Comments on: Hawthorne

By: Sabrina Fies

Sabrina Fies — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:38:16 +0000

Hi my name is Sabrina. I was surfing and found your blog, which I liked very much, which is quite pleasant to read. I return next week to read you again. Greetings Sabrina

By: Nurse Jackie Show

Nurse Jackie Show — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:04:58 +0000

Nurse Jackie Show is a great show really interested in seeing what happens next, do you know when they are airing the next episode?

By: grey

grey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:36:32 +0000

I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

By: tjonsek

tjonsek — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:47:50 +0000

You're welcome! I agree with you about pilot episodes. Sometimes they just cram what they can in to hook you. It really does take several shows to really see if it's worth becoming a regular.

Come back to tell me what you thought when you see it.

By: shara says

shara says — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:59:27 +0000

Thanks for the quick response! I tend to be a relatively easy-to-please viewer and am often surprised by critical bashing of stuff I totally enjoyed, so I definitely get where you're coming from with that. Additionally, most shows that I really like improve on the pilot – the pilot introduces everything and the characters are increasingly fleshed out in later episodes – I think that a lot of shows need some space to settle into a rhythm and figure out exactly where to go with various characters. I'll look forward to your future recaps/reviews.

By: tjonsek

tjonsek — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:47:29 +0000

Well I didn't bother reading any reviews at all when I watched the show. You're right – they are scathing. I don't know if the show deserves it. Perhaps it's the fact that I also didn't bother to watch Nurse Jackie though I did hear about it so I've nothing to compare it to other than itself. And perhaps it's my general underlying disgust with TV in general for me to have a positive take on it. I really became fed up with Grey's. Now THAT is an example of a tinny plot and crappy dialogue. Especially the last season or two.

I genuinely enjoyed the show. I didn't pay attention to the soundtrack because I was more or less paying attention to the action. But I'm also the kind who almost always disagrees with critics when it comes to movies and what not. But & maybe this is what was meant by paper-thin characters and Hawthorne's way-too-valiant attitude – I felt there were a few things I didn't care for. Too much drama, if that can be had – I also had a hard time believing the teenager would chain herself up to the vending machines. Yes, Hawthorne did seem a little too overly-righteous. However, if I can get pulled into a show & care what happens (was the diabetic patient storyline predictable? Maybe, but it is realistic.) then I am willing to give a show a few more tries to see if they can develop the characters further.

Plus – and granted I cannot compare to Nurse Jackie to know if it is the "better" nursing show- but it is a world I am familiar with and the gripes of the nurses, the attitudes of certain doctors, the protocol followed – all this is real. I've heard it many many times before. A character or two on the show felt like people I grew up knowing. I felt I could relate to what was going on vs. Grey's, a show that I didn't feel I could relate to, even though I enjoyed for a few years.

All I can say is I enjoyed it. I would watch it again at least a few more times. Perhaps they can even out the ultra-goodness effect of Pinkett Smith's character. Maybe we can see some true teenage angst & rebellion out of her daughter. I honestly don't think it was as bad as the reviews you shared would leave one to believe. Sometimes I think people can be overly cynical, especially professional critics. Or maybe, there has been such a general lack of actual quality television for some time that my standards are slipping.

Without picking apart every piece of it – I liked the show. I enjoyed it and didn't feel as though I had wasted my time. The characters are people I've met before. The issues are completely familiar. Can I say I'd feel this way in another few episodes? I don't know. But after watching it, I'm willing to find out.

By: R.A. Porter

R.A. Porter — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:16:56 +0000

I'll second that sentiment. I didn't even bother watching based on the scathing reviews I'd read, so it was a shock when I logged in this morning and saw Tawnya had posted a positive review.

By: shara says

shara says — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:36:56 +0000

Wow, this is the first positive review of HawthoRNe that I've seen so far. I had basically counted the show out based on the 3 reviews I read, but now I'm wondering if it deserves a chance after all. I'd be interested in hearing if you have any specific responses to the primary criticisms leveled in them. The ones I've read include:

James Poniewozik at Time.com – http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2009/06/16/tv-tonig...

Maureen Ryan at the chicago tribune – http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertain...

Alan Sepinwall at the Star-Ledger – http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009...

Thanks for posting!