As I watch the series more, I appreciate the movie-of-the–week
quality to it. This makes it unlike any other espionage show I've
ever watched. That's why as much as I enjoy multi-part episodes
like "The Council" or "The Bunker" and "The Falcon," I prefer to
watch a standard one hour episode because it's like a little spy
action/adventure movie. The only other series that I have ever
watched that also had this quality was "The X-Files." Every episode
of that show was like a mini-horror movie. But (like Mission:
Impossible did with the action/adventure spy genre) The X-Files cut
out a lot of the extraneous material that would be required in a
feature length film and what's left is one hour feature like TV show.
--- In
Mission_Impossible_1966@yahoogroups.com, "John K. Balor"
<balor1999@...> wrote:
>
> Wonderful review, Erik. I feel just like you, except that I don't
find "A ghost story" all that bad either. I'm not sure I've found
any episode in season five that is really bad. They are all good,
and mostly they show how the series has evolved and matured. It's a
terrific season, if you ask me.
>
> John
>
> --- On Tue, 1/6/09, Erik E Miller <erikemiller@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: Erik E Miller <erikemiller@...>
> Subject: [Mission_Impossible_1966] Re: Episode Review (s5-
ep9): "The Amateur"
> To:
Mission_Impossible_1966@yahoogroups.com> Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 9:38 PM
>
>
> I certainly have a fondness for the classic style episodes that ran
> from seasons two through four. But I have to say that since I've
been
> able to watch the series closely on DVD I think I can honestly say
> that all of the seasons so far have been solid. In the evening when
I
> sit down to watch an episode or two I find myself jumping from
season
> two, to five, back to one, then maybe four; whatever I'm in the
mood
> for. The episodes all have a solid, movie-of-the-week quality that
I
> really like about them. It's part of the charm. I think the cast
> changes contribute to that feeling. It's cool to see the IMF as
this
> constantly evolving body. It's like any work of art, it has a life
of
> its own beyond what the producers, writers and actors ever
intended.
>
> I can understand the preference some people may have for stories
that
> rely more on the wildcard. I really like the airtight perfect plans
> of season two through four, but I've also had critics say something
> to me like "Oh come on! Nobody can be that perfect." My response
to
> them is that this is the nature of the show. The word "impossible"
is
> a part of the title. It's like any other television show, movie,
> book, or play: a person can either accept the world being offered
or
> reject it for something that suits their taste.
>
> My overall evaluation of season five is that it's very good. I
didn't
> feel that way before. Episodes that I used to hate like "The
Missile"
> I actually really liked a lot when I saw them (unedited) on DVD.
I've
> watched that episode several times because of the direction. "The
> Rebel" is an odd episode that is reminiscent of the very early
season
> one episodes like "Wheels;" when the show was still trying to find
> the right tone. But it's not a totally boring episode. The only
truly
> boring episode I found for season five is "A Ghost Story" it's like
a
> sleeping pill on film. Really dull stuff.
>
>
> --- In
Mission_Impossible_1966@yahoogroups.com, "John K. Balor"
> <balor1999@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello Bryan,
> >
> > To me the feeling is rather opposite of what you are saying.
While
> I've always enjoyed the early seasons of Mission Impossible, I felt
> the show matured and got better with each season. In the first
three
> seasons, it's mostly an elaborate con game with the good guys
> outsmarting the bad guys. When Paul Playdon joined the writing
team
> in season 3, everything got much better, more political and less
> naive. In season 4 they added elements of drama. Just think of
> excellent episodes like "Lover's Knot" and "The Martyr". Part of
the
> genius of season 5, I would say, is the excellent Leslie Ann
Warren.
> I had absolutely no expectations of her, but she outdoes Barbara
Bain
> and all the previous ladies. She is the right age, and convincing
as
> a team member. Another magnificent assesset of season 5 is how the
> series reflect the internal turbulence in the US. Suddenly we get
a
> full spectre of grey, rather than the
questionable black & white
> morals
> > they were pushing earlier on. I must say I'm enjoying these
later
> seasons of Mission Impossible more than ever. Great stuff!!!
> >
> > John
> >
> >
> > --- On Sat, 12/27/08, BryanHWA@ <BryanHWA@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: BryanHWA@ <BryanHWA@>
> > Subject: [Mission_Impossible_1966] Re: Episode Review (s5-
> ep9): "The Amateur"
> > To:
Mission_Impossible_1966@yahoogroups.com> > Date: Saturday, December 27, 2008, 7:38 PM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > <<Slick and satifying are perfect words for describing this
elegant
> >
episode. Wonderful review and perfect example of the superiority
of
> > season 5. >>
> >
> > Do you really believe this? A good percentage of your posts are
> pushing the view that season 4 was far superior to the previous
> seasons and that season 5 is even better yet. This is nonsense in
my
> opinion.
> > The look of the show, the dialogue and plotting of season 5 lacks
> the overall look and sophistication of the earlier seasons. It's
> still a fun show in my opinion and many of the plots are fun to
> watch. But the acting, dialogue and situations are not up to the
> same calibre that the show once had. A 12 year old might disagree
> but for those people attracted to the more adult plotting and
> situations that the series was once known for, season 5 comes up
> short
in that regard. To sum it up -- the plotting is still
Mission
> Impossible but the dramatic scenarios, dialogue and sophistication
> are not up to the same standards. Almost as though Aaron Spelling
> was producing Mission Impossible and making it easier to watch for
> people who generally watch his type of show. Now if you generally
> like the Charlies Angels, TJ Hooker brand of action adventure then
I
> can understand why you think season 5 is the best. But if you are
> generally
> > enjoy a show with a little more of a sophisticated edge you will
> harken back to season one and says those are the best.
> >
> > -Bryan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > One site keeps you connected to all your
email: AOL Mail, Gmail,
> and Yahoo Mail. Try it now.
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
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