OK, the season's finale. We proceed on where we were last episode. In general this was a pretty solid episode too. The last 4 episodes were all pretty great episodes despite some flaws here in there. Mostly the strange mood shiftings in episodes like in episode 11. The suspense gets killing and then they release often way too soon and also those weird timings with all the relationship drama talk during a mission. It's not the time nor the place to talk about that.
We've seen the birth of Mac but indeed naming him deliberately after a brand of beef (the most expensive one, I might add) is a bit weird. Then again, how many people out there are actually called Jack Daniels, Williams Lawson or Johnnie Walker? Can any of you imagine being called after a brand of whiskey?
About Codex... I love it when organizations go way back: the Black Plague, the Renaissance, Franz Ferdinand... but it indeed seems a little weird for the Mac family to be involved in such extreme ideologies. Of course this is the reboot and not the original, so things are different but that his mother and aunt would join an organisation that is ready to kill a quarter of the world's population seems so un-Mac-like.
Also the depiction about these organisations or simply environmentalists as evil magnifies the problem that they are actually no better than anyone else despite their good intentions. In the OG show they at least gave options on what you can do yourself to help the environment and I believe that is the only way to save our planet. Do what you can do yourself to help Mother Nature but going after the big companies with guns blazing never ever reached results. If our ecological footprint is too big because of man's desire to travel than why not build more environmental friendly airplanes or ships instead of pointing fingers to those who wishes to see the world and learn about different cultures? There are a lot of things that can be done without restricting ourselves all the time.
I've seen a lot of dying lately but having Aunt Gwen die pretty much the same way as James did... I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it... maybe it runs in the family or was it lazy writing or didn't they want Mac to have real family left like ours and that he really is now all that is left of the family.
The fact that Scarlett died... I find that hard to believe she didn't survive the attack from the helicopter. Or is she actually dead?
QUOTE | I really, really don't want a love triangle next season. They're secret agents, not high-schoolers. I won't mind if there's less relationship drama next season...
Sadly, the writing for Desi is atrocious this season. I really don't know why they bothered to make her a regular. She changed from badass agent to whiny and bitchy girlfriend who doesn't trust her boyfriend at all. It's a bit difficult to still like her this season. Maybe because she never got a background story episode; she's just as much a blank page as Leanna was. Pity. To be honest, I don't know if and how they can redeem her. I really like Levy and she has great chemistry with Lucas. Sadly, there's no chemistry between their characters (not sure if that's intentional) and I don't see why they'd still be together after the last few episodes... |
I can understand that but I think Leanna was much more of a blank page and a total unnecessary character.
QUOTE | And so unexpectedly, but as it turns out, pretty appropriately, Season 4 comes to a close. Was everything perfect, no, but it's hard to argue this wasn't the strongest set of episodes the show has produced. I thought Taylor was a fantastic addition. Riley continues to be great. Matty and Bozer saw their screen time cut, but I think it benefited the show in the long run and made each's scenes more effective. One consistent story arc eliminated the need for much in the way of B-stories, and most importantly, the focus was largely kept on the title character. |
In my opinion this was pretty much the best season yet. Less focus on the team, less Matty and Bozer and more Mac-oriented than before. Everything had to be so teamy previously.
QUOTE | well...maybe 6 people in the team are too many, but when I think how easily Roman has cornered Mac twice when Dezi was not around to cover...I don't think we can do without her. That's the main purpose of her presence. |
Even 4 are. Mac, Riley, Russ is more then enough in the field. Matty can coordinate everything from the War Room by herself and have someone like Jill to bring in intel or whatever. And they can really up the ante with Mac's fighting skills.
Everything else you say on Desi is all valid and discussed before. While I still think Desi could be a valuable character, they just did her no justice but that's not a first either in the reboot.
QUOTE | Leland: creepy in the way he speaks softly and calmly |
I actually believe that's just the way Tobin Bell speaks in real life. He speaks like that in Saw and 24 as well. Or maybe that's why they offer him these roles.
QUOTE | Resolving all the trust issues in the 'family' . Russ labeled Mac an enemy of the state, after all! I want to know how they got so chummy again.
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I think this is a bit of throwback to Kill Zone when Phelps ordered the attack on the forest when he thought Mac was dead. Though he wanted to apologise, Mac said it was not necessary as Phelps just did what he was told. The guy ordered a missile drop to destroy an entire forest with Mac still there! Sometimes it's better to let bygones be bygones. On the other hand Mac and Russ really needed to talk things over.
QUOTE | Although the Phoenix team is too big as it is now, I would make one exception that would be to bring back Scarlett (showing how she survived the helicopter attack) in some limited role. Her "family" outside of Gwen turned on her and she could have some added motivation as a result. As Gwen viewed her as a daughter, it would make her and Mac almost like cousins. I think the dynamic between her and Desi would be fun and entertaining. However, if all the cast returns for a 5th season, there would be too much girl power, imo, and as I said the team is too big as it is now. |
I don't think Scarlett would settle for a job behind a desk. She'd have to go into competition with Desi. Also nothing wrong with girl power but you may have a point there.
In all a great season despite the very known flaws but the last four episodes were the real standouts. I did miss Murdoc though and before I forget, I really like this new logo they have. This has been a fun ride.
I think the poison that was used was applied to this knife, passed to the mutton when it was cut and then activated by the wine. - MacGyver. Sometimes you just have to die a little inside to be reborn and rise again as a stronger and wiser version of you. It's better to be a little sad than to be fake content.
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