Is Moonlight Worth Watching?

October 27, 2007 5:15 PM

I'm already following Chuck and The Big Bang Theory (via paid XBOX Live downloads to avoid commercials), and I'm looking to add another new series as well. I've been thinking about starting with Moonlight, but the unoriginality of the basic premise (Forever Knight and Angel both did it first) is rather offputting, especially since I still haven't quite gotten over the cancellation of Angel. Is the series worth watching on its own merits, or should I give it a pass?

To clarify, I would hesitate to ask a question of this nature in this forum, except that due to my aversion to commercials watching this series will cost me money.

posted by The Confessor to media & arts (23 comments total)

i've been enjoying "bionic woman." it's by the same guy who does (did?) "battlestar galactica," which is (was?) fantastic.
posted by thinkingwoman at 6:00 PM on October 27, 2007

Pass. Pushing Daisies is the best new show this season. (BTW, Bionic Woman is executive produced by, among other people, David Eick, who is one of the executive producers on Galactica. I don't believe Ron Moore is involved.)
posted by designbot at 6:02 PM on October 27, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

Second Pushing Daisies. The best new TV show out this year by far.
posted by sanka at 6:10 PM on October 27, 2007

I caught enough of an episode of Moonlight to find it laughable in both premise and execution. The critics agree.
posted by camcgee at 6:17 PM on October 27, 2007

Thirding Pushing Daisies, it's a lot of fun. Definitely the best of this season's crop.

I would recommend that you give Moonlight a pass. I deliberately watched the first episode, but couldn't finish watching it because it was so stilted. Then I happened to catch part of it last night at a friends' house, and it was just as bad. One of the worst genre outings, IMO.

I am secretly enjoying Journeyman. I didn't want to like it, but somehow it's grown on me to the point that I am TIVOing it...
posted by gemmy at 6:19 PM on October 27, 2007

I would wholeheartedly recommend Viva Laughlin, if not for the fact that it was cancelled after two episodes. American audiences just ain't ready for musicals, I guess.

But on the topic of no commercials, be sure to check out the awesome miniseries "Five Days" on HBO. Masterful.
posted by jbickers at 6:26 PM on October 27, 2007

I enjoyed Moonlight a lot more than Pushing Daisies but that's not saying much.
The pilot was terribly bad but the show has improved a bit since then. I still wouldn't pay any money to see it though.
posted by snownoid at 6:28 PM on October 27, 2007

nth Pushing Daisies and raise you a Journeyman.
posted by czechmate at 6:45 PM on October 27, 2007

Also, Cane is truly excellent - family/political drama set on a Florida sugar cane plantation. Nice break from superheroes/doctors/lawyers, and Jimmy Smits is always superb.
posted by jbickers at 6:54 PM on October 27, 2007

I HATE Pushing Daisies. I'm a TV fanatic, and I gave it 3 eps, but I couldn't do it.

Moonlight is pretty mediocre, I watch it because not much else is on Friday nights, and it makes a good show to eat brunch to on Saturday.

Recommended, however, is Life. That show is so satisfying. I'm not really into procedurals, and the cop mystery part really is more background to the excellent characters.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 7:18 PM on October 27, 2007

Another vote for Pushing Daisies here - definitely my favorite new show this year. It reminds me of Amelie a bit, with the imagery and quirkiness of the storyline.
posted by odi.et.amo at 7:48 PM on October 27, 2007

Ditto to wuzzandfuzz - Pushing Daisies was quirky and cute at first, with really surreal dialogue, but by the third show i was tired of it. I vote for Cane and Journeyman.
posted by hopeless romantique at 9:20 PM on October 27, 2007

Pushing Daisies is so ridiculously cute it makes me want to barf rainbows, but it's my favorite new show and I wouldn't have it any other way. And it's been picked up for a full season, which means it's less likely than Moonlight to get cancelled.

I found Moonlight to be quite unwatchable, Jason Dohring notwithstanding.
posted by bluishorange at 10:49 PM on October 27, 2007

I'm enjoying Pushing Daisies quite a bit but the show is obviously doomed. It might as well be going through the transporter wearing a red shit.

Moonlight is an utter mess. There are so many things wrong with it I'd have to write an essay. Just... not good.
posted by Justinian at 11:55 PM on October 27, 2007

No love for Life? I like it. Pretty formulaic, but an interesting odd-couple cop pairing and a central conspiracy to follow. And it's fun to watch a Buddhist struggle with his faith. If it gets more character-driven it'll be good.

Pushing Daisies was a great half-hour of television, but they exhausted their entire season's supply of twee-tolerance with the premier.

Moonlight is bad.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:20 AM on October 28, 2007

Try Reaper. It's only okay but it's certainly better than Moonlight and marginally better than Pushing Daisies.

I'd also recommend giving The Bionic Woman a pass. It started out great. In the pilot, Jamie is responsible for her younger sister who gets into trouble a lot, has tats, and is deaf. It was interesting to see the writers work around phone calls and such. In the second ep, the sister is a different actress and the character is annoying, vapid, and whiny--a typical tv teenager. That coupled with some other changes made me drop the show.
posted by who squared at 12:22 AM on October 28, 2007

I second Journeyman and Life. Skip Moonlight. But then, I found Chuck unwatchable, so it's possible that your tastes are different from mine. I make a point of trying one episode of any show that looks remotely interesting so that I can see for myself.

I love musicals. Viva Laughlin is not a musical; it's a bunch of crappy actors who aren't good enough to do their own vocals singing along with old rock songs. Literally, Melanie Griffith sings badly along with a song like "One Way or Another," with the original Debbie Harry vocals playing in the background.
posted by decathecting at 2:20 AM on October 28, 2007

nthing Pushing Daisies as well. its just such a sweet, funny, surreal show. but I am curious about one thing...you actually PAID for The Big Bang Theory?
I d/l the 1st ep when it was free on iTunes and could only watch about 10 min of it. HORRIBLE.

but to each his own I guess.
posted by ShawnString at 4:08 AM on October 28, 2007

Another for Pushing Daisies. Reaper would be my second choice among the new series this season.

I tired of Journeyman after about three episodes, and Bionic Woman after two.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 4:52 AM on October 28, 2007

I don't have a XBOX and couldn't find a complete list anywhere but what about 30 Rock or How I Met Your Mother? They're really great, funny shows and already have a proven track record.
posted by junesix at 7:49 AM on October 28, 2007

In the pilot, Jamie is responsible for her younger sister who gets into trouble a lot, has tats, and is deaf.

The pilot they actually aired didn't have the deaf sister.
posted by kindall at 11:10 AM on October 28, 2007

[Small exchange removed. If you want to argue site policy, take it to email or metatalk or something.]
posted by cortex at 8:15 AM on October 29, 2007

I too love Chuck and I loved Angel/BtVS. I don't think there are currently any other shows that are very similar to them, unfortunately.

Personally, I'm really enjoying It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but I think you need to have a rather depraved sense of humor. Heroes is overrated in my opinion, but is definitely above average.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 1:48 PM on October 29, 2007