TVSquad

(S01E02) "I'm as serious as a hefty bag full of Rottweilers." - The Middleman

One thing I noticed about last week's episode carried over into the opening scene of this week. When Wendy is "off the clock" she seems to always dress in very relaxed clothes; skimpy shorts, halters, etc. Her hot roommate not only enjoys the freedom that shorts and tanks offer but apparently has no problem with public nudity as well, especially if it's in the name of freedom. I'm not sure what these fashion choices mean but it's something I couldn't help notice.

I have a feeling Ida is going to be my favorite character on this show. Not because Mary Pat Gleason is a talented veteran actress but because she seems to have an endless array of functions. Not only can she produce a cup of coffee from her midsection but it comes in a to go cup with the logo of an imaginary coffee shop already printed on it. Very cool.

Another aspect of this show that keeps pulling me in is the perfect combination Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales make. His over-the-top statements are brilliantly balanced by her cynical rejoinders and her knowledge of pop culture is the best compliment to his wealth of scientific know how.

Case in point, in this episode, Middleman admits that he is fairly clueless when it comes to magic and the supernatural. This makes a lot of sense considering how much faith he puts into his intelligence gathering and electronic gadgets. The best part is that his shortcoming allows Wendy another opportunity to show how valuable an asset she can be.

The introduction of Elaine Hendrix's character was pretty awesome. Hendrix is a talent who has gone unnoticed for far too long and her function on the show as the go to girl for information is perfect for her. Of course, she can't just be an expert on the occult, she's also a reformed succubus, the best kind.

Sometimes I will watch a particular film and wonder to myself, "How many different ways are they going to use the word 'fuck?'" While watching The Middleman, I find myself wondering when the writers will run out of quaint expletives for MM to use. Personally, I really hope this show stays on long enough for me to find out.

How great was it that Duncan went to Frank Herbert Junior High? When it comes to sci-fi/fantasy shows, a good shout out is always appreciated. A lesser show would have named the school after George Lucas or Stephen King but I give The Middleman props for making the extra effort.

I find it funny that I have trouble reviewing a show as simple as this, but in a way, it makes perfect sense. The premise of the show and chain of events are pretty straight forward. Even in this, the second episode, I can see that it's going to be tough to come up with original comments every week. I'm reminded of something my friend and co-worker, the late Adam Finley once wrote. He said in his last review of Monk, that he could no longer find anything new to say about it and while he was frustrated that his reviews were always the same, it reinforced the point that shows like this live and die on the characters and their dialogue.

Just when I thought there was no more room for great characters, we get to meet the bellhop (?) of the underworld. Simply hilarious. The Middleman may end up being my favorite show of the summer.