Near the close of the 'sode Red tells Liz that when she shot the AG of the US she "crossed a threshold." This reviewer says, when the writing team decided to re-arc the show starting this season, they too crossed a threshold.
This series was always good. It is now approaching great. And the reason for that is that it is crossing the fine line between TV series and mini-series.
In a mini-series you can compress the action because you know during the writing precisely how much time you have left. A regular TV series does not have that luxury because if it is a hit, the writers might have to "stretch" for years ... which often creates a paradox because a show where the writers are stretching loses authenticity and then loses audience and then there is no need to stretch anymore since there is no series.
So, the good news and the bad news. A lot is happening in each episode, much more than say you would see in an Hawaii 5-0 hour. That is GREAT for the viewers who are lucky indeed. Long term, whether the series can sustain this pace is another matter entirely.
But this is great TV.
This series was always good. It is now approaching great. And the reason for that is that it is crossing the fine line between TV series and mini-series.
In a mini-series you can compress the action because you know during the writing precisely how much time you have left. A regular TV series does not have that luxury because if it is a hit, the writers might have to "stretch" for years ... which often creates a paradox because a show where the writers are stretching loses authenticity and then loses audience and then there is no need to stretch anymore since there is no series.
So, the good news and the bad news. A lot is happening in each episode, much more than say you would see in an Hawaii 5-0 hour. That is GREAT for the viewers who are lucky indeed. Long term, whether the series can sustain this pace is another matter entirely.
But this is great TV.
