TVSquad

After watching the first 2 episodes I'd much rather watch the Poo-Ring in my toilet for an hour.

Reply

I sort of like the show but I do hate fact that there's no main story going on..it's just a series of short pentagon stories

Reply

Criticizing a show is one thing, but being critical without any valid comments is something else.

There are at least EIGHT tv shows involving LOCAL law-enforcement. And there is no "main story" there, just a series of short episodes that are introduced and solved every single time. EIGHT.

There are at least FOUR tv shows involving NATIONAL law-enforcement agencies. And there is no "main story" there, just a series of short episodes that are introduced and solved every single time. FOUR.

E-RING is the ONLY GLOBAL show involving 'law-enforcment', which makes it original, and interesting. Also it is well-written, and well-acted. While SVU (for example) involes a few square miles, E-Ring involes PLANET EARTH.

Maybe you don't like seeing this because of your own biased agenda regarding the political aspects of the genre?

Maybe you only like seeing global events portrayed on the big-screen in theater?

If you can't be objective, its time to quit. e-ring is not only a great show because of its suspense and dramatic tension (like all the other agency-series) but because it exposes the inner workings of an environment previously unseen on television.

Reply

I really like the show - its funny I am complete opposite of the reviews on this site - I think E-Ring and Night Stalker are great, while I dont like Surface or Threshold.

E-RING pulls the Deus and dumbs down complex issues because the show is ONLY 45 MINUTES LONG!!! Having these issues EVEN TOUCHED upon is better than nothing! I am completely ignorant to what is happening in Rwanda and at least this latest episode at least gave me some insight into it.

If you hate it, Hate Bratt or Hopper - but for the time they have the writers have come up with sharp exciting 45 minutes that thrills from beginning to end. I am not pro-American, I am not in the military, I'm just a fan of stuff like Tom Clancy and Jack Ryan type stuff and E-RIng gives me a bite-size piece of it.

And yeah Andrew McCarthy - from the Brat Pack of the 80's - is in it now as the prick guy he plays so well.

Reply

I wonder, if the show starts with a country other than China, maybe I would buy it all. Like poster #4, I would then also feel that the show gives me some insight into what I am completely ignorant to.

But after watching the pilot, I decided it's not a show for me. My rant is here:
http://spaces.msn.com/members/pto2k/Blog/cns!1pCxqnOJxdCj76lEZyFxHfeQ!216.entry

Reply

"After four episodes, I'm taking the same path the rest of the country seems to be taking and walking away from the show, which hasn't exactly been garnering huge ratings"
--Have you seen the ratings for tv this season at all? Have you been following the networks attempt to find a time slot that suits a show like ERing? Opening up against the number one show on tv right now, "Lost", certainly hasn't garnered the show any viewers, but if you have been following the ratings, you would know that it certainly hasn't lost any either. So this "walking away from the show" you're referring to just doesn't exist.

I love how you keep talking about the show relying on "dumbing down complex issues and calling in the Deus ex Machina". What are you talking about exactly? What complex issue is it that you are referring to that is "dumbed down"?

What you are asking for is a contradiction in the land of TV ENTERTAINMENT... A tv show that addresses extremely complex issues, and debates them every week... (it's called CNN) Maybe the the ERing writers should copy transcripts straight from CSPAN to satisfy your need to watch complex issues debated to no end with no resolution... WHO WOULD WATCH THAT?

With 45 mins you can only have so many acronyms spelled out for the general populace. It's like trying to teach a kindergardner algebra. You have to teach them the basics of math first, the definitions, the rules, the language, before they are able to really grasp some of the more complex issues.

How about, in the pilot, instead of showing a Chinese spy being rescued with top secret information, they stick Bratt, Hopper, McCarthy, and Morton in the Pentagon for a healthy 45 min debate on China/U.S. relations and why risking an operation might prove detrimental... just so they can really delve into the complexity of the issue. Can you say BORING?

I think ERing does a great job of touching on those types of debates, and then getting into the action... which actually DOES HAPPEN... all the time, without the general populace knowing.

And last but not least... "ERing is the perfect post 9/11 show?" --Could you perhaps dumb down that issue any more with that question? I don't think so. If you want to argue as to the state of the nations current viewing habits in a post 9/11 world, then look at the ratings. It would seem "Lost" is the perfect tv show post 9/11. Why? Escapism perhaps? People in this country for the most part, DO NOT CARE about current foreign policy or any other complex issues involving our Nations security.

Thus we come to my theory regarding the mediocre ratings of ERing. The majority of the tv viewing public want to tune out instead of tuning in. SAD.

I hope the show finds it's niche, this country could stand to have a few more of it's citizens asking questions, rather than just blindly accepting the state of things, because it's easier to sit back and be entertained.

Reply

That was extremely insightful Alex - I agree with all points you mention - I'm glad people are talking back on this lame review of the show and that more people give it a shot and then make their own decisions on it.

Though I take issue with people like Peter Shi - his blog comments on the show are typical of anyone who thinks he knows too much. I have a friend who is into Greek Mythology and just cannot watch Troy, Gladiator and anything based around that time period and based on those myths because its full of Hollywood trite - so instead of complaining about it he just doesnt watch it knowing it will be off base.

Are you watching Alias? Think you better start slamming them too - that isnt Rome or Beijing or Stuttgart or Paris - its friggin' LA...why dont you Mr. Know-it-all blog that out! Its a low budget TV show and people who bitch about how Hollywood twists stuff around should just turn off the TV and not go the movies.

Wait till China does a show about the US - they'll have everyone wearing cowboy hats and shooting 6-shooters out of corvettes with big-breatsed women everywhere you look.

Reply

I like the idea of this show. Its a great concept. As someone stated before me I like Tom Clancy and these type of worldwide situation and how the Pentagon would act on it.

But after watching 5 episodes, I am getting more and more dissapointed. I started off really liking this show, it was a new idea, and it involved guns and politics.

These are my comments:

- The show always begins and ends with a sex/love scene between J.T. and his lover. (I forgot her name). Breakfast in bed. Lover talk.

- The script is filled with one-liners that would work if they just used them once or twice.... but this show seems to have found a book of military one-liners and are throwing them around every flippin 2 minutes.

- There are 3 good actors on the show. J.T., the Colonel, and his assistant. (Sorry I am bad with names today - not much sleep) Most of the other actors are pretty bad. That doesn't mean that can't improve though, they may just need time.

I will watch the 6th, 7th and the rest of this season's episodes because I love the concept. But I must honestly say that if they don't improve drastically over the next few shows they are going to lose viewers fast.

Reply