From: naran@fraser.sfu.ca (Travers Naran)
Subject: Mann & Machine 2nd episode - Hey! It's improved a little!
Summary: Things still need chainging....
Keywords: mann and machine review 2 second episode
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 06:11:53 GMT

I have to admit, this episode was much better than I thought it was going to
be. I kept thinking throughout the episode, "Ok, they finally got the writing
up to an acceptable level but for God's sake, I hope they can keep it there.
This series has a lot of potential."

I finally saw the opening introduction sequence. Blagh! I haven't heard such
atrocious music since "Moonbase Alpha" [Feature length version of "Space 1999"
with, in my opinion, the worst musical score in any filmed TV or film series
ever]. That opening sounds like it was written by the guy who did that
strobed-picture effects during the climax scenes. On a side note: Who ever was
responsible for that stupid strobed action scenes should be whipped with a
rubber hose and treated like an Anti-Aparthied activist in South Africa until
all desire to use that partial-freeze frames is gone. [The SA reference is to
remind people that Aparthied is still alive and well]

Anyways, that really pissed me off was that partial-freeze frames at the end by
the pool. Originally on the ship I thought it was original and an interesting
twist, but in a relatively open and well-lit area, action scenes look _much_
better when the rapidness of the attacks are not interfered with. Wouldn't you
have much rather seen the android take out the professor with a lightning fast
twist rather than that partial-freeze frame effect? :-)

Now, the good news is that those two things were the only things that pissed me
off about the series. The rest was good. Only recomendation I can make outside
of the first two is that the actress who plays the android should continue to
make her character into the finest character on TV, which she should be. I
would recommend taking the seven-year old idea to the hilt, sort of. Basically,
imagine a seven-year old put in the body of a young adult and leave her in
there for a few years out in the real world learning to be an adult. Then her
character would be far more consistent and a far more interesting character
than Data on TNG. [Re-direct all flames to /dev/null or to alt.flames]

Now, even more positive things. The Android [I forgot her name, remind me
someone] I have to admit was well acted and written for in this episode. I
loved that part where she knelt (squatted?) on the floor and remembered what
everyone else had told her and what actually happened. I actually felt for the
character, now that is a good character when that happens! :-)

Mann is not a stereotype! Thank you, God! After Automan, Knight Rider and gawd
knows what else, even T.J. Hooker. Finally, a detective character who isn't a
walking stereotype or cliche. Mann didn't play the
"I'm-a-man-better-than-a-machine" cop or a "I'm a hard boiled cliche detective
who is pervertedly attracted to my partner" cop either. He was a human
character but his life was not all cop. He reacted almost normally to that date
with the receptionist and when the android called to tell him what was going
on, I had expected some hard-boiled cliches but instead, an almost believable
reaction. The police chief is not a 'beuraucrat with a badge', but actually an
administrator who might have been a cop at one time. No personality traits
exaggerated, all in near-perfect proportions. All in all, a good character
set-up.

The plot, was well. Classic. I liked the plot a lot. That ending was not what I
had expected, yet the ending was not a stupid last-minute kind of thing. All in
all this was an acceptable plot. Much better than standard network TV fare.

All in all, I have to say I liked this episode in the end. The end theme should
be transported to the beginning and the music director sent into therapy or
shot. Other than the behind the scenes screw ups, this episode is nice. I might
actually miss this show if it gets canceled.

If anyone from the show's writing staff is reading this. I have one warning,
comment and suggestion:

"DON'T SCREW IT UP! KEEP THE SCRIPTS AS HIGH A QUALITY AS THIS ONE!"
:-)

-- 
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Travers Naran						| "I am NOT a merry
Mail address: naran@fraser.sfu.ca or naran@sfu.ca       |  man!"
Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada	|    Lt. Worf,
Cmpt. Science student wanna-be				|    ST:TNG, "Q-pid"
Trekker, Leaper, Red Dwarf'er, Prober, etc.		|
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