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| Oscar Isaac |
Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
Most people today already have a preconceived notion about The Wire. It is, without a doubt, the greatest show in TV drama history. There's no faulting that it does rank very high on the list and is one of the jewels in HBO's expansive crown. However, it's more interesting to note that its ratings were subpar during its run. It was so much the case that when creator David Simon proposed a spin-off series that focused on a politician's campaigning for office, it didn't seem financially possible. In some ways, that feels like it informs his latest miniseries Show Me a Hero, which stars Oscar Isaac as the youngest mayor in U.S. history fixing several problems in the city of Yonkers, N.Y..
With director Paul Haggis (Crash) in tow, there's a lot that's different about the show's aura. For starters, it feels more polished than the average Simon project. Where The Wire was entrenched in cinema verite and raw footage, Show Me a Hero has a certain polish to it. There's still the naturalism, but each angle feels a little more decisive and important. The soundtrack of 80's hits adds a stylized vibe to it that makes montages over the city even more enjoyable. While Simon and Haggis don't have the style of other directors who moved to TV like Steven Soderbegh (The Knick), it does add a certain grittiness to the story ahead.
If you're at all familiar with The Wire, then there's plenty that you'll likely recognize here. For starters, the first two episodes come across like paint drying. But what fascinating paint it is. There's Nick Wasicsko (Isaac) campaigning in the beginning as we become more aware of who he is as a politician. While things are purposely left vague, we can feel his passion as he recites his speeches in a mirror and deals with an unruly group of people both on staff and in the community. In true Simon form, there's also an empathetic look towards the neighborhood and a front and center view of the citizens struggling to survive. While the advertising has been almost exclusively on Wasicsko's character, it feels interesting to see the show expand to a wider array of people.
Thankfully, Simon is one of the few people who can make politics engaging. He is in some ways unrepentant in finding drama in civics. While there's an embarrassingly strong supporting cast, there aren't too many that have come into play quite effectively just yet. The likes of Alfred Molina and Catherine Keener both make background appearances here, but have no purposeful roles. For those unaware of The Wire, this is a tactic that he is equally notorious for of slowly unveiling everything before diving head first into each character's arc. The different catch is where The Wire had seasons, Show Me a Hero has six episodes. That will either mean that the arcs will be more impressive, or there's a lot of inessential big names in nothing roles.
Most of all, there's Isaac. He is the star and one of those actors that feels on the verge of becoming a household name. Consider what Matthew McConaughey did a few years ago, culminating in True Detective. He marked a comeback that showed off his charisma. Isaac has been starring in an interesting mix of films over the past few years from Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis to this year's Ex-Machina. With Star Wars taking up his time this Fall, this may be the last stretch of no name recognition we will have from him. Even then, Isaac is a one man force here, mixing his low key personality with a passion for change. Much like the supporting cast, we don't understand him yet. But in time, I hope that we get to and that this is in fact part of Isaac's own amazing launch into superstardom.
This miniseries likely isn't for everyone. Much like The Wire, it feels like something that will be more rewarding in the long run than it is now. That doesn't mean that it won't have plenty of great moments. It simply means that Simon is the type that asks for patience and usually delivers something more awe-inspiring and exceptional than almost anything else on TV. In some ways, this is The Wire set in 1987. In others, it is simply another story about one politician passionately standing up to injustice. I am not entirely sure what this will turn out to be, but Simon hasn't let me down before. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt if it takes its time to get great. For now, it's really promising and worth watching just for Isaac.
With director Paul Haggis (Crash) in tow, there's a lot that's different about the show's aura. For starters, it feels more polished than the average Simon project. Where The Wire was entrenched in cinema verite and raw footage, Show Me a Hero has a certain polish to it. There's still the naturalism, but each angle feels a little more decisive and important. The soundtrack of 80's hits adds a stylized vibe to it that makes montages over the city even more enjoyable. While Simon and Haggis don't have the style of other directors who moved to TV like Steven Soderbegh (The Knick), it does add a certain grittiness to the story ahead.
If you're at all familiar with The Wire, then there's plenty that you'll likely recognize here. For starters, the first two episodes come across like paint drying. But what fascinating paint it is. There's Nick Wasicsko (Isaac) campaigning in the beginning as we become more aware of who he is as a politician. While things are purposely left vague, we can feel his passion as he recites his speeches in a mirror and deals with an unruly group of people both on staff and in the community. In true Simon form, there's also an empathetic look towards the neighborhood and a front and center view of the citizens struggling to survive. While the advertising has been almost exclusively on Wasicsko's character, it feels interesting to see the show expand to a wider array of people.
Thankfully, Simon is one of the few people who can make politics engaging. He is in some ways unrepentant in finding drama in civics. While there's an embarrassingly strong supporting cast, there aren't too many that have come into play quite effectively just yet. The likes of Alfred Molina and Catherine Keener both make background appearances here, but have no purposeful roles. For those unaware of The Wire, this is a tactic that he is equally notorious for of slowly unveiling everything before diving head first into each character's arc. The different catch is where The Wire had seasons, Show Me a Hero has six episodes. That will either mean that the arcs will be more impressive, or there's a lot of inessential big names in nothing roles.
Most of all, there's Isaac. He is the star and one of those actors that feels on the verge of becoming a household name. Consider what Matthew McConaughey did a few years ago, culminating in True Detective. He marked a comeback that showed off his charisma. Isaac has been starring in an interesting mix of films over the past few years from Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis to this year's Ex-Machina. With Star Wars taking up his time this Fall, this may be the last stretch of no name recognition we will have from him. Even then, Isaac is a one man force here, mixing his low key personality with a passion for change. Much like the supporting cast, we don't understand him yet. But in time, I hope that we get to and that this is in fact part of Isaac's own amazing launch into superstardom.
This miniseries likely isn't for everyone. Much like The Wire, it feels like something that will be more rewarding in the long run than it is now. That doesn't mean that it won't have plenty of great moments. It simply means that Simon is the type that asks for patience and usually delivers something more awe-inspiring and exceptional than almost anything else on TV. In some ways, this is The Wire set in 1987. In others, it is simply another story about one politician passionately standing up to injustice. I am not entirely sure what this will turn out to be, but Simon hasn't let me down before. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt if it takes its time to get great. For now, it's really promising and worth watching just for Isaac.
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