Damien Molony on Ripper Street
I didn't really think I had anything to say about this week's episode of Ripper Street, but then I read this article and it turned out I had things to say after all. So:
I mostly found this episode pretty boring. The case of the week did not really grab me, there were way too many scenes that just involved listening to Merrick's labored breathing, and it's only the second episode and I'm already really sick of this Shine storyline and dreading the fact that it's likely to last throughout the rest of the series.
That said, hey Damien Molony. I like you. And, as the above article makes sure to note, you've apparently managed to land another character who shows up to replace a recently departed fan favorite. And so far you're just not [insert recently departed fan favorite].
I think I must have missed something by watching the first series of this show on Netflix several months after it aired. I never would have guessed that Hobbs was so beloved by the fanbase. I mean, I probably should have guessed, given that he's cute and looks like he's about 12 (and apparently people ship him with Jackson, though I'm not really sure why other than the fact that he's cute and looks like he's about 12 and therefore he must be shipped with the other fan favorite) but mostly the character never made much impression on me. I can see why Reid et al mourn him, of course, but as a show viewer, I wasn't really mourning him much. Therefore, it didn't really occur to me to compare the character to Hobbs, except to the extent that the show did by having the characters worry/object to his presence (I have no idea why Reid says he's a boy, though, when Hobbs looked 12 and Damien Molony most definitely does not, but whatever).
I will, however, agree with the article's points that so far DC Flight is a pretty shit cop (the title of the article I linked above: Is Constable Flight the Worst Policeman Ever?). He's overly eager and pompous/arrogant and he fails a couple times and then really fails when he falls asleep on the job (is this where his angst is going to come from the rest of the season, or does he have some super tragic backstory as well?), which results in Shine managing to kill Merrick (in another really long scene full of Merrick's labored breathing). Unfortunately, based on the doctor's words, everyone seems to think that Merrick killed himself, so Flight's probably not getting blamed for this yet (which is why I'm wondering if he'll be angsting about it the rest of the series) and also we're going to have to continue to deal with this Shine storyline. Dammit.
Most of the article seems to be recapping Flight's transgressions throughout the episode. It then goes on to compare him unfavorably to the dearly departed Hobbs, and concludes with the following: The episode ends without any emphasis on Flight’s failure, however I’m sure we’ll see some sort of repercussions in the next episode. He’s got a lot of work to claw his way out of the hole he’s put himself in and, at this point, it seems doubtful that he’ll ever be worthy of H Division.
Has this person never watched television before, or is the conclusion to the article just more literal recapping of what happens in this episode and that's it? Because it seems a little silly to say that it seems doubtful the character will ever be worthy of H Division when Flight becoming worthy of H Division was just set up by this episode as the likely arc for this character. (eta - though now that I'm thinking about it, they're right in that it would seem an even more obvious arc had it been clear to everyone that Flight was at fault for Merrick's death right away. The fact that the show did not emphasize Flight's failure there is interesting.)
I suppose the show might surprise us and have him flip the bird to H Division, join forces with Shine, and therefore make him thoroughly hated, but doesn't it seem a whole lot more likely (based on the fact that they did show us that the character has good qualities in addition to his failings) that he'll angst a bit about his initial failures, and then make up for them, becoming an appreciated/accepted/worthy member of the team by the end of the series?
I mean, maybe not. Maybe he'll continue to be a shit cop and he'll leave disgraced at the end or something (after getting beat on several more times based on circulating promo photos). This episode really seemed like a clear setup for later redemption to me though. I almost wonder if he'll be the only one who doesn't believe that Merrick's death was a suicide moving forward, therefore working extra hard to get to the bottom of this Shine bullshit.
Or maybe the character's tragic backstory/secret is that he's narcoleptic. That could be fun! ;)
Also, this show needs to feature way less Shine and way more Jackson, please. This episode was sadly lacking in Jackson, though I enjoyed the fight between Jackson and Susan and the bit of fallout with Reid afterward. Also, Jackson + Flight + cigarettes. Also Drake + Flight + 'you should call her Mrs. Drake'. Also Reid's face in general.
I mostly found this episode pretty boring. The case of the week did not really grab me, there were way too many scenes that just involved listening to Merrick's labored breathing, and it's only the second episode and I'm already really sick of this Shine storyline and dreading the fact that it's likely to last throughout the rest of the series.
That said, hey Damien Molony. I like you. And, as the above article makes sure to note, you've apparently managed to land another character who shows up to replace a recently departed fan favorite. And so far you're just not [insert recently departed fan favorite].
I think I must have missed something by watching the first series of this show on Netflix several months after it aired. I never would have guessed that Hobbs was so beloved by the fanbase. I mean, I probably should have guessed, given that he's cute and looks like he's about 12 (and apparently people ship him with Jackson, though I'm not really sure why other than the fact that he's cute and looks like he's about 12 and therefore he must be shipped with the other fan favorite) but mostly the character never made much impression on me. I can see why Reid et al mourn him, of course, but as a show viewer, I wasn't really mourning him much. Therefore, it didn't really occur to me to compare the character to Hobbs, except to the extent that the show did by having the characters worry/object to his presence (I have no idea why Reid says he's a boy, though, when Hobbs looked 12 and Damien Molony most definitely does not, but whatever).
I will, however, agree with the article's points that so far DC Flight is a pretty shit cop (the title of the article I linked above: Is Constable Flight the Worst Policeman Ever?). He's overly eager and pompous/arrogant and he fails a couple times and then really fails when he falls asleep on the job (is this where his angst is going to come from the rest of the season, or does he have some super tragic backstory as well?), which results in Shine managing to kill Merrick (in another really long scene full of Merrick's labored breathing). Unfortunately, based on the doctor's words, everyone seems to think that Merrick killed himself, so Flight's probably not getting blamed for this yet (which is why I'm wondering if he'll be angsting about it the rest of the series) and also we're going to have to continue to deal with this Shine storyline. Dammit.
Most of the article seems to be recapping Flight's transgressions throughout the episode. It then goes on to compare him unfavorably to the dearly departed Hobbs, and concludes with the following: The episode ends without any emphasis on Flight’s failure, however I’m sure we’ll see some sort of repercussions in the next episode. He’s got a lot of work to claw his way out of the hole he’s put himself in and, at this point, it seems doubtful that he’ll ever be worthy of H Division.
Has this person never watched television before, or is the conclusion to the article just more literal recapping of what happens in this episode and that's it? Because it seems a little silly to say that it seems doubtful the character will ever be worthy of H Division when Flight becoming worthy of H Division was just set up by this episode as the likely arc for this character. (eta - though now that I'm thinking about it, they're right in that it would seem an even more obvious arc had it been clear to everyone that Flight was at fault for Merrick's death right away. The fact that the show did not emphasize Flight's failure there is interesting.)
I suppose the show might surprise us and have him flip the bird to H Division, join forces with Shine, and therefore make him thoroughly hated, but doesn't it seem a whole lot more likely (based on the fact that they did show us that the character has good qualities in addition to his failings) that he'll angst a bit about his initial failures, and then make up for them, becoming an appreciated/accepted/worthy member of the team by the end of the series?
I mean, maybe not. Maybe he'll continue to be a shit cop and he'll leave disgraced at the end or something (after getting beat on several more times based on circulating promo photos). This episode really seemed like a clear setup for later redemption to me though. I almost wonder if he'll be the only one who doesn't believe that Merrick's death was a suicide moving forward, therefore working extra hard to get to the bottom of this Shine bullshit.
Or maybe the character's tragic backstory/secret is that he's narcoleptic. That could be fun! ;)
Also, this show needs to feature way less Shine and way more Jackson, please. This episode was sadly lacking in Jackson, though I enjoyed the fight between Jackson and Susan and the bit of fallout with Reid afterward. Also, Jackson + Flight + cigarettes. Also Drake + Flight + 'you should call her Mrs. Drake'. Also Reid's face in general.