Always did like Melinda Warner as a character and Tamara Tunie was always great as her. Just loved her professionalism and how firm and easy to like she was, also that she always looked so glamorous in a less than glamorous profession. A great regular character that deserved more screen time for quite some while, so anybody that loves her who wanted that will be enthralled hearing that she plays a major role in Season 7's thirteenth episode "Blast".
"Blast" is a very good episode. There are many things worth admiring, there is plenty of tension and Warner is on top form. At the same time, the storytelling is not perfect and it doesn't quite have the extra something that Season 7's best episodes (have spoken a few times about my love for "Raw" and especially "911") have. It is a long way from being one of the season's worst and well above disappointments like "Name", "Starved" and "Alien."
It's not a perfect episode. It's not always high on the surprise factor, did suspect quite early that it was someone close to home. Just didn't know how close. Also really didn't buy how it took so long for the parents to reveal a crucial bit of information, a crucial bit of information that in such an urgent case where every part of the truth is necessary is realistically one of the first things somebody should mention. That they somehow forgot seemed far-fetched.
Everything concerning what bank was going to be robbed was just too reliant on coincidence. Olivia is underused, but that last issue is all down to personal taste and actually didn't hurt the episode that badly.
On the other hand, "Blast" has a lot of great things. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction has enough taut urgency when needed while giving the case breathing space.
The script is taut, with no extraneous fat, and provokes a lot of tension. While the story may not be perfect, it is still riveting in its intensity and there is still a real sense of urgency in finding the victim. Warner is on top form, true to character and it was great to see her in action. The characters are all written intriguingly and the interaction is never stiff. Tunie is absolutely terrific in one of her finer performances of the show, especially when in action and how involved she gets without it getting too personal. The acting is all great, but the episode indeed does belong to Tunie.
Summing up, very good. 8/10.
"Blast" is a very good episode. There are many things worth admiring, there is plenty of tension and Warner is on top form. At the same time, the storytelling is not perfect and it doesn't quite have the extra something that Season 7's best episodes (have spoken a few times about my love for "Raw" and especially "911") have. It is a long way from being one of the season's worst and well above disappointments like "Name", "Starved" and "Alien."
It's not a perfect episode. It's not always high on the surprise factor, did suspect quite early that it was someone close to home. Just didn't know how close. Also really didn't buy how it took so long for the parents to reveal a crucial bit of information, a crucial bit of information that in such an urgent case where every part of the truth is necessary is realistically one of the first things somebody should mention. That they somehow forgot seemed far-fetched.
Everything concerning what bank was going to be robbed was just too reliant on coincidence. Olivia is underused, but that last issue is all down to personal taste and actually didn't hurt the episode that badly.
On the other hand, "Blast" has a lot of great things. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction has enough taut urgency when needed while giving the case breathing space.
The script is taut, with no extraneous fat, and provokes a lot of tension. While the story may not be perfect, it is still riveting in its intensity and there is still a real sense of urgency in finding the victim. Warner is on top form, true to character and it was great to see her in action. The characters are all written intriguingly and the interaction is never stiff. Tunie is absolutely terrific in one of her finer performances of the show, especially when in action and how involved she gets without it getting too personal. The acting is all great, but the episode indeed does belong to Tunie.
Summing up, very good. 8/10.