OK – what happened? This was a very good episode – and there is no 'pretty' injected, just to downplay, 'the good.' It was solid. Eric Dane has refined his roll and is no longer the over-the-top super captain. He is actually acting like a CO. He still carries himself with that, "Take-No-Prisoners" persona – and tends to destroy enemies in a more kinder-gentler fashion. It makes my heart go-a-pitter-patter, and I like that. And the doctor? No griping, whining or belly-aching – she was actually likable. A bit snippy at times, but she definitely has been de-snark-i-fied (to a point). I have always liked the XO
he praises the CO in public and questions in private. And that is how it's done. Now I know he is not a big fan of all the CO's policies, but - wah - cry me a river - that's his job. Besides, he is becoming a wiser leader and redefining his thinking. Now the Command Master Chief (Charles Parnell), has to hang out more in 'The Mess' or maybe in his little office across from the 'Ship's Store.' He is just doing way too much heavy lifting. The only two things a CMC should be lugging around are his coffee cup and his smile. With that being said, Master Chief Jeter is doing a stellar job
he deserves a medal, give that man a NAM. All the characters have made a lot of improvements, and I am actually enjoying the show. I do agree with one of the other reviewers who noticed the 60's era 'Star Trek' parallels. I see it; I appreciate the guidance (thank you); and I accept it. My mind is now adjusted and set – put the 5inch on stun; boldly go somewhere and RHIB me aboard 'Scotty.' Grasping on to that 'eurika light' I just alluded to – I think this is a much improved show
well deserving of 8 of 10. I now look forward to next week and I may watch the previous episodes (or maybe not).
5 Reviews
tasic from Thailand is absolutely right
davejones28 February 2016
This show has a great premise, strong, suspenseful story lines and some likable, layered characters. Admittedly, I'm a sucker for apocalyptic plague thrillers.
But after watching the first season, I have to say that almost every episode is sabotaged by one or two moments of complete unbelievability--either in the behavior of the characters or the workings of a naval warship (and I'm no authority on naval procedures, but I can rub two thoughts together).
In addition to the ridiculous moments tasic described (which I also noticed as I was watching the show) there was the moment where the crew of the Nathan James use about ten feet of Reynolds Wrap and a couple of light stands to replicate the radar signature of a ship that must be at least 200 feet long and four stories tall, and another where they try to convince us that a Soviet destroyer doesn't have the capability to detect when another ship floating within view has started or stopped its engines through hydrophones.
In another episode, a small team of commandos is able to infiltrate a Russian warship (who are expecting them to arrive) and sneak through half its length without encountering a single Russian sailor. It was pretty ludicrous.
It's a pity, because these moments just take you out of what could be a very good series and make you say, "Oh, come on. Do you really expect me to believe this?"
But after watching the first season, I have to say that almost every episode is sabotaged by one or two moments of complete unbelievability--either in the behavior of the characters or the workings of a naval warship (and I'm no authority on naval procedures, but I can rub two thoughts together).
In addition to the ridiculous moments tasic described (which I also noticed as I was watching the show) there was the moment where the crew of the Nathan James use about ten feet of Reynolds Wrap and a couple of light stands to replicate the radar signature of a ship that must be at least 200 feet long and four stories tall, and another where they try to convince us that a Soviet destroyer doesn't have the capability to detect when another ship floating within view has started or stopped its engines through hydrophones.
In another episode, a small team of commandos is able to infiltrate a Russian warship (who are expecting them to arrive) and sneak through half its length without encountering a single Russian sailor. It was pretty ludicrous.
It's a pity, because these moments just take you out of what could be a very good series and make you say, "Oh, come on. Do you really expect me to believe this?"
Lwiv*
tasasc18 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
1. You are a U.S. Navy Captain who has just had two of your crew killed in an unprovoked attack. You have the murderers in the sights of your very accurate big gun. Do you..?
a) Blow them to bits
b) Fire a warning shot that spills them overboard.
2. You are a genius Russian Admiral, author of the manual of modern naval tactics. A small
boat is approaching, ostensibly with an important prisoner on board. Do you...?
a) Send out your own boat to intercept them and check that all is well
b) Allow them to get close enough for the 2 people on the boat to shoot some of your crew,
arm an explosive charge and fall from the boat just before it rams your ship and blows
a hole in the side.
3. Those 2 people are now bobbing in the water 100 metres off the starboard beam. Do you...?
a) Send boats out to capture them for interrogation/hostages/public execution.
b) Allow the U.S. ship which is now mysteriously no longer on your radar to just come
and pick them up and sail away.
If you answered "b" to the above questions, you may well be missing a career as a TV
scriptwriter.
The series has an intriguing premise and some quite good performances.
*Lazy Writing Insults Viewers!
a) Blow them to bits
b) Fire a warning shot that spills them overboard.
2. You are a genius Russian Admiral, author of the manual of modern naval tactics. A small
boat is approaching, ostensibly with an important prisoner on board. Do you...?
a) Send out your own boat to intercept them and check that all is well
b) Allow them to get close enough for the 2 people on the boat to shoot some of your crew,
arm an explosive charge and fall from the boat just before it rams your ship and blows
a hole in the side.
3. Those 2 people are now bobbing in the water 100 metres off the starboard beam. Do you...?
a) Send boats out to capture them for interrogation/hostages/public execution.
b) Allow the U.S. ship which is now mysteriously no longer on your radar to just come
and pick them up and sail away.
If you answered "b" to the above questions, you may well be missing a career as a TV
scriptwriter.
The series has an intriguing premise and some quite good performances.
*Lazy Writing Insults Viewers!
O Captain! My Captain!
tenshi_ippikiookami23 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
So early in the show, and so many non-sense twists, decisions and character's behaviors. It would be ridiculously entertaining if it wasn't kind of scary too.
Ruskov, the big bad in this beginning of the show, has put the ship and its captain, Chandler, in a very difficult situation: they are trapped, and he is asking for doctor Scott and a sample of her research if Chandler and his crew hope to stay alive. Chandler goes to a meeting to Ruskov to negotiate a peaceful solution... that ends with Ruskov shooting one of his men's in the head for no reason. Just to make a point: "One mouth less to feed". It is so ridiculous that the only thing he is lacking is a cat.
If that plot development that just tries to show how heartless Ruskov is (and not very smart either, killing his own men in front of absolutely everyone, and also one high in the hierarchy) makes no sense, the whole plot is stupid. Ruskov goes back to his ship and lets the Americans tell his whole crew that he killed one of his own, Green and Foster go on a mission and Green stops the boat just for the sake of it, jeopardizing everyone's life... Oh, and the action is lots of people shooting in the dark to nothing and with zero accuracy.
Let's hope this first threat to the ship is left behind soon and some real tension and dread can be found. Or this last ship is going underwater...
Ruskov, the big bad in this beginning of the show, has put the ship and its captain, Chandler, in a very difficult situation: they are trapped, and he is asking for doctor Scott and a sample of her research if Chandler and his crew hope to stay alive. Chandler goes to a meeting to Ruskov to negotiate a peaceful solution... that ends with Ruskov shooting one of his men's in the head for no reason. Just to make a point: "One mouth less to feed". It is so ridiculous that the only thing he is lacking is a cat.
If that plot development that just tries to show how heartless Ruskov is (and not very smart either, killing his own men in front of absolutely everyone, and also one high in the hierarchy) makes no sense, the whole plot is stupid. Ruskov goes back to his ship and lets the Americans tell his whole crew that he killed one of his own, Green and Foster go on a mission and Green stops the boat just for the sake of it, jeopardizing everyone's life... Oh, and the action is lots of people shooting in the dark to nothing and with zero accuracy.
Let's hope this first threat to the ship is left behind soon and some real tension and dread can be found. Or this last ship is going underwater...
Same mistakes, over and over!
bill-21586 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I said I wasn't going to critic more episodes of a dead show, but this episode is just nonsense. Much of the story centers around radar, and this episode gets everything wrong. I highly doubt a roll of aluminum foil is going to look like a destroyer on a radar screen. Even if it did look like a destroyer on a radar screen, you would then have two objects on the enemy's radar - the roll of tin foil AND the real destroyer. Nothing they did would hide the destroyer's radar reflection. Turning off every piece of electrical gear on board (impossible) doesn't have anything to do with radar either. Radar reflects off the surfaces of the ship. Electronics emissions are a totally different thing, measured by different equipment. There are also acoustic noises measured by sonar. So, the enemy would have seen and heard them moving away - aluminum foil or not. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
In another scene, they are supposed to be onboard the Kirov-class battle cruiser, but they are obviously on an Iowa-class battleship. The secondary armament of 5-inch guns is unmistakable. In addition, they still talk about using Tomahawk missiles against ships. I don't know why they keep repeating this mistake over and over. The navy had an anti-ship version of Tomahawk (RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile (TASM)), but these were all withdrawn from service in 1994. The destroyer in this show would not have them. They should be saying Harpoon Anti-ship Missiles. That would have been correct. When these guys make mistakes, they make the same ones over and over.
There are many more mistakes, but they are too numerous to list. Some of them, like the radar mistakes, make the story impossible. It's hard for me to watch.
In another scene, they are supposed to be onboard the Kirov-class battle cruiser, but they are obviously on an Iowa-class battleship. The secondary armament of 5-inch guns is unmistakable. In addition, they still talk about using Tomahawk missiles against ships. I don't know why they keep repeating this mistake over and over. The navy had an anti-ship version of Tomahawk (RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile (TASM)), but these were all withdrawn from service in 1994. The destroyer in this show would not have them. They should be saying Harpoon Anti-ship Missiles. That would have been correct. When these guys make mistakes, they make the same ones over and over.
There are many more mistakes, but they are too numerous to list. Some of them, like the radar mistakes, make the story impossible. It's hard for me to watch.
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