TiVo Community Forums Archives - Boomtown

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Boomtown - should I watch it
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Posted by: tonyoci

It got an oustanding review in Entertainment Weekly and Bravo is running a "season to date" marathon.

In the last few years my favorite shows have been.

Oz (in the early days)
Band of Brothers
The Shield
The Wire
and The Simpsons (though perhaps that does not fit here).

So will I like this show ?

T

Posted by: zaknafein

YES! Great show, especially the first few episodes.

Thanks for the heads up BTW, I missed a few eps.

Posted by: brahamt

Of the new police shows on the air, this one is the smartest of them all.

Frequently, cop shows are very obvious, since we as a country have probably seen every story under the sun. Boomtown turns those stories upside down by telling the story out of order and from different points of view. This has the advantage of creating an effective cliff-hanger every week.

Plus, each of the actors in the show are excellent.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

It's very well-written, well-acted, and extremely smart. Judging from your list, you're not the type to be intimidated by its unusual structure, so I'd say go for it!

Posted by: hookbill

I've got an SP. I've seen every show and it is well written and intelligent. It also gets a lot of points for development of it's characters.

Posted by: Kablemodem

quote:
Originally posted by brahamt
Of the new police shows on the air, this one is the smartest of them all.

Plus, each of the actors in the show are excellent.

Doesn't this pretty much guarantee that it won't get picked up next season? I had every episode recorded and I was planning to watch them, but I just couldn't see myself watching a whole season of one hour shows anytime soon.

Posted by: bobjohnson

Another vote for you to watch it. Arguably one of the best shows out there.

Posted by: whitson77

I watched the first few episode, and I thought it was filmed well and the stories were good. But my biggest beef was that the only character that I found likable was Donnie W. Everybody else seems like a jerk. Maybe that works for the rest of the world. But I got like the people I watch. Especially in a tv show.

Posted by: JerryLBell

You should definitely NOT watch this show, because if you did, you'd probably enjoy it and be as p*ssed off as many of us are that such a fine show is sliding so rapidly into obscurity.

Posted by: njtaz

I started after the first few episodes. So it will be good to catch up. When does the marathon on Bravo start?

Posted by: tonyoci

Sunday March 2nd starting at 11am/10am they will be showing all 11 episodes back to back. With the first new episode on NBC that night.

A good replacement for OZ I think.

T

Posted by: ThreeSoFar

what they said

Posted by: millertivo

quote:
Originally posted by tonyoci
Sunday March 2nd starting at 11am/10am they will be showing all 11 episodes back to back. With the first new episode on NBC that night.

According to the NBC website, there are 12 episodes. It looks like the episode "Crash" (11/17/02) will not be shown in the marathon. Also, the episode "Coyote" is being shown in the marathon about 3 episodes earlier than it originally aired (at least according to the NBC website). I don't think it matters as far as the story goes, but I just wondered why the change in order.

I saw the first 3 episodes when the series began and really liked them. Unfortunately, that was right when I got my Tivo so I was trigger happy with season passes. I had to let it go, but now I'm going to catch the marathon.

And if you miss any episodes in the one-day marathon, Bravo will be showing them two per night starting the night after the marathon from 10-12 pm est.

Posted by: njtaz

quote:
Originally posted by tonyoci
Sunday March 2nd starting at 11am/10am they will be showing all 11 episodes back to back. With the first new episode on NBC that night.

A good replacement for OZ I think.

T

Thanks - Just updated my season pass to tape all these episodes that I missed. NBC should start doing this with all their TV shows. Show them a couple weeks delayed. Would sure give me more things to tape. :D

Posted by: grecorj

One of the things this show does really well -- aside from the slightly unconventional story format -- is create "standalone" episodes (so anyone could sit down and watch w/o the backstory of previous episodes) while at the same time spooling out continuing storylines about each of the characters.

Best episode of the season: Halloween episode. The "Scream" send-up is hysterical.

Posted by: zaknafein

quote:
Originally posted by grecorj
One of the things this show does really well -- aside from the slightly unconventional story format -- is create "standalone" episodes (so anyone could sit down and watch w/o the backstory of previous episodes) while at the same time spooling out continuing storylines about each of the characters.

Best episode of the season: Halloween episode. The "Scream" send-up is hysterical.

I missed that one, but I thought that pilot was fantastic, as was Crash.

Posted by: JYoung

I love Boomtown. It's daring, original, and engaging (which probably means it will be cancelled).
Although I think the episode with Fearless vs. the Russian Mafia was a tad over the top, I like what I've seen of the show so far.
It's the second best show to premire this season, IMO.
(the first being Firefly :mad: )

Posted by: ClutchBrake

Best new show of the season (that is still on the air).
The episode with Fearless and the Russian mob was hideous. The rest of the season has been top-notch.

Posted by: tonyoci

Just a reminder about Sunday's marathon. All 11 episodes (I think) on Bravo starting at 11am EST and 8am PST (at least on DirectTV).

New episode on Sunday night on NBC

T

Posted by: DanT

I can't believe they've aired 11 or 12 episodes already. I've had a SP since before the premiere, but it seems like I've only seen maybe 6-7 eps. Time to go check the listings for Bravo to make sure I didn't miss something.

Posted by: atreyu

So, tonyoci... how'd you like the show?

Posted by: tonyoci

I only had time to watch the first episode, I liked it. The format reminded me of something I had seen elsewhere (different points of view of the same events) but I cannot remember what it was.

Does each show have a separate crime or is there an ongoing story. On the Season Pass Alerts board someone mentioned the shows were not being shown in the original order and that one show was completely missing, does that really matter ?

T

Posted by: zaknafein

quote:
Originally posted by tonyoci
I only had time to watch the first episode, I liked it. The format reminded me of something I had seen elsewhere (different points of view of the same events) but I cannot remember what it was.

Does each show have a separate crime or is there an ongoing story. On the Season Pass Alerts board someone mentioned the shows were not being shown in the original order and that one show was completely missing, does that really matter ?

T

There is some ongoing character development, but the episodes are, by and large, standalone.

Posted by: atreyu

quote:
Originally posted by tonyoci
I only had time to watch the first episode, I liked it. The format reminded me of something I had seen elsewhere (different points of view of the same events) but I cannot remember what it was.

The "feel" of this show reminds me of the film Memento, since each episode kind of throws your sense of time out of whack. I love how your understanding of an episode's plot develops non-linearly... it shifts the focus to the actors' interactions, and makes you not take anything at face value, as many things aren't what they seem once you see them again from a different point of view. I'm impressed at how exciting the show is, given the fact that you often see the "end" at the "beginning."

quote:
Does each show have a separate crime or is there an ongoing story?

Yes and yes.

quote:
On the Season Pass Alerts board someone mentioned the shows were not being shown in the original order and that one show was completely missing, does that really matter ?

It *probably* won't matter, unless they've made some particularly stupid choices in the re-ordering of episodes. There are several ongoing storylines which refer to each other and build on each other -- some play out more or less sequentially, while others seem to be doing a long term version of the "fill in the gaps" type of thing each individual episode does.

Boomtown doesn't hold your hand by stopping the story to explain everything to the audience, and will sometimes make references to things you know nothing about, giving the context during some later episode. So most reshufflings would just result in, for example, the context being given before the reference instead of the reference being given before the context. Or vice-versa -- Boomtown does both, so it probably won't matter if you get one instead of the other.

Sorry for sounding ambiguous... it's just such an unconventional series that it's hard to generalize about. One of the things I love most about Boomtown is the way it mixes things up from show to show... the writing and producing are the most creative and artistic I've ever seen.

God, please don't let this show be cancelled!

Posted by: Family

I've always like the recommendations on this board (Firefly... The Shield... 24), but I can't seem to warm up to this show. I've only seen the pilot and one other episode, but it didn't grab me. I really didn't care about any of the characters except the DA (and only just a little).

Posted by: fmowry

Family,
Try watching a few more. It took my wife and me 3-4 episodes to get going with this. It flows a bit better in later episodes.

Plus the characters are developed further as the show moves along.

Frank

Posted by: Family

Frank

Thanks. I plan to. Generally the stronger recommendations in this forum are pretty good. I tivoed the Bravo Sunday run so sometime I'll give it a shot.

Posted by: dvdapex

I really like Boomtown EXCEPT that the crimes bug me. *Warning, spoilers below.*

There have been hundreds of cop shows, so we've all seen robberies, murders, kidnappings. We're too used to (I will not use the "D" buzzword)those "boring" crimes. So, on Boomtown, there isn't just a family slaughtered, there's a father that's tied down and forced to watch his wife and daughter being raped and tortured before they all have their throats cut. On Boomtown, a punk doesn't just kidnap a girl that he wants in order to rape, he kidnaps her, and then wants to cut her to bits with a reciprocating saw. On Boomtown, some guy falls in love with a stripper who pretends to be his wife and then stalks her and her husband after she brings him back to reality.

I know they have to keep the show interesting, but I'd rather be more focused on the characters than sick crimes.

Posted by: jeff125va

I just got around to watching Sunday's (3/2) episode. Not much of a spoiler per se, but just in case...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
I think this was the first time they went as far as they did into the show (about the first 45 minutes IIRC) with the plot being told sequentially. I was starting to think, esp considering the hiatus it had been on, that perhaps they had dumbed it down in an attempt to improve ratings. I was stunned in the last segment of the show by how wrong I was. They really lulled me into thinking the show was gonna continue sequentially like that and then pulled off a great surprise ending. Excellent episode of an excellent show.

Posted by: ClutchBrake

quote:
Originally posted by jeff125va
I just got around to watching Sunday's (3/2) episode. Not much of a spoiler per se, but just in case...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
I think this was the first time they went as far as they did into the show (about the first 45 minutes IIRC) with the plot being told sequentially. I was starting to think, esp considering the hiatus it had been on, that perhaps they had dumbed it down in an attempt to improve ratings. I was stunned in the last segment of the show by how wrong I was. They really lulled me into thinking the show was gonna continue sequentially like that and then pulled off a great surprise ending. Excellent episode of an excellent show.

Well,

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
The only part that bugged me was the fact that they didn't check the basement or attic. Come on, they TOTALLY would have checked both of those locations. It probably wouldn't have bothered me so much had they not specifically shown Joel sweeping the house when he arrived home with the man.

Posted by: tonyoci

Feedback here.

I have watched about 7 episodes so far. The show is good but it has not really hooked me like others do. When The Shield marathon was on I watched all the episodes in 3 days. Here I am after 3-4 weeks and I have only watched 7 eps. It's just not hooking me. I have some time to watch but find myself choosing to do and watch other things.

I think the format of the show can be confusing at times though it is also somtimes cool to realize that a scene tied back to a previous one.

Part of the problem is that I do not like the character of the DA who they seem to like to feature prominently even though most stories do not need him. For some reasons I just do not like the character. I liked the actor in Band of Brothers though.

I will stick with it but if the quality drops off as reported elsewhere in this forum I might eventually stop watching.

T

Posted by: Mr. Soze

I've got 8 episodes still to watch on the Tivo from the Bravo marathon and new NBC runs.
I have them as "Keep until I delete" which I rarely ever do.

I like this show's structure - very innovative. Not really developed a favorite character yet, but unlike tonyoci, ADA McNorris is looking like the one.

[kiss of death mode /off]

Posted by: Family

I just saw the episode with the female bankrobbing revolutionary. Am I missing something? The ending was supposed to be this shocking revelation as to who was the cop killer, but wouldn't there have been about 20 witnesses in the bank? How could the police not have known who actually pulled the trigger?

Did I miss something during the episode or was this the biggest inconsistency of the TV season?

Posted by: jeff125va

Hmmm... I hadn't thought of that, and don't remember it well enough to be sure. But, I do remember that she convinced them that she didn't do it - did they definitely believe for all those years that she was the one who pulled the trigger? Also, perhaps the people in the bank had their faces to the floor?? You have a good point, I just don't remember the details well enough to really respond.

That episode was a great example thought of how well they used the technique of showing the same moment in time from different perspectives. I really miss it in the recent chronologically sequential episodes.