Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
05.00 Melrose Place
06.00 V
11.00 Melrose Place
Melrose Place. Season 8, Episode 9. "Ocean" The Police find the murder weapon in Auggie's apartment, David steals his half-brother away for the day, Jonah and Ella pretend to be a couple.
I love Ella/Katie Cassidy! The character, on paper, appears to be a clone of Amanda, but it's obvious that she's more of a heroine, thanks to Cassidy's performance, than the original character was. It's much easier to root for her. Let's be honest: Ella's not that bad, really. She's tough. That's about it. Tough does not equal bad.
In this episode Ella openly declared her feelings for Jonah, confronted him about the flaws in his relationship with Riley and invited him away to the nearest hotel room. I thought everything about this scene, and everything about the way Ella carried herself in the scene, was fresh and enjoyable.
It's been obvious from the start of the series that Ella has had a crush on Jonah, and it's probably my favourite element of the new version of Melrose Place: the fact that somebody as cold and hard and tough as Ella would like someone as dreary and bland as Jonah. In fact, the idea that Ella has feelings for him is pretty much the only thing that I like about Jonah. (And I definitely detest his 'sweeter-than-sweet' girlfriend Riley.
Their confrontation scene together impressed me with regard to how self-assured and confident Ella was throughout. She hasn't pined away in secret, the way hundreds of television characters (both male and female) have done over the years. Rather, she bided her time, waited until there was a weakness she could exploit (a fight in the relationship) and she struck. She made her declaration. Openly and honestly.
And when Jonah rejected her advances, she responded without any shame or self-pity, she took it in her stride. I do believe that everything she said to him in the aftermath was quite honest.
She's a much more realistic, and admirable, character than I was ever expecting to find on Melrose Place when I started watching it. I'm loving the show. And I'm loving her.
V. Episode 3. "A Bright New Day" Death Threat.
Another dreadful episode. Erica has to protect the visitors (oh, the irony!). Except that, of course, all is not what it appears to be (oh, the irony!).
A really bad show.
Melrose Place. Episode 10. "Cahuenga" Amanda!
Heather Locklear shows up, and she is fantastic. It was great to see her. Amanda, as written in this show, was every bit as good as Amanda on the old show. It looks like she will be making quite an impact on the show over the next couple of episodes and I'm fine with that.
This is the fourth original cast member to show up, and in each case it has been perfectly logical and perfectly natural.
Highlight? Melrose Place (Ella openly declared her feelings for Jonah)
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Melrose Place, V
