Note : Unlike The CW shows this review doesn't feature subliminal ads and brainwashing pop music.
Don't worry the title isn't pointing out Sarah Michelle Gellar's performance because like in the pilot she played Bridget and Siobhan brilliantly. The last actually reminds me of her character in Cruel Intentions so I can't wait to see what she's really capable of. But the most surprising thing is that I grew up with Gellar as Buffy Summers for seven years and I don't see the Slayer behind the twin sisters mask. Moreover this second session made me realize how much she was skinny as Bridget in the pilot so even if her sudden weight gain don't make sense it's reassuring to see her all pretty and healthy. You go, girl ! Wait, this last expression is probably sponsored by Shania Twain.
Hopefully Gellar is not the only show asset when it comes to acting. Ioan Gruffudd should also quickly grow on you as Andrew Martin, Siobhan's husband and a self-made millionaire. His relationship with Bridget is intriguing because you can only wonder when he will find out about her true identify, the non-pregnancy and also what happened between him and his wife. Sadly it's not the case with Nestor Carbonell's character, Victor Machado, because he acts like the FBI agent next show. Predictable and stereotyped I wish the writers had staged something entirely different for him. So for the moment I'm quite skeptical about his role even if I still have hope. Dollhouse's cop annoyed me at first but slowly became interesting so patience is a virtue. Moreover be prepared for Jaime Murray's entrance as Olivia, Andrew's sexy business partner. Her performance as Lila Tournay in Dexter was both charming, inspiring and disturbing so you should already anticipate how much she will wire our senses in the upcoming episodes. Olivia ? The wicked element we needed between Andrew and Siobridget. Don't mention you hate them, these portmanteau names are my guilty pleasures.
As for the story it reminded me of the good old Cluedo game. Indeed you should enjoy the way intense situations are staged. Bridget is really lost in Thrillerland and her awkward behavior makes her empathic and friendly. Some scenes are reminiscent of theater, from the rug to the chest, and all of them are well polished so the immersion is almost unbreakable. Almost because as reported in my note the show is flooded by misplaced pop mu$ic, so Josie and the Pussycats isn't far, only played to promote emerging musicians and sell their quick and dirty albums to the mass that doesn't pay enough attention. Let's also not forget the annoying advertisement for some social network. TV would be a better place if networks like The CW had the money to produce their shows on their own. To sum things up the music ruined some sequences and it was specially true during one featuring Bridget as it should have been silent or at least backed up by a discreet thrilling soundtrack. Remember Alfred Hitchcock's films ambiance ? Why don't they hire Mark Snow or Louis Febre (Smallville) ? Ringer could definitely use their talent.
Thankfully these pesky flaws are slightly shadowed by numerous elements. The first of them would be the flashbacks. Don't get dizzy this is not a Lost review and J. J. Abrams is not behind Ringer ! Seriously using them to unveil the twin sisters past isn't original but they're elegantly mixed to present events and it's enlightening to learn more about them. The picky viewer, yes you in the back, will be shocked that Bridget 2011 hasn't aged in nine years but the truth is that S. M. Gellar is a freaking vampire ! To go back to counting qualities the editing is one of them. Creative could be an appropriate term to define it because the transitions between scenes are dynamic and almost cinematographic. True Blood could profit from it ! My only complain would be about the stereotyped daughter, who reminded me of Gossip Girl, and the flashback featuring the sisters because we didn't see both on screen. The back of the head-only trick doesn't work for me. Would it be that technically hard or too expensive to merge two shots like in the pilot ? I'm not asking for an optical feedback using mirrors but only a split screen or something.
All in all I'm gladly surprised by how well this second episode turned out. I hadn't expected Ringer would grow on me so quickly. Its story is a little too conventional but there're many questions I can't wait to be answered. Who was the enigmatic man at the cocktail party ? What will happen to the inspiring Malcom ? The pieces on the screen of this jigsaw puzzle aren't mind bending yet but I'm sure the best is yet to come. I strongly believe Ringer has the potential to contort our most rational predictions. Let's the game begin !
Don't worry the title isn't pointing out Sarah Michelle Gellar's performance because like in the pilot she played Bridget and Siobhan brilliantly. The last actually reminds me of her character in Cruel Intentions so I can't wait to see what she's really capable of. But the most surprising thing is that I grew up with Gellar as Buffy Summers for seven years and I don't see the Slayer behind the twin sisters mask. Moreover this second session made me realize how much she was skinny as Bridget in the pilot so even if her sudden weight gain don't make sense it's reassuring to see her all pretty and healthy. You go, girl ! Wait, this last expression is probably sponsored by Shania Twain.
Hopefully Gellar is not the only show asset when it comes to acting. Ioan Gruffudd should also quickly grow on you as Andrew Martin, Siobhan's husband and a self-made millionaire. His relationship with Bridget is intriguing because you can only wonder when he will find out about her true identify, the non-pregnancy and also what happened between him and his wife. Sadly it's not the case with Nestor Carbonell's character, Victor Machado, because he acts like the FBI agent next show. Predictable and stereotyped I wish the writers had staged something entirely different for him. So for the moment I'm quite skeptical about his role even if I still have hope. Dollhouse's cop annoyed me at first but slowly became interesting so patience is a virtue. Moreover be prepared for Jaime Murray's entrance as Olivia, Andrew's sexy business partner. Her performance as Lila Tournay in Dexter was both charming, inspiring and disturbing so you should already anticipate how much she will wire our senses in the upcoming episodes. Olivia ? The wicked element we needed between Andrew and Siobridget. Don't mention you hate them, these portmanteau names are my guilty pleasures.
As for the story it reminded me of the good old Cluedo game. Indeed you should enjoy the way intense situations are staged. Bridget is really lost in Thrillerland and her awkward behavior makes her empathic and friendly. Some scenes are reminiscent of theater, from the rug to the chest, and all of them are well polished so the immersion is almost unbreakable. Almost because as reported in my note the show is flooded by misplaced pop mu$ic, so Josie and the Pussycats isn't far, only played to promote emerging musicians and sell their quick and dirty albums to the mass that doesn't pay enough attention. Let's also not forget the annoying advertisement for some social network. TV would be a better place if networks like The CW had the money to produce their shows on their own. To sum things up the music ruined some sequences and it was specially true during one featuring Bridget as it should have been silent or at least backed up by a discreet thrilling soundtrack. Remember Alfred Hitchcock's films ambiance ? Why don't they hire Mark Snow or Louis Febre (Smallville) ? Ringer could definitely use their talent.
Thankfully these pesky flaws are slightly shadowed by numerous elements. The first of them would be the flashbacks. Don't get dizzy this is not a Lost review and J. J. Abrams is not behind Ringer ! Seriously using them to unveil the twin sisters past isn't original but they're elegantly mixed to present events and it's enlightening to learn more about them. The picky viewer, yes you in the back, will be shocked that Bridget 2011 hasn't aged in nine years but the truth is that S. M. Gellar is a freaking vampire ! To go back to counting qualities the editing is one of them. Creative could be an appropriate term to define it because the transitions between scenes are dynamic and almost cinematographic. True Blood could profit from it ! My only complain would be about the stereotyped daughter, who reminded me of Gossip Girl, and the flashback featuring the sisters because we didn't see both on screen. The back of the head-only trick doesn't work for me. Would it be that technically hard or too expensive to merge two shots like in the pilot ? I'm not asking for an optical feedback using mirrors but only a split screen or something.
All in all I'm gladly surprised by how well this second episode turned out. I hadn't expected Ringer would grow on me so quickly. Its story is a little too conventional but there're many questions I can't wait to be answered. Who was the enigmatic man at the cocktail party ? What will happen to the inspiring Malcom ? The pieces on the screen of this jigsaw puzzle aren't mind bending yet but I'm sure the best is yet to come. I strongly believe Ringer has the potential to contort our most rational predictions. Let's the game begin !
