By CHRIS SURPRENANT
Arts Editor
Published August 30, 2011
In years past, the summer TV season has often amounted to endless nights of boorish, wholly unentertaining television. In the movie industry, the blockbusters have tended more
towards bust. These have been the forces that normally drive the American public outside during the hot, humid weather. However, Summer 2011 has had great successes in both areas, which has greatly encouraged the inner couch potatoes in all of us. If given the chance, be ready for next summer by catching these hits in reruns!
TELEVISION
The Killing (AMC)
Sure, diehard Mad Men fans didn’t get a visit from Don Draper and company, but AMC delivered another great summer series set in gloomy, modern-day Seattle. With its doom and gloom, rainy atmosphere, Seattle is now home to one of the best murder mysteries this summer—who killed Rosie Larsen? That’s just what icy detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos of Big Love) intends to find out, along with her wise-cracking, often sketchy, street-smart partner Detective Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman).
The Killing is unique in that one storyline spans the entire thirteen episodes of the season, representing one day in the investigation of drowned teenager Rosie Larsen. It also focuses on three main aspects of the case per episode: the police department, shady politician Darren Richmond, and the deeply grieving Larsen family.
Enos particularly shines. She portrays a divorced mother of a rebellious teenager who is trying to get away from the police beat, while simultaneously preparing for an upcoming marriage. The character of Sarah Linden often comes off as bi-polar and testy, but Enos is able to add just the right amount of frustration and heart to give several dimensions to her character.
You might have heard that The Killing ended the season with a bit of a frustrating cliffhanger. Don’t worry, this is one summer series that’s worth sticking with because it’s good old-fashioned story telling with great characters and a great storyline. Give it a chance and stay tuned for next season.
Franklin and Bash (TNT)
When first seeing the previews for Franklin and Bash, it was easy to hate the new buddy dramedy. Starring Breckin Meyer as attorney Jared Franklin and Mark-Paul Gosselaar (of Saved by the Bell fame) as attorney Peter Bash, it wasn’t hard to loath two smart-alecky, post-frat-boys who seemed to treat the legal system like a three ring circus. However, when given the chance, the duo of Franklin and Bash became a personal favorite.
Recruited to the prestigious Infeld Daniels law firm, Franklin and Bash throw conventionality to the wind. They constantly hit on coworkers, throw parties in their shared office/frat pad, and have an occasional lightsaber battle in court. They are constantly in the company of equally strange people, including senior partner Stanton Infeld, a man of the world with many a story to tell, agoraphobic/super-techie Pindar, and ex-con Carmen.
Meyer and Gosselaar have great rapport as bickering college buds: They say the things that many would only say to their closest friends—often over the line, and lacking appropriate remorse. They will fight like no tomorrow, but defend each other until the bitter end. Now that’s a friendship. Make sure to catch up on the summer’s best new buddy comedy.
Teen Wolf (MTV)
Though previously reviewed, it is worth noting that Teen Wolf has been able to build an incredible storyline oozing with suspense over the past few weeks.
Teenage werewolf Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) has faced many obstacles no ordinary 16-year-old ever has to face, including supernatural beasts, werewolf hunters, and several brutal murders.
Alongside him is his best friend Stiles (Dylan O’Brien) and girlfriend Allison (Crystal Reed). Each character has shown immense growth from the beginning of the season. The acting is very good for an MTV series, and the kids are truly talented.
Sure, Scott is facing a lot that many can’t ever imagine, but that’s part of the brilliance of the series. Everything that Scott and friends face is a metaphor for growing up. At one point Stiles tells Scott, “You can’t protect everybody.” Brooding, Scott replies, “I have to.”
Teenagers are always trying to please everyone, and most of the time it’s just plain hard. Thanks for the depth, MTV.
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If you liked this, check out the Best Surprises of Summer 2011: Movies
