Post by KathrynFan on Jan 13, 2006 18:53:33 GMT -5
One of the stylistic differences that makes CBS’ “Cold Case” unique is the way the creative team uses music to tell a story – music that fixes the time and place for the period in the which the case began – and that’s never been more true than in tonight’s episode, “8 Years” [8:00 p.m., 9 Central] which is built around nine Bruce Springsteen originals…
In 1980, four high school friends went off to pursue their dreams, but nothing worked out as planned. One was murdered in 1988 – and now, Lilly [Kathryn Morris] and Danny [Scotty Valens] get a tip about the murder that shows how these friends’ lives failed to live up to their dreams.
On the rare occasions on which I’ve watched “Cold Case,” I’ve enjoyed it – even though it seems far too familiar – not because of it being a Jerry Bruckheimer procedural, but because it is uncannily like a Canadian series [“Cold Squad”] that aired for several seasons before it debuted. Be that as it may, every time I watch, I see “Cold Case” moving off into a different stylistic direction – most noticeable in the way it integrates music, seamlessly, into its storytelling.
“8 Years” which covers the eight years between four friends’ high school graduation and the death of one of them, is different even for “Cold Case.” In this instance, the episode was built around the nine Springsteen songs that appear in it.
Following high school, Petey [Zachary Bryan – Home Improvement] went off to university on a football scholarship; May [Shelley Cole – Punk Girl God – Joan of Arcadia] head for New York to make it as a singer; and Clem [Alan Cutler] and Sally [Alona Tal – Meg on “Veronica Mars”] got married [she was pregnant, but that wasn’t why they married]. Petey lost his scholarship when he couldn’t play at the next level; May discovered that “a lot of people can sing;” and Clem and Sally drifted apart. Petey drifted into work “doing favors for a guy;” May found herself hustling to pay bills; and Clem and Sally…
“8 Years” tracks these four lives through the plodding detective work of the “Cold Case” team – and eventually, we learn from May [Lisa Pescia], Petey [David Parker] and Sally [Christine Elise], how their lives reconnected – and how events led to Clem’s death.
For a series that runs a longer-than-usual forty-four minutes [minus commercials], “Cold Case” seems to – in this episode, at least – get twice as much story in that time; and without feeling forced. Despite the time limitations, we get into the skins of the four kids and actually feel their despair as their lives shred. At the same time, we get little character touches that make the show’s detectives feel like real people – and not just bodies filling storytelling slots.
As with previous eps I’ve seen, the present-day scenes are shot is slightly watery tones of blues and greens, while the past is shot in warmer, brighter, almost pastel tones. There is a definite hint of nostalgia for days gone by – though as the eight year period progresses, the palette gets progressively darker. It’s an effective device that adds punch to the finale – and the tag shows how the lives of the detectives, though not perfect, are much more positive than the four kids from eighteen years before.
The use of songs as the skeleton for the plot of “8Years” could have felt forced, somehow, but Springsteen’s lyrics have always been very visual, so there are very few moments that are in any way contrived. The combination nostalgia, and irony, along with the relatable moments in the lives of all the episode’s characters make for a stronger than usual episode of “Cold Case” – fans will love it, and occasional viewers [like me] will find it well worth their time.
Grade: B+
www.eclipsemagazine.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1592
In 1980, four high school friends went off to pursue their dreams, but nothing worked out as planned. One was murdered in 1988 – and now, Lilly [Kathryn Morris] and Danny [Scotty Valens] get a tip about the murder that shows how these friends’ lives failed to live up to their dreams.
On the rare occasions on which I’ve watched “Cold Case,” I’ve enjoyed it – even though it seems far too familiar – not because of it being a Jerry Bruckheimer procedural, but because it is uncannily like a Canadian series [“Cold Squad”] that aired for several seasons before it debuted. Be that as it may, every time I watch, I see “Cold Case” moving off into a different stylistic direction – most noticeable in the way it integrates music, seamlessly, into its storytelling.
“8 Years” which covers the eight years between four friends’ high school graduation and the death of one of them, is different even for “Cold Case.” In this instance, the episode was built around the nine Springsteen songs that appear in it.
Following high school, Petey [Zachary Bryan – Home Improvement] went off to university on a football scholarship; May [Shelley Cole – Punk Girl God – Joan of Arcadia] head for New York to make it as a singer; and Clem [Alan Cutler] and Sally [Alona Tal – Meg on “Veronica Mars”] got married [she was pregnant, but that wasn’t why they married]. Petey lost his scholarship when he couldn’t play at the next level; May discovered that “a lot of people can sing;” and Clem and Sally drifted apart. Petey drifted into work “doing favors for a guy;” May found herself hustling to pay bills; and Clem and Sally…
“8 Years” tracks these four lives through the plodding detective work of the “Cold Case” team – and eventually, we learn from May [Lisa Pescia], Petey [David Parker] and Sally [Christine Elise], how their lives reconnected – and how events led to Clem’s death.
For a series that runs a longer-than-usual forty-four minutes [minus commercials], “Cold Case” seems to – in this episode, at least – get twice as much story in that time; and without feeling forced. Despite the time limitations, we get into the skins of the four kids and actually feel their despair as their lives shred. At the same time, we get little character touches that make the show’s detectives feel like real people – and not just bodies filling storytelling slots.
As with previous eps I’ve seen, the present-day scenes are shot is slightly watery tones of blues and greens, while the past is shot in warmer, brighter, almost pastel tones. There is a definite hint of nostalgia for days gone by – though as the eight year period progresses, the palette gets progressively darker. It’s an effective device that adds punch to the finale – and the tag shows how the lives of the detectives, though not perfect, are much more positive than the four kids from eighteen years before.
The use of songs as the skeleton for the plot of “8Years” could have felt forced, somehow, but Springsteen’s lyrics have always been very visual, so there are very few moments that are in any way contrived. The combination nostalgia, and irony, along with the relatable moments in the lives of all the episode’s characters make for a stronger than usual episode of “Cold Case” – fans will love it, and occasional viewers [like me] will find it well worth their time.
Grade: B+
www.eclipsemagazine.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1592
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I think I'm on fire 
