“I am deeply sorry I have to do this … but I’ll be taking that watch back now.” – Baptiste
I don’t know about saving season two, but I will admit that I enjoyed this episode of Human Target more than the previous two (still gotta say I loved the season two premiere). There were several things that made it better:
The absence of Ames
This was interesting to me, since I like her better than Ilsa. But the fact of the matter is, we don’t need her and her absence did not leave me wanting for her or the forced chemistry between her and Guerrero.
No Chance-Ilsa flirting
I suppose there was a teeny, tiny bit at the beginning and the end, but I liked that Chance got his moment with the reporter, however brief it may have been. It was reminiscent of last season, and who doesn’t love a game of footsie while bound from the ceiling? The syringe stabbing the guard in the chest was also something that would have happened last season too — unbelievable and awesome. And Ilsa having a date with the captain totally worked for me.
The return of Baptiste
Simply having that connection to season one made me a little giddy. And they did some fun things with him. We got a little more insight as to the friendship between him and Chance, and the game of trust that the two played throughout was really satisfying (“I was frank about my intentions.”). The two gun stand-offs were great (the bar fight was stupid) although I was craving a really creative solution to that first one and I didn’t get it. However…
Massive amounts of spot-on killing
… I did get some blatant, brutal killings from Baptiste and Chance, two obviously good shots. It had been mentioned by several people in the comments that the body count of the episodes had gone down, that Human Target‘s violence factor had become watered down with the new season and that it was unrealistic that a former assassin had become such a crappy shot. This episode? All better.
Ilsa in the field
I really, really needed her out from behind the desk, being bossy. Granted, she wears far too many ruffles to actually be taken seriously in the field, but I think adding a new dimension to her personality was a good start. It was also interesting for them to show that it was her money that got Baptiste out of the Siberian prison. I wonder how they would have done that last season? Probably in a more clever, entertaining way….
Did you notice how I speckled my complaints throughout the good stuff? I’m clever that way. I surely still have some complaints about the episode — Guerrero had no quotable lines (unless you count “Norma Jean”), there was still no trio love and they really could have taken advantage of Ames’ absence to toss some man-banter in there but the writers dropped the ball. If they can keep the good stuff that came back with this episode and get some good dialog in there, Human Target may yet have a chance at life, especially since Lie to Me didn’t get a back nine order. It’s a showdown to see which show will suck less by springtime….
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Dec 08, 2010 @ 21:58 EST5EDT
“If they can keep the god stuff that came back with this episode…”
By “god stuff,” I assume you are referring to the fact that Chance, Winston, and Guerrero are gods among men, towering titans astride a putrid, festering world where corruption and evil run rampant, as it was in season one. If so, I might actually have to watch this one.
Good to hear that redshirts are dying again, but please tell me that there were some ridiculous kicks, flips, and other stunts in the Chance-Baptiste fights. If even they’re reduced to realistic hand-to-hand, I’ll lose all hope. Were there at least explosions?
Just like James Bond, Chance and Baptiste used to consistently favor the Walther P99 semi-auto. I find it interesting in the above picture that Chance has opted for the rather generic Beretta 92FS, while Baptiste is bizarrely wielding what looks to be an FN Five-seveN USG (obviously leftover from BSG). At least it seems they remembered Baptiste’s watch fetish.
Yes, Winston and Guerrero had their signature pistols as well last season. I dearly hope that hasn’t gone by the wayside.
The trouble with Chance/Ilsa is that this flirting/love interest was obviously built into the character conception (reminiscent of Jeff/Britta). Hell, I read about it in the Comicon reports. If they ignored it for a while and let the characters build a friendship naturally, I might be able to accept it next season if, and only if, the actors’ chemistry organically led in that direction.
Everything Haley says as Guerrero is, by definition, quotable. You must mean that in a lessor actor’s hands, the lines the writers give the character are completely pedestrian and unimaginative. :)
Last season, Baptiste would not have to be ransomed out of any prison, Russian or not. He would either: a) be comfortably running the whole place as the most feared and powerful inmate, or b) have strolled out the front gate in a guard’s uniform within 72 hours, leaving behind an oxcart’s worth of silently and stealthily dispatched corpses stuffed into utility closets and laundry chutes.
*POST AUTHOR*
HA! No, you just caught my typo! ;-)
I thought there was a pretty good trio moment before Chance revealed to Ilsa that he wanted to go get Baptiste. Having both Winston and Guerrero come up, one at a time, to say no? I laughed out loud with that scene.
I really did enjoy this one a lot more than the previous couple episodes. I think this episode just felt like it had a lot more action mixed in with the funny – that’s what I liked last season!
*POST AUTHOR*
I enjoyed that scene too, but it didn’t have the bromance, sibling stuff that was so prevalent last season. I’m missing the magic!
The original showrunner, Jonathan Steinberg, was one of the co-writers on this episode, which I would assume accounts for the nostalgic feel.
I found this link on another board which has promo pics for the December 22 episode. Please ignore the following paragraphs if you care, as I haven’t figured out how to use the spoiler tag (and please educate me if you do know).
Debbie, feel free to cover up or delete the below without reading it if you prefer to wait. I also mention developments for the rest of the season.
***SPOILERS***
Show Spoiler »
And it looks as if the Chuck-ification of Human Target is complete with “Chance vs. The Mall.” Embarrassment and indignities abound, capped off at the end of the episode with the obligatory family bonding moment of a festive toast in the new office. Winston as a mall Santa. Guerrero fighting rent-a-cops (has he been reduced to a one-note thug, ala John Casey, yet?). Seriously, rent-a-cops with no guns in sight, just flashlights and walkie-talkies. Ames chaperoning minors. And I somehow doubt John Michael Higgins will be playing his character very seriously.
More great news from Matt Miller: They’re too far into shooting season 2 to adjust the opening credits due to fanbase backlash, but will do so if they get a third season. The Old Man and Agent Barnes won’t be in the rest of season 2, but hey, season 3! Carmine will only be in the occasional episode because “the dog is not the best actor.” Tony Hale will appear in multiple episodes as comic relief! Because that worked out so well on Chuck!
If I’m wrong on any of this, please let me know. I’m teetering on the brink of deleting this show, but would desperately like to enjoy it again. ;_;
*POST AUTHOR*
Whatever you did worked, because the spoiler tag is in there! Unless another editor got it….
OK, Steinberg’s writing credit makes perfect sense.
As for the spoilery parts….
Show Spoiler »
Why do we need Tony Hale for comic relief? If they’d just write good lines for Chance, Guerrero and Winston and actually put them in some scenes together, we’d have all the comic relief we could ever want for.
Thanks to Keith, who fixed the spoilers.
Show Spoiler »
Hey, I loved Tony Hale in Arrested Development, Andy Barker, P.I., and Ctrl. He could be a real asset to any show. But I have no confidence in Miller writing him any better here than was done on Chuck, where his character was a horrible detriment to that show.
Totally agreed on the Triumvirate scenes being pure comic gold, even in some very dark moments.