Now that's more like it....at least, structurally speaking. Last week, I talked about how busy the episode was, as it tried to shove about seven different, unconnected plot lines into one hour. This hour also had multiple plot lines, but it made the choice to have a majority of them play out in the setting of the train. This meant that all of the plots felt much less random, and since we remained in the same physical place while touching on multiple plot points, it thus felt less crowded.
Yet is doesn't help that the story itself isn't in anyway original. "Runaway train" plot lines have been done to death. Also clichéd is the idea of the hero and his arch-nemesis having to work together, a story line that has come up way too early in the show's run. I also worry about how many villains the show actually has up its sleeve, as we spent the hour with the same two baddies that were in the pilot.
I also have to question the presence of “The Carnival of Crime” in this episode. While I liked the idea of time spent with the carnies as they work a heist (indeed, that was my favorite part of the pilot) this story started out with potential, but quickly fizzled into almost nothing. Like with the brief Cape/Chess alliance, I feel like this plot came too early in the series' run. How long can we have Vince and the carnies at odds before he has to take them down? What is their ultimate role on the show? And most importantly, how long can they contribute to show?
Unfortunately, the weakest elements are still in play. The flashbacks returned again tonight, and they were even more useless than they were last week. Were as last week they showed us what Vince has lost, this week they just kept driving home the point that Vince feels all moody because it's trip's birthday. WE GET IT. What's even worse, this plot line generated exactly zero interest.
The Trip/Vince's wife storyline in the present, however, was slightly more enjoyable this week, even if it remains a wholly unnecessary distraction from the legitimate parts of the show. Like the train section of this hour, this storyline was helped by sticking the two of them into one storyline; not only did it once again eliminate clutter, but it meant that the most useless characters were put into one storyline, which certainly cut back on my annoyance level. I also kind of liked that Trip kept Trevor out of the apartment, but mostly because I don't like the idea of this new romantic relationship that the show keeps unsubtly hinting at.
What did everybody else think?
Additional Thoughts:
Once again, the show underused Summer Glau. FIX IT!
"Call the Gecko"? Was that some kind of plug?
“Chess thinks you're a pawn.” Gah! That was terrible.
Okay, how did Orwell sneak onto the train? And how do people not notice that the actual cape is walking around?
Why would Vince give his son something he already has for a birthday gift? That's just poor parenting.
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