MovieChat Forums > Charlie's Angels (2011) Discussion > The new CA is updated, but formula is ou...

The new CA is updated, but formula is out-dated.

posted 13 years ago by mptnla
2 replies | jump to latest

Having grown up with the original series which I loved, if you look back on it today it NOW looks ridiculous or "cheesy" in comparison to today's TV. But that was the nature of ALL shows back then – Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Starsky and Hutch, and any of the 70’s Aaron Spelling (or other) shows – i.e. the plots had to be simple enough to be wrapped up in 60 minutes. Most shows these days have continuing story arcs and character development which we “old-timers” didn’t get until the nighttime soaps – Dallas, Dynasty, Knots Landing – came about in the very late 70s. That said, people watched those old formulaic stand-alone 60-minute shows and they were HUGE hits, top-ranked, money-making shows for several seasons – instead of being canceled after just 5 episodes. IMO, this new Charlie’s Angel re-boot using the same “wrap it up in 60 minutes and get the bad guys” formula is out-dated. I’ve been watching the new CA and it’s improving, but not fast enough I guess.

"I hope she didn't take my attempt to destroy her too seriously."

[–] gerard-21 13 years ago

Wrap it up in 60 minutes formula is not outdated, it just has to be done right; case in point, one of the best new shows to come out this year, Person of Interest. The new CA just tried to use continuing story type action and firepower ala 24, but squeeze it into 60 minute self-contained episodes.

[–] mptnla 13 years ago

But as it applies to CA, I think it's outdated. The most interesting line of the season was from last week's epsiode when Abby's father said "Charlie may have an agenda and when you find out, you'll need to make a choice..." It just sort of gives you a reason to come back to see that storyline develop. I know in every episode so far they have tried to give them all a mysterious ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend, former nemesis, or mysterious family background, but the writers just leave those bits on the floor each week and move on to something else. I just watched The Good Wife for the first time last week becuase the case seemed interesting, but could tell there were a lot of good background story arcs. I think the CA writers have to give the person with the short attention span a stand-alone, but continue some intersting character development to bring back the regular viewers. I always thought The X-Files was excellent at doing that.

"I hope she didn't take my attempt to destroy her too seriously."