[Theepistle] Saintly Glamour

[Carolyn Gruske]

Having seen the first season or two of Hustle, an episode of Leverage and 
all of Burn Notice, I can't say there is anything inherently "saintly" 
about the shows. Sure they all have the stick-it-to-the-bad-guy plot 
usually involving some sort of con, but they just don't have the same 
feeling of fun and exuberance

I think part of the problem with the first two shows is the ensemble 
nature of the cast. I can't say that I really got to know (or care about) 
any of the characters in Hustle. Yes, I knew who they were supposed to be 
and what their roles on the team are, but that's about it. Yes, I've only 
seen one episode of Leverage (co-incidentally I watched it last night) but 
I can't say that I'm really compelled to watch any more. The characters 
just didn't do anything to draw me back.

Now I have become a fan of Burn Notice. It's less of an ensemble piece 
(even though the supporting characters are important) and as such there is 
more sympathy created for the main character. While it does have a bit of 
the glamour Micheal feels is missing on TV (sunny location, nice suits, 
expensive sunglasses and some really great cars) it is still a bit 
workman-like in that Michael Weston is just going through the motions 
and doing what needs to be done in order to get his job back/protect his 
family/help out his friends. He doesn't take on clients for fun, and I 
think the fun element is one of the strongest drivers in any of the Simon 
Templar stories. Sure there are a few where revenge is top of the agenda, 
but overall you know the Saint is on the case because he's having a good 
time.

Bruce Campbell's character in Burn Notice adds an element of fun but 
that's Bruce's forte, and if he toned down that aspect of his performance 
I'd be sorely disappointed.

If anything, I'd say Burn Notice is more MacGuyver for the modern age than 
the Saint revisited. In terms of the body count to bullets (or body count 
to explosions) ratio it comes in closer to the A-Team than I'd like, but 
that really is the worst I can say about the show (although I'd be happy 
if Jeffrey Donovan did a little less talking through his nose/through his 
clenched teeth, but that's just being really picky.)
Carolyn



On Thu, 1 Oct 2009, Ian Dickerson wrote:

> Also in America there is Leverage--just commissioned for a third season--and
> Burn Notice, both of which have a certain Saintliness to them.
>
> Ian
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theepistle-bounces+ian.dickerson=gmail.com at fascicle.org
> [mailto:theepistle-bounces+ian.dickerson=gmail.com at fascicle.org] On Behalf
> Of Tim Forcer
> Sent: 01 October 2009 15:54
> To: theepistle at fascicle.org
> Subject: Re: [Theepistle] Saintly Glamour
>
> At 23:24 30/09/2009, Michael Serafin wrote:
>
>>  I hope that the new Saint series will revive something that has  been
>> woefully missing from television of late: glamour and elegance.
>
> Hey, what about "fun"?  A bit of escapist amusement ought to be the
> lifeblood of TV entertainment drama?
>
> In the UK, we have had several series of _Hustle_ - not a repackaged
> _Saint_, but sharing at least some characteristics?
>
> Some info at:
> <http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/hustle/welcome.shtml>  Theme: "you can't con an
> honest man".
>
> If _Hustle_ can be a success, and maintain a following over several years,
> there _ought_ to be plenty of scope for a _Saint_ series to be commissioned,
> PROVIDING it stayed close to Charteris's characterisation and style.
>
> Tim
>
>
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