MovieChat Forums > Wanted (2005) Discussion > THE SHIELD wannabe - SPOILERS

THE SHIELD wannabe - SPOILERS

posted 19 years ago by pieries_is
4 replies | jump to latest

i just finished watching the first episode, and i am disappointed. i was making this show as an exception for checking ANYTHING out on TNT, and i was reminded why i don't watch the channel. Man i truly was hoping this would rival SHIELD, the more competition the better for us. I wanted another good cop show, but i guess i'll have to wait for a while longer for that.

THE SHIELD is the best cop show out there, and brings a gritty, real feel the the LA scene(anyone living here will know what i'm talking about). The acting is top-notch and the stories are believable.
FX in general has been doing great things with their shows since of late. RESCUE ME, NIP/TUCK, OVER THERE have great qualities in drama and action that they make you give a *beep* about the characters. THE SHIELD is the prime factor in their line up. it is hard hitting and unforgiving in presentation of stories. Nothing is sugar coated nor artificial. The actors have us believing that they are all capable of what they claim to do, all of them have their short-commings and sometimes even the good guys are bad. That's what makes the show great, they are all human. i know COPS who watch the SHIELD as if it were gospel, i can't wait to see what they think of WANTED.

WANTED is a cool idea, but from the get go it seems like it just has too much money than they know what to do with it. The camera work is great(and expensive) but it seems like it's a gimmick rather than an AID to the story. The music is cool, but it sometimes feels like a music video.
The actors (except for Cole, and the BALD guy) seem more believable as a comedy troop than as a elite team. They don't fit! The girl does not seem like she can even hold a gun, even the assistant DA seems like she walked right outta the OC. they are all very inapprirately DRAMATIC. And now that they killed the Second most CONVINCING guy from the group, my hopes are further diminishing. I like COLE, i just don't think he can pull this off on his own.
The premise feels like a movie, they jumped right to the point that they have to hunt 100 of the WORST OF LA...come on! And the amount of technology they have is second to none, and they are part of the police/special forces team. With aaron spellings' support it's no wonder they got such a great budget to pull off all the good camera shots and the effects, but without a strong script and great acting it falls a part. Look at the scenes where they are breaking into the house, the action is good, but they are joking around even in the midst of all the action(very bad-boyish!). Works for the movies, NOT for the tv-action shows.

i will watch a few more episdoes in hopes of improvement, but that's because SHEILD is not on till next year.

please let me know what you guys feel, and especially what other SHIELD fans think.

[–] specialrequest 19 years ago

Yep, I agree, The Shield is the best cop drama on TV, but I wouldn't say it's very realistic. I know all the cops here also watch it like it was gospel and LOVE it, but will tell you it isn't all that realistic, but they don't care, they love it. I know we've never missed an episode, and the only thing saving me from complete withdrawals until next spring is the fact that I have Rescue Me and Nip/Tuck to keep me entertained.
There were six cops here tonight to watch Wanted and they all really liked it. I've now been told to TiVO all the episodes, so I guess they weren't disappointed. I know what you mean, though. The second I realized they'd killed off Brendan Kelly, I was instantly let down.....I looked forward to seeing him on that show all year. I will give it a chance, I think it has promise.

[–] Robbie_The_Bird_Watcher 19 years ago

Ummm.....I generaly don't watch the shows on FX and since the shiled was promoted as basically a criminal with a badge I never watched it but if you say it is good I might.

WANTED is a cool idea, but from the get go it seems like it just has too much money than they know what to do with it. The camera work is great(and expensive) but it seems like it's a gimmick rather than an AID to the story. The music is cool, but it sometimes feels like a music video.

Agreed, the show is heavy on the testosterone maculinity too. Lotsa violence and ratehr juvenile simplistic plot lines but they had enfough money, good acting, and good directing that it was still OK. Wrtitng, creativity or originality (or autentitcity) are not the strength of this show but it was a great high paced high stakes action cop show.

The actors (except for Cole, and the BALD guy) seem more believable as a comedy troop than as a elite team. They don't fit! The girl does not seem like she can even hold a gun, even the assistant DA seems like she walked right outta the OC. they are all very inapprirately DRAMATIC. And now that they killed the Second most CONVINCING guy from the group, my hopes are further diminishing. I like COLE, i just don't think he can pull this off on his own.

In the opening scene two guys are talking about chasing tail vs being a celibate unmaried (virigin) christian. But this chirsitian guy loves to punch people out and put people in arm bars for no reason. I found that a little odd. I liked the latino FBI guy/playboy. Very unprofesional and not a lot of depth for the FBI but he was cool. I really liked the guy who got shot. The computer tech was a nerd with teeth so that was OK I guess.

I'm not sure of my take on the female. It's kinda subtle, but her being a girl and obviously not as burly or tough, I guess she will be the smart one and do all the brilliant interogation. I didn't see that any of these guys had any detective skills whatsoever. (exept for the "nerd").

Gary Cole's character couldn't of been any more sterotypical. Likable, great actor, very sterotypical.

The bit with the capatain was also sterotypical as it could get. "Here's the new guy and it's a girl. Why didn't you tell me this is my squad damit. He those are the orders thats the way it is Jack."

The part with the DA was so lame. Just to give the head cop someone else to yell at him and "regin him in" from his antics. How many head DA's do you think would care about putting the vice grip on some guys nuts who held a gun to a guys head as his psychotic cop killing partner raped a 10 year old girl. Please.

And the amount of technology they have is second to none, and they are part of the police/special forces team. With aaron spellings' support it's no wonder they got such a great budget to pull off all the good camera shots and the effects, but without a strong script and great acting it falls a part. Look at the scenes where they are breaking into the house, the action is good, but they are joking around even in the midst of all the action(very bad-boyish!).

Which was why I LOVED this show. I thought it was great and will be tuning n every week. I guess I was more impressed with the shallow but cool characters and thought all the acting from the principals was great. And I love that bad guy, he's awsome.

From the poster formerly know as Robert163

[–] pieries_is 19 years ago

hey robert,

on the whole i guess we are in agreement. Even the points you DIDN'T agree with, you explained yourself VERY well. your very eloquent.

do yourself a favor bro, check out the FIRST DVD of shield(it's at blockbuster and elsewhere). and take it from me, i'm NEVER the type to rent TV SHOWs, but trust me, it will impress someone as perceptive as you.

overall, i do hope the next few episodes of WANTED does get better, but i doubt it.

laterz

[–] Robbie_The_Bird_Watcher 19 years ago

ok, i' will check it the shield

From the poster formerly know as Robert163