uncomfortable about their unspoken assumptions about American and whatnot.

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

I think it was probably intended, though it's been years since I saw the episode. Bolander was one of those nearly Archie Bunker type characters, I think.

[oyceter]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree then, as I'm still not convinced that the show meant it as commentary on Munch's Jewishness and assumptions of nationality.

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

Which episode was it exactly? If I get a chance, I'll hunt it down, for curiosity's sake. (Hmm, I wonder if my Homicide tapes are here or at Dad's house.)

[oyceter]

I think it's the third ep. of the third season? I can't quite remember the title, but it's the one where they catch the white glove serial killer.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

The "soapy feel of the serial-killer" thing is what had to be brought in to keep the series on air, and it does continue that way from now on.

[oyceter]

Alas, yeah... I was a bit scared of that when I remember what you said in a previous comment.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

There are some melodramatic plotlines later on that are really good, though.

[oyceter]

Cool! Looking forward to them.