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"Army Wives" mini-cap: Iraq around the clockI have to say this right up front: I’m worried about Army Wives.
The show is getting a bit too, well, Lifetimey, if you know what I mean (and I think you do.) First, though, a nice little tidbit about a guest star later this season: Ana Ortiz of Ugly Betty will play a “litigious waitress who gets mixed up with Roxy and Trevor.” Litigious waitress? Does she wait tables in a suit? (Think about it.)
Back to the mini-cap: Episode two is titled “Strangers in a Strange Land,” which makes me want to draw all sorts of highly politicized parallels between Army Wives and Robert Heinlein’s book. But since I doubt the writers had that in mind, I’ll resist. The story opens three weeks after the first episode so, thankfully, we aren’t subjected to the pain of Amanda’s funeral. But the grief is far from over for her family and circle of friends, especially Claudia Joy.
Did this show always use so much narration to tell the story? I kind of understood on the last episode, since the writers had a lot of ground to cover. But when the show opened to Kim Delaney in the tub – which should have been a treat – with a voiceover including, “I hold my breath, living in a suspended state of existence,” well, I cringed a little. The other voiceover was from Trevor, in the form of writing a letter to Roxy from Iraq. He writes – and we hear – every detail of his life there. The point was to show the difference between what Trevor experienced and how he ultimately glossed over it all in what he told his family, but I felt like I’d been clichéd to death. And on what planet does a soldier in Iraq look this clean, cool and comfy after three weeks?
OK, I’m feeling overly harsh. So let me move to the character that was my favorite this episode: Joan. Although I have a hard time believing she would let three weeks pass without making a decision about her pregnancy, she had some great scenes showing her conflict about whether to keep the baby. Her main concern is that she’s on the fast track, career-wise, and doesn’t want to jeopardize that. She’s a woman of power and she likes it. I like it, too. Sigh.
This being Lifetime, Joan decides to keep the baby while on the abortion procedure table. General Holden promises her job will be waiting for her after pregnancy leave, Roland is ecstatic and all is right with the world. To make sure we understand the womanly glory of her motherhood, Joan’s hair is drawn back before she decides to keep the baby, then loose and feminine after. Subtle. I kept wondering how this storyline would differ on, say, Showtime. In other developments, Chase comes home for awhile and cooks dinner for Pamela; we learn that Pamela’s brother was shot and killed when the two of them were in a gas station robbery; Roxy invites Betty the bar owner to stay with her after she’s released from the hospital; Emmalin stays with Denise to escape her parents fighting, but misses them and returns home; Claudia has a panic attach in the PX. Moment of trivia: the PX scene was filmed in the base exchange at Charleston Air Force Base, using extras from actual base families.
Denise again had little to do this episode other than to be kind and sexy and gorgeous. She also came very close to having a wardrobe malfunction. Life is good.
As usual, the chemistry between Denise and Claudia Joy was palpable. At first, C.J. rebuffs Denise’s affection, throwing off a hug in the PX parking lot. By the end of the episode, however, the vibes are back to normal and the looks Denise gives Claudia Joy as the group shares dinner are nothing less than pure sex. Damn — stuff like that never happens to me. The music this week deserves special mention – Sara Bareilles, Jude Johnstone and The Kin, plus a gorgeous song, “I Will Think of You,” by Laura Browne Sorenson. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing much more from Sorenson soon. What did you think of “Strangers in a Strange Land?” Is Army Wives close to jumping the land shark or is the show still going strong? Special points for naming the scene with an inside joke about new Emmalin. Submitted by on June 18, 2008 - 9:00am. |
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I like "Army Wives", but...
you are right, linster, in saying that the show is too "Lifetimey". If this show were on F/X, HBO, or Showtime, it would be a lot more authentic. For one thing, being an Army veteran myself, and having served overseas and most recently at Fort Bragg, I can tell you that most soldiers don't speak that politely in real life. Most soldiers use the "f-word" in every sentence; it's just the way they talk.
And, considering what most of us veterans have to go through with the VA to get decent medical care, I found it laughable that a civilian like Betty, with no medical insurance, was even admitted to a military hospital. This would never happen in real life. She would have been taken to the nearest civilian emergency room, not the base hospital.
Yes, the chemistry between Catherine Bell and Kim Delaney is palpable; unfortunately, this being Lifetime, the characters won't act on it. However, Renee O'Connor from "Xena" is supposed to be playing a lesbian character later this season. I am curious to see which one of the Army wives she will have an affair with. Maybe Catherine or Kim?
Colour me surprised. Not.
You were expecting a channel having a show like Army Wives to seriously show abortion as a valid and perfectly acceptable option for a character?
*snort*
The meme of abortion never being accessed in a positive way (although it often appears in reverse in the "ZOMG, traumatising one in my past!" insanely overused stereotype) crops up as often as the evil/pregnant lesbian memes. They almost always decide to have the baby (regardless of whether or not it is the best thing for them), or they have the oh-so-wonderful cop-out of writing; the miscarriage (which I feel totally minimises the actual pain of women who miscarry in real life where it isn't an easy plot-device).
Just once I'd love to see abortion shown as a successful and valid option for a woman on a show/channel like this. You know, the way it is for so many women in real life? But I am constantly disappointed.
Sarah
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http://kiwi-grrl.livejournal.com/
Army Wives Might Be Jumping the Shark
I didn't even make it to the end of the second episode of this new season before I was inspired to write this blog...
Not Sure If I'll Keep Watching Army Wives
I'm going to give it a few more episodes but it's not looking real good.
Disappointment thy name is...
Army Wives.
Lifetimey indeed! Joan has been transformed by Rolands baby enthusiasm. I can't stand it. I'm dumpimg the show but it had just enough potential to keep me watching until I found out there was no Renee O'Connor. I'll give it one more episode to change my opinon. It was not this sappy last season.
_____________
All generalizations are false. Including this one.
behind the scenes trouble
Special points
I will keep watching, just because I already care about the characters.
For special points, was the scene you asked about the scene where Emmalin talks to Denise about how they look at her but don't really see her? Then she talks about looking like Amanda?
And the answer is ...
Good guess
Where the Hell is sheee??? LOL
I absolutely love Army Wives!!! Just one question?? Where is My Renee!!!! :-)) She is totally going to make this season worth watching
www.myspace.com/xenite29
FYI - NO RENEE
well
i don't know if people have seen it, but there is a beautiful surprise at the end of the bloopers for army wives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W90iqnt_1Qw&feature=related
Lifetime movies.
Being a Lifetime movie isn't necessarily a bad thing. Wasn't "The Truth About Jane" a Lifetime movie? I think the tv movie about Gwen Araujo was a Lifetime movie as well. And that's just off the top of my head.
I know there are those woman-as-a-victim movies but then there are movies like the one Sigourney Weaver is producing and starring in..."Prayers or Bobby"...a true story about a Christian mother who becomes a gay rights crusader after her gay son commits suicide.
So I pick and choose what I watch on Lifetime and don't write-off the whole channel.
And as far as Army Wives...yeah, it is not quite what it was last year...I am not sure why, but I will hang in through this season and if they come back next season, hopefully things will be better...and more back toward the season one standard.
Oh, and thank for the YouTube blooper link! Sweet! :D
of course!
very upsetting!!
Thats all im sayin, hope they re-think it all and put Renee in. The season would be sooo much better :-)) but a girl can only dream right? lol
www.myspace.com/xenite29
In all fairness ...
Not liking it
See I'm not from the US so I never understood people dissing on Lifetime last season. NOW I get it :D
I hate what they're doing. I hated the voice overs, Joan deciding to keep the baby and the whole Chase thing... ah, hell. The whole ep bore me to tears. The only thing remotely interesting was the Claudia Joy/Denise scene when CJ dropped Emmalin off. Even if that half-hug was kinda awkward. And yeah, the eye sex at dinner. But that's... 4 seconds out of 40 minutes. Now I'm used to crumbs but this is pushing it :D
Also, am I the only one who had completely forgotten about Frank? Him showing up on screen surprised the hell out of me. I guess I have selective memory when it comes to husbands *g*
It did remind me though how WRONG Denise and Frank look together. He'd be awesome as her brother or uncle or something. But husband? No. Just no. There was a scene of the two of them in bed together last season (the Denise wants to have sex ep I think) that squicked me out like none other.
Same goes for Claudia Joy and uhh... what's his name, though to a lesser extent. They give off a 'really good friends' vibe, yes, but there's no sexual chemistry between them AT ALL.
Or, y'know. It could be that I'm projecting.
Ugh. I really hadn't realized that was Joan at the table. I was better off not knowing.
I did like that scene with Roxy and Betty at the end.
"Roxy: I took my shirt off."
Heeee. I heart her when she's being her season 1 self.