Peter Lenkov on the cancxelation

[mach440]

Appreciate the conversation everybody, especially in light of the weird pandemic-y times we're currently experiencing (Three dead cows at Wuhan??)

Yeah it's a somewhat bittersweet feeling with Five-Zero drawing to a close tonight. I really loved the pilot episode and even with some obvious shortcomings felt the first season or two were worthy of "Five-O canon" status. The Season 1 finale/ Season 2 opener cliffhangers are still rated as 2 of the top 3 episodes of the entire run on IMDB, the other being the phenominal "Pearl Harbor" episode. While usually not equal to the high points of the original series, I think there was a genuine effort and energy present that was obviously missing in that wretched other pilot done back in '96 or whenever with Garey Busey.

But things drifted downward and went quickly off the cliff (or "jumped the shark," if you will, in the precisely correct usage of that term) once "McGarrett's Mom" and the other idiocies started piling up. Ironically I eventually became a far bigger fan of Blue Bloods and now have only watched a handful of the Five-Zeros over the past several seasons.

Overall I think Bobbi is absolutely correct though that the BIG problem was at the top: Lenkov -- and I would include his associates Alex Kurtzman, Orosi, JJ Abrams et al and that whole group of collaborators. They've been very prominent in TV and movies over the past decade (Star Wars, Star Trek, MacGuyver, Magnum, Five-Zero, Picard) and you nailed it Bobbi: not really a single meaningful original (intelligent) idea in that entire list. Their M.O. is they seem to get the surface "look" and "feel" of the originals and "try" to pay homage to the classic versions, but stupidly substitute busy movement and "modern" appearances for intelligent thought and almost never come up with a noteworthy original idea. (If you think Five-Zero got wrecked; they've absolutely butchered Star Trek: Picard --- which my lifelong Trek-fan daughter and I were so excited to begin and now we've already quit in disgust before the 9th episode -- as Mad magazine used to say, "Bleeeeaaeeeck!")

On the other hand Alex O'Laughlin is a good actor and likeable guy and he "kept the flame burning" or something --- we got to see some very entertaining episodes, and I'm grateful for the economic boost and pride that the reboot brought to the island. And the truly cool "Sunsets on the Beach" and Hawaiian blessings of the set each summer over the past decade. The reboot brought all this and more as well as renewing lots of interest around the world and the internet (especially at a little website belonging to Mr. Mike! and this one too, thanks Todd). I also have seen widespread recognition of the significance of the original Five-O in our society's history.

So it's Aloha for now to McDanno and Co. --- I'm putting on my "50th Anniversary of Five-0" t-shirt we got at the ABC Store on Kalakoua Avenue to watch the finale ... see you all for the next reboot in 2052!

[Bobbi]

Overall I think Bobbi is absolutely correct though that the BIG problem was at the top: Lenkov -- and I would include his associates Alex Kurtzman, Orosi, JJ Abrams et al and that whole group of collaborators. They've been very prominent in TV and movies over the past decade (Star Wars, Star Trek, MacGuyver, Magnum, Five-Zero, Picard) and you nailed it Bobbi: not really a single meaningful original (intelligent) idea in that entire list. Their M.O. is they seem to get the surface "look" and "feel" of the originals and "try" to pay homage to the classic versions, but stupidly substitute busy movement and "modern" appearances for intelligent thought and almost never come up with a noteworthy original idea. (If you think Five-Zero got wrecked; they've absolutely butchered Star Trek: Picard --- which my lifelong Trek-fan daughter and I were so excited to begin and now we've already quit in disgust before the 9th episode -- as Mad magazine used to say, "Bleeeeaaeeeck!")

I get it, I've heard a lot of that from various sources. What I don't get is that I actually like the Star Trek movie reboots, I really like the cast (and yes, I'm an odd duck). Now I don't know if it's because Star Trek is more flexible in its construct than the others or what. I was actually excited about Five-Zero because of the writers worked on the Star Trek movie reboots, but it all fell flat. At least to me.

I haven't watched Picard yet and you're the second one I've seen that gives it a thumbs down. I'm going to take advantage of CBS All Access giving a 30 day free trial. I think it's good to sign up through April 23rd.

Anyway, after watching "Aloha" and not to give anything away: I chalk it up as being more like "Woe To Wo Fat" than not. I don't think the fans are going to like it. I will agree with vrinda in that the ending was too pat.

[Bobbi]

Overall I think Bobbi is absolutely correct though that the BIG problem was at the top: Lenkov -- and I would include his associates Alex Kurtzman, Orosi, JJ Abrams et al and that whole group of collaborators. They've been very prominent in TV and movies over the past decade (Star Wars, Star Trek, MacGuyver, Magnum, Five-Zero, Picard) and you nailed it Bobbi: not really a single meaningful original (intelligent) idea in that entire list. Their M.O. is they seem to get the surface "look" and "feel" of the originals and "try" to pay homage to the classic versions, but stupidly substitute busy movement and "modern" appearances for intelligent thought and almost never come up with a noteworthy original idea. (If you think Five-Zero got wrecked; they've absolutely butchered Star Trek: Picard --- which my lifelong Trek-fan daughter and I were so excited to begin and now we've already quit in disgust before the 9th episode -- as Mad magazine used to say, "Bleeeeaaeeeck!")

I know this is off-topic **WITH SPOILERS** but wanted to let mach440 know I gave "Star Trek: Picard" a chance but they gave me characters I couldn't care less about and there were too many of them. I did find a solution though, I only got partway through episode 4 before quitting. I skipped to the one with Riker and Deanna and then went straight to the final episode of Season 1. I will not be going back. It's sad.

[mach440]

Overall I think Bobbi is absolutely correct though that the BIG problem was at the top: Lenkov -- and I would include his associates Alex Kurtzman, Orosi, JJ Abrams et al and that whole group of collaborators. They've been very prominent in TV and movies over the past decade (Star Wars, Star Trek, MacGuyver, Magnum, Five-Zero, Picard) and you nailed it Bobbi: not really a single meaningful original (intelligent) idea in that entire list. Their M.O. is they seem to get the surface "look" and "feel" of the originals and "try" to pay homage to the classic versions, but stupidly substitute busy movement and "modern" appearances for intelligent thought and almost never come up with a noteworthy original idea. (If you think Five-Zero got wrecked; they've absolutely butchered Star Trek: Picard --- which my lifelong Trek-fan daughter and I were so excited to begin and now we've already quit in disgust before the 9th episode -- as Mad magazine used to say, "Bleeeeaaeeeck!")

I know this is off-topic **WITH SPOILERS** but wanted to let mach440 know I gave "Star Trek: Picard" a chance but they gave me characters I couldn't care less about and there were too many of them. I did find a solution though, I only got partway through episode 4 before quitting. I skipped to the one with Riker and Deanna and then went straight to the final episode of Season 1. I will not be going back. It's sad.

Unfortunately, "sad" is a good description, Bobbi! Neither my daughter nor I wanted to be the one to come out and say it, but we both independently came to the same conclusion as the other (and as you did). Combined with the general "downer" of this danged worldwide pandemic thing, we couldn't bring ourselves to watch any more of this negative dreck for several weeks. Finally as things now *seem* to be improving and summer-like weather has returned to SoCal, we geared up for a binge of the final several episodes last weekend.

And you're right --- it was great to see Riker, Deanna, Data and Seven again, but otherwise: way too many characters, most of whom were supremely annoying (a la, Carguments? McG's Mom?). Plus the cliched, wanna-be Star Wars-type motley band of rejects "thrown together for the big mission", idiotic plot twists leading nowhere, killing off well-loved ST-TNG characters with no purpose, a complete dismantling of any semblance of the once-noble Federation (now apparently reduced to a corrupt, inept, bigoted bureaucracy run by foul-mouthed silver-haired women of ill comportment), shockingly sudden gory and violent imagery pictured without warning ... sensing any Kurtzman & Co. patterns here?

The shame needs to be shared, however --- "Sir Patrick" is front and center among those to be blamed for this debacle. He made it very apparent in all the lead-up hype to the premiere that he was injecting lots of his personal views and politics into this project as well, resulting in a nearly complete on-screen betrayal of everything that Star Trek in general and Next Gen in particular had built up over the decades of series, movies and spin-offs. What idiots!

As an antidote to wash the bad taste away, we immediately dove back into watching our TNG season 5 DVDs --- what a breath of fresh air, and truly thoughtful, entertaining sci-fi creativity! (well, at least once they jettisoned Wesley! )