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TV: The Day of the Jackal S1 E1-E2

Strong set pieces, acting, and production value. So why isn't it very compelling? Because thrillers don't work terribly well in TV format. TV requires dimension and relationships, so they give the Jackal a wife and kid. The fucking Jackal! Not gonna work. Imagine the TV version of No Country for Old Men where Anton Chigurh goes home to deal with his gay son. Fuggetaboutit.

TV: Poker Face S2 E1

I can't figure out why I liked the first three episodes of S1 and abruptly stopped watching, and never felt a reason to go back. One theory is the format. I always liked mystery-of-the-week shows like Columbo, Murder She Wrote, even Scooby Doo. The problem with Poker Face - it's not a mystery! We know what happened. The format of the show is actually a short film from the villain's POV, followed by a truncated procedural from Natasha Lyonne's POV. In theory, this should work because I like procedurals and I like short films. But here's the rub - in the mixing of genres, they remove the two elements I like most from each. In short films, it's all about the tone and style. Story doesn't matter as much. But the tone and style of Poker Face is set. Once you've seen it once, you get it. Quirky, "intelligent" humor, for the avante garde college student. Good, great. Get it. Even like it. But the pleasure of short films is seeing a new, original, unexpected tone and style or place. What are the pleasures of the procedural? The mystery, the puzzle, the whodunit or perhaps even why dunnit. But in Poker Face we know who and we know why, so the only tension is seeing HOW Lyonne cracks the case. And it's not as compelling. The show knows it, so it leans on the charm of the performers. I suppose whether the show works rests on this question. It does seem like actors are "having fun" and yes, I put that in quotes.