Comments on: Just Drive, She Said http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/ A blog about television by TIME’s TV critic James Poniewozik. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:42:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Andrea from Winnipeg http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4744 Andrea from Winnipeg Wed, 25 Apr 2007 05:59:10 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4744 I've begun to organize my life around this show. I have my dedicated VHS tape that only gets recorded with episodes of "Drive," and, between episodes, gets stored in a special secret place so no one can tape over it. I began watching the show because Nathan Fillion stars in it. What can I say? I'm a flan (no, that's not a typo). I would watch that man doing anything, he's so talented. He could sit and pick lint from his bellybutton, and I'm sure I'd be enthralled, because he's Nathan Fillion and a brilliant actor and beautiful and Canadian (yaaay Canada!!). I continue to watch "Drive" because... well... because Nathan Fillion stars in it. But also because it is a fast-paced, imaginitive, well-written, taut, character-driven drama (kudos to Tim Minear et al) that, as implausible as the premise may seem, never actually steps outside the bounds of reason (except in that nobody ever gets pulled over for speeding or reckless driving- where is the highway patrol while all this is going on?!) I fear that it won't last. People I talk to are already saying that it'll never make it to the end of this season, let alone be picked up for another. That would be tragically unfair of Fox, to cancel two shows out from under Tim Minear and Nathan Fillion. And if it's cancelled, I'm afraid that there will be no legions of Browncoats this time, no legacy of influence that will allow "Drive" to live beyond its run. But I must keep a good thought--- Fox is, presumably, run by humans, and not malign demigods who amuse themselves by thwarting the just desires of us lesser beings. I've begun to organize my life around this show. I have my dedicated VHS tape that only gets recorded with episodes of "Drive," and, between episodes, gets stored in a special secret place so no one can tape over it.
I began watching the show because Nathan Fillion stars in it. What can I say? I'm a flan (no, that's not a typo). I would watch that man doing anything, he's so talented. He could sit and pick lint from his bellybutton, and I'm sure I'd be enthralled, because he's Nathan Fillion and a brilliant actor and beautiful and Canadian (yaaay Canada!!).
I continue to watch "Drive" because... well... because Nathan Fillion stars in it. But also because it is a fast-paced, imaginitive, well-written, taut, character-driven drama (kudos to Tim Minear et al) that, as implausible as the premise may seem, never actually steps outside the bounds of reason (except in that nobody ever gets pulled over for speeding or reckless driving- where is the highway patrol while all this is going on?!)
I fear that it won't last. People I talk to are already saying that it'll never make it to the end of this season, let alone be picked up for another. That would be tragically unfair of Fox, to cancel two shows out from under Tim Minear and Nathan Fillion. And if it's cancelled, I'm afraid that there will be no legions of Browncoats this time, no legacy of influence that will allow "Drive" to live beyond its run. But I must keep a good thought--- Fox is, presumably, run by humans, and not malign demigods who amuse themselves by thwarting the just desires of us lesser beings.

]]> By: John Gregory http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4743 John Gregory Wed, 18 Apr 2007 01:44:00 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4743 I've watched very little episodic TV in the past ten years. So the parallels or lack of them to shows mentioned here in earlier comments are, well, Lost on me. :) My teen son got me to watch the first three hours of Drive with him and I'm surprised to be interested. A parallel I have not seen mentioned here or elsewhere is to Babylon 5. That series likewise contained mysteries that unfolded over time ("no one here is what they seem", "you have a hole in your mind"), and the half-dozen pairings in Drive could be seen as counterparts to the various alien races for storytelling. One of the main characters in B5 even had a missing wife - and it turned out further in that she was involved in the intrigue in a surprising way - I'm not ruling out Tully's spouse throwing the viewers a curve at some point. I'm willing to give the creators of Drive a little more time before I dismiss the show as implausible unbelievable mindless crap or a Dukes of Hazzard clone in search of a premise. Drive might be about a big race the same way B5 was about a big space station, with metaphors everywhere. B5 also took a while to develop the relationships before the story arc really got going. I should add, though, that B5 ultimately disappointed me for a variety of reasons. Chances are that Drive will too - if indeed it's really trying as hard as B5 did. I've watched very little episodic TV in the past ten years. So the parallels or lack of them to shows mentioned here in earlier comments are, well, Lost on me. :) My teen son got me to watch the first three hours of Drive with him and I'm surprised to be interested. A parallel I have not seen mentioned here or elsewhere is to Babylon 5. That series likewise contained mysteries that unfolded over time ("no one here is what they seem", "you have a hole in your mind"), and the half-dozen pairings in Drive could be seen as counterparts to the various alien races for storytelling. One of the main characters in B5 even had a missing wife - and it turned out further in that she was involved in the intrigue in a surprising way - I'm not ruling out Tully's spouse throwing the viewers a curve at some point.

I'm willing to give the creators of Drive a little more time before I dismiss the show as implausible unbelievable mindless crap or a Dukes of Hazzard clone in search of a premise. Drive might be about a big race the same way B5 was about a big space station, with metaphors everywhere. B5 also took a while to develop the relationships before the story arc really got going. I should add, though, that B5 ultimately disappointed me for a variety of reasons. Chances are that Drive will too - if indeed it's really trying as hard as B5 did.

]]> By: Joshua Chavers http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4742 Joshua Chavers Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:04:34 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4742 I'll have to check it out. If only because of Nathan Fillion. I love that man and would watch him do anything. However the fact that it is on Fox deters me. I hate Fox. They've managed to screw over almost any show they've made in the last few years. I feel like giving in if I watch that channel now. However If I do like the show, I'll be afraid Fox will pull another Firefly on me and screw the show over. I'll have to check it out.

If only because of Nathan Fillion. I love that man and would watch him do anything. However the fact that it is on Fox deters me. I hate Fox. They've managed to screw over almost any show they've made in the last few years.

I feel like giving in if I watch that channel now. However If I do like the show, I'll be afraid Fox will pull another Firefly on me and screw the show over.

]]> By: paul_lukasiak http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4740 paul_lukasiak Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:15:34 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4740 James -- I think the difference between Lost and Drive is that "implausible" is an acceptable means by which suspense can be created (the earliest example I can think of is Murder at the Rue Morgue), but is a bad idea within a show's very premise. (I think the best example of early on absurdity not affecting a show is Twin Peaks.) The problem with a show like "Drive" is that it requires the audience to wonder "what happens next episode" -- and the minute you begin to "wonder"/consider the possibilites you realize how dumb the show is. Once you are caught up with the characters in the story -- once their individuals stories take precedence over the plausibility of events -- the show has more freedom. (A show like 24 is a perfect example -- the show has become increasingly absurd each season it doesn't matter. We're already part of Jack Bauer's universe -- although I'm personally fascinated by Chloe). Drive looks to me like a show that starts where Fonzie lands after jumping the shark. Drive to me looks like the Dukes of Hazard of serial mystery/adventure series --- a whole bunch of car chases looking for a premise. James -- I think the difference between Lost and Drive is that "implausible" is an acceptable means by which suspense can be created (the earliest example I can think of is Murder at the Rue Morgue), but is a bad idea within a show's very premise. (I think the best example of early on absurdity not affecting a show is Twin Peaks.)

The problem with a show like "Drive" is that it requires the audience to wonder "what happens next episode" -- and the minute you begin to "wonder"/consider the possibilites you realize how dumb the show is. Once you are caught up with the characters in the story -- once their individuals stories take precedence over the plausibility of events -- the show has more freedom. (A show like 24 is a perfect example -- the show has become increasingly absurd each season it doesn't matter. We're already part of Jack Bauer's universe -- although I'm personally fascinated by Chloe).

Drive looks to me like a show that starts where Fonzie lands after jumping the shark.

Drive to me looks like the Dukes of Hazard of serial mystery/adventure series --- a whole bunch of car chases looking for a premise.

]]> By: DrBear http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4739 DrBear Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:32:23 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4739 As somebody else said...a 37-year secret? Just wait until the first losers call the cops, or the media ... or maybe a disgruntled employee will call. It's just more quick-cut mindless crap for the masses to distract them from the realities of war. Watch the shiny objects, kiddies. And if you want a real (and much less violent) show about trying to get to the bottom of a conspiracy, check out "The Prisoner." As somebody else said...a 37-year secret? Just wait until the first losers call the cops, or the media ... or maybe a disgruntled employee will call.

It's just more quick-cut mindless crap for the masses to distract them from the realities of war. Watch the shiny objects, kiddies.

And if you want a real (and much less violent) show about trying to get to the bottom of a conspiracy, check out "The Prisoner."

]]> By: James Poniewozik http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4738 James Poniewozik Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:13:37 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4738 Paul-- Who's he going to go to? The police? They're in on it too! The feds? This conspiracy goes all the way up to the vice president, the president--and beyond them. Oh, yes. FAR beyond them. OK, I'm just spitballing. You're right, of course. The question for me is not whether the show is plausible but whether it's earned its implausibility, which for me it has but on a very provisional basis. This wasn't nearly as good a 2-hour pilot as Lost, but that show started spending its plausibility capital pretty early too; by four episodes in, a paraplegic had been miraculously healed, somebody shot a polar bear, etc. Paul--

Who's he going to go to? The police? They're in on it too! The feds? This conspiracy goes all the way up to the vice president, the president--and beyond them. Oh, yes. FAR beyond them.

OK, I'm just spitballing. You're right, of course. The question for me is not whether the show is plausible but whether it's earned its implausibility, which for me it has but on a very provisional basis. This wasn't nearly as good a 2-hour pilot as Lost, but that show started spending its plausibility capital pretty early too; by four episodes in, a paraplegic had been miraculously healed, somebody shot a polar bear, etc.

]]> By: paul_lukasiak http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4737 paul_lukasiak Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:30:13 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4737 already the show becomes unbelievable. Fillian's character has the flash drive --- with (we assume at this point) enough information to blow the race out of the water. Why doesn't he just threaten to use it unless they give his wife back? Plus, given the voluntary nature of some of the racers, and the (implied) likelihood of being arrested at some point, the idea that somehow this race has remained secret for 27 years is simply absurd. At least shows like Lost took their time before they made the show laughable... already the show becomes unbelievable. Fillian's character has the flash drive --- with (we assume at this point) enough information to blow the race out of the water. Why doesn't he just threaten to use it unless they give his wife back?

Plus, given the voluntary nature of some of the racers, and the (implied) likelihood of being arrested at some point, the idea that somehow this race has remained secret for 27 years is simply absurd.

At least shows like Lost took their time before they made the show laughable...

]]> By: David Marshall http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4736 David Marshall Sun, 15 Apr 2007 23:44:22 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4736 I had a chance to see this on CTV already. Great set-up and a lot of fun. I can't wait to see where they take this. I had a chance to see this on CTV already. Great set-up and a lot of fun. I can't wait to see where they take this.

]]> By: JRam http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4735 JRam Sat, 14 Apr 2007 03:02:38 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4735 Nathan Fillion and a Stan Ridgeway reference: two great tastes that taste delicious together. Nathan Fillion and a Stan Ridgeway reference: two great tastes that taste delicious together.

]]> By: James Poniewozik http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2007/04/13/just_drive_she_said_1/comment-page-1/#comment-4734 James Poniewozik Fri, 13 Apr 2007 21:03:24 +0000 http://timetunedin.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-4734 In the Wonderfalls tradition, April is the time of year Fox launches great shows in order to cancel them. In the Wonderfalls tradition, April is the time of year Fox launches great shows in order to cancel them.

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