[Movie] The Unit

This is the new show from Shawn Ryan (creator of The Shield) and David Mamet, starring Dennis Haysbert (President David Palmer from 24) and Scott Foley. Here's the synopsis from the website:

Quote:

From Executive Producers David Mamet and Shawn Ryan, THE UNIT is an action drama that follows a covert team of Special Forces operatives as they risk their lives on undercover missions around the globe, while their families maintain the home front, protecting their husbands' secrets. Jonas Blane (Dennis Haysbert) leads the Unit on missions out in the field and is responsible for taking new recruit Bob Brown (Scott Foley) under his wing. The Unit includes Jonas, Colonel Tom Ryan (Robert Patrick), Mack Gerhardt (Max Martini), Charles Grey (Michael Irby), Hector Williams (Demore Barnes) and Bob Brown, all highly skilled, trustworthy, brave and dependable soldiers whose ability to rely on each other is what creates their brotherhood. Jonas' wife, Molly (Regina Taylor), is the base matriarch who comforts and counsels the other wives as they cope with the fear and uncertainty they experience when their husbands leave home. Molly and Tiffy Gerhardt (Abby Brammell), a wife hiding her own dark secrets, help Bob's pregnant wife, Kim (Audrey Marie Anderson), acclimate to the stress of her new secret life.

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/the_unit/

So who else is gonna watch this? I'm mainly watching this show because Dennis Haysbert is in it, and because Shaawn Ryan made it. I'm also watching it because it reminds me a little bit of Over There, the canceled FX show about the Iraq War.

Most amazing jew boots

It comes on tonight, actually, at 9/8c. Convenient for me, as it comes on right before The SHield does. And this is its regular timeslot.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Idol only stays on for an hour, from 8/7c - 9/8c (yes, I watch it too), so you can watch both (like I am). My problem is that I also wanted to check out that show Sons and Daughters on ABC, which comes on at the same time as The Unit. But The Unit looks better, so I'll have to check that out another time.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

The show actually turned out better than what I expected it to be. I liked how Dennis Haysbert was gonna be on there, and how Shawn Ryan was one of the creators, but other than that I actually didn't think I was gonna like it that much. However, I did turn out to like it a lot. Both plots interested me (the "husbands" and the "wives"), and the show seem to have pretty good production values. I'll definitely watch it again next week (even though I didn't get to see the preview for next week since my stupid local news cut it off for election results).

Plus, President Palmer shot a mule. Best scene ever.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Jan

I figured he woulda been able to handle a situation like that better, I mean what if it was just a kid standing there with the monkey toy. oh noes! =o

But didn't he shoot the mirror? That's the thing I found stupid about that scene. If he truly thought that there was a threat, why shoot the mirror instead of turning around and you know...shooting the threat?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Casaubon

Does anyone just not feel right seeing Haysbert not as the President?

It's a little weird, but if he wasn't such a great actor it then yeah, it wouldn't feel right. I think he still managed to play the part well without taking too many elements from the Palmer character.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

CBS's advertising is always bullshit. This show only got 18.2 million viewers, yet they advertised 21 million. Not nearly as bad as that one CSI commercial I saw (163 million viewers, or something like that), but still, I don't have much faith in their advertising.

FELIPE NO

Well, last night's episode managed to do good in the ratings (17.8 mil), even against American Idol. I still haven't watched it fully yet (I only caught it during commercial breaks on Idol), but it looked pretty interesting. Did anyone else catch it?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Stealth

I liked Over There a bit better than this show

Definitely. I still wished they hadn't cancelled that show, but at least they're releasing the complete series on DVD.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Damn, I missed it (I just saw last week's episode over weekend). I hope someone is making torrents of this show so I can catch this episode.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by AC1

^ Guess what XIII?

The Chinese official (Hahn I think) who wanted to Jack to receive justice last season for capturing the Consulate...was alongside Palmer!

For real? Man, they just keep bringing in all these 24 people. I'm sure next season Tony and Chase will be joining the unit.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by starslight

I'd be up for that. Carlos Bernard needs work.

And now that you mention that, I just realized that I've never seen him in anything except 24 (well, I think I saw him on one of those celebrity poker shows, but they don't count for anything). He should be in something new just to get more exposure along with getting another job.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I finally got arounf to watching the third episode today, and I would say it was alright. The part I liked the most was that it showed the interactions of the rest of the unit other than Jonas (the whole fact that he was doing a solo mission does seem weird though). It was also pretty cool when that blonde lady went off on that senator.

How ya doing, buddy?

Yeah, I liked it a lot at first, but I'm liking it even more with each new episode. Even the wives' plot is growing on me more than I thought it would, especially since it parallels so nicely with what the guys are doing. And since the show is doing good ratings-wise, I don't have to fear whether or not it'll be cancelled like other new shows that are struggling (now I'm glad I chose this over Sons and Daughters).

Most amazing jew boots

Yeah, this was a pretty good episode. At first, I thought the thing with the daughter was dumb, but when she said she wanted to be in the army I was like 'oh shit!'. I also liked the escape as well, because it not only showed the fact that he's the new guy, but it shows that despite that he's still good enough to be in the unit.

FELIPE NO

Yeah, I really wasn't even paying attention to the wives' plot in this episode. I thought it was interesting at first, but now I realize there just isn't much they can do. Even when they are doing something that they think is important (like in this week's episode), it doesn't even compare to what their husbands are doing. Plus, I hated the fact that Jonas's wife (I'm trying to learn these people's names) lied to Bob's wife about cheating whore wife (like I said, trying). She's the one always stressing how important it is that they all be together and stuff, yet she goes and lies to her. That's not promoting togetherness.

But yeah, the mission was good. I kind of suspected right from the beginning that something was up about the whole 'Bob is a Jew thing', but other than that it was all good, if a little less action-packed than the other episodes.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by starslight

Bob's slut wife actually seems to be named Tiffy. I didn't know that was a real name, but I don't recall anyone ever calling her Tiffany.

I thought Bob's wife was...well I don't remember her name, but I think Tiffy is that other dude's (Mack, I believe) wife.

It's funny though, because before this show the only other show I had seen Tiffy on was The Shield...playing a prostitute. Can't she get a role not playing a whore/slut/prostitute?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by AC1

Richard Walsh from Season 1 is (I saw him in next week's show too) playing a cranky, medicated senior.

I thought I saw that guy, but I wasn't sure. I was busy with something, so I didn't really see much of the episode. I'm gonna have to download it.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I finally got around to watching the last two episodes, and while they were both pretty good, I particularly liked episode 8, "SERE". I may go as far as to say that it was my favorite episode so far this season. And after watching tonight's episode, that's three hours of the show I'll have watched today. I would say that that's pretty good, as I usually can't watch too much of the same show unless I really like it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I didn't enjoy last night's episode too much (especially the wives' plot), but to be fair I missed about the first 15 minutes. Even so, the plot wasn't all that interesting, and was barely holding my attention. I guess I'm just expecting more now after watching SERE.

Most amazing jew boots

Tonight's episode hasn't really been good that far, except for attempted rape out of nowhere. There is another episode coming on after this one though (which i never even heard about until about five minutes ago), so hopefully it will be more interesting.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I missed some of the second half of the first episode, so I don't really know how they got rid of it. As for who got shot:

Spoiler:

Palmer got shot again! But of couse he didn't die this time.

I'm downloading episode 12 right now via torrent, so I guess I can upload it for you via sendspace or whatever when I'm done.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Alright AC1, here's a link to episode 12:

http://www.gigeshare.com/preview/1aa...87n28781n8121/

Originally Posted by evergreen

I realize Mamet is only Executive Producer, but is the dialogue in anyway Mamet-like? I'm sort of interested in this, but his writing just isn't my thing.

To tell you the truth, I've never seen any of his work outside of this show and an episode of The Shield he directed. But for the most part, I would guess that it most likely is, since in addition to being an executive producer, he also wrote and directed some of the episodes. A lot of it is supposed to be based on a book by Eric Haney anyway, so his influence writing-wise may not be too great. I would still give the show a chance though, as it is a good show for the most part.

FELIPE NO

Nope, I don't have it. I could download it via torrent and then upload it like I did the last episode if you want me to, but it'll probably take me a couple of days to do so.

Double Post:

Originally Posted by Casaubon

Is this show different every episode, or is it all connected through one story? I have a few on tape but I don't know if I should watch them since the episodes are like 3, 5 etc..

For the most part, it is different every episode, though there are certain plot points that run throughout the course of the entire season. To get the most enjoyment from the show, you should probably watch it from the beginning, though any single episode will still probably be enjoyable.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I've been meaning to comment about last week's episode, I just haven't got around to it for some reason. Oh well, not really much to say, except that I agree with what you guys said. It wasn't really that strong an episode, especially for a season premiere.

This week's episode was much better, though. It pretty much just had better everything (story, character development, etc.), and it gets bonus points for SUMMER GLAU! Hopefully last week was just a fluke, because this week was good and next week looks good as well.

Jam it back in, in the dark.