The Pandemic Soul

Well, color me impressed. Commander in Chief has self-madeover itself with wonderful results. The first few episodes of this series, I have been quite skeptical that it will actually be able to be taken seriously. I know, of course, that it takes any show a some time to find its footing. Chief finally has.

Now, I know this review is a little late (it aired last Tuesday for pete’s sake!), butI just watched it (TiVo, you know), so I ask forgiveness.

I’m glad to see that they’re adding more regular cast to the ensemble. What we were seeing before was a little too much of everyone there. My feeling is that political dramas don’t work well unless there is a large ensemble crew, and that seems that it will work well with the new personalities. It’s especially important, that both Mark-Paul Gosselar and Polly Bergen (Mac’s mother) are intelligent and witty. Up to this point everyone seemed bone-dry on any kind of wit, and I think more than anything it was making the show appear a little too full of itself. Adding these two for a little comic relief will help.

One issue at the moment, however, is Gosselar’s age. With everyone already hemming-and-hawwing about how young Gina Davis is, I would have expected the roll Gosselar is playing to be filled by someone just a little older — but still charming and attract. A George Clooney type, for sure. I only say this because they mention repeatedly that “Dickie” is “the best” in campaign managers. But Gosselar himself is only 31 years old, and I would think that it would be a little difficult for him to make that kind of name for himelf at that age — even if we make Dickie a little older than Gosselar. And besides, if he’s so damn good, then how come he wasn’t Teddy Bridge’s manager?

Also, I just want to mention that the hideous frock Mac is wearing while sitting in the oval office about 2/3 of the way through the show makes her look like a kindergarden teacher. Someone like Geena Davis should not be wearing necklines that could pass as mouthpieces.

Did anyone else think that Gary Oldman was the congressman speaking at the beginning of the episode on the steps? I thought for sure it was, considering that he was one of the main actors in The Contender, which Rod Lurie also wrote.

As far as the storyline goes this week, I am a little dissapointed that we didn’t see more on the actual issues presented, but I’m assuming that they’ll come up again next week. The death penalty thing was really glossed-over at the end. I’m glad that Mac went for the high road with the base closing, though.

I’m looking forward to this week’s episode as I think we’re going up from here. The last two have been more intelligent, and more thoughtful than the first six put together. Again, I’m hoping that some other politicians take the villain role besides Sutherland, but I didn’t see the teaser for this upcoming episode, so I can’t say whether that’s going to happen or not.

Overall, a 4.