While last week’s episode didn’t exactly match the production values of the previous “Rum” and “Gunpowder”, it was still a mostly enjoyable experience. However, this time round, I was sadly let down to the point where I was about to change the channel–it was that bad. What peeved me the most was just how disjointed and confused the plot felt, as if the writers were grasping for straws on which way to go next. There just seemed a total lack of direction.
The opening sequence I could live with, because it did, at least, advance the relationship between Crusoe and Friday, but from there things turned south. Again, pirates (mutineers in this case) were the focus of the story; and, again, Crusoe had a chance of possible escape from his jungle prison. Of course, I knew he couldn’t yet leave the island, but I was hoping for something a bit more interesting as to what might hinder and ultimately dash his hopes and dreams.
Crusoe’s plan, I’ll admit, made sense, though it was simple: Get the deposed captain’s support by helping subdue the mutineers. It was only logical that in exchange for his help, Crusoe would ask for transit onboard the captain’s ship. All of that made complete sense. Here’s where my issues begin, where things became a bit frustrating.
During the mutineers’ first expedition into the jungle, Crusoe and Friday decided to have some fun with them. That was fine, but… I couldn’t understand the reason for trapping the one guy in a net and then cutting him out of it. Sure, it spooked him. But, here he caught sight of Friday, had his pistol right in his face, and even said a thing or two, before Crusoe distracted him. Why not just shoot? Of course, that wouldn’t have been good for Friday, but it would’ve made more sense. Also, why did the pirate run off when Crusoe threw the stick? I seriously doubt a hardened pirate, no matter if he were suffering from cabin fever or not, would get THAT frightened and, of all things, run off. Ugh.
Philip Winchester as Crusoe
Then, some of the lines just felt overly silly. Like when the mutineers arrive on the beach at the beginning and Friday makes the comment, “What are those?” to which Crusoe says “They’re womenfolk.” and Friday says “They’re shaped like bells.” And I can’t quite remember the rest of it, but it didn’t even elicit a laugh from me–it just seemed that they were trying to find something funny to put there and failed miserably at it. Also, Crusoe telling the shackled captain not to go anywhere–Well, I think that just speaks for itself.
Another thing: Crusoe’s fight with the mutineer leader onboard the ship went fairly uninterrupted. There were other pirates. Where the hell were they? He only had to fight off two to get to the leader. That didn’t really make too much sense. Crusoe should have had to contend with way more than he did. And, getting tossed overboard? Why didn’t the girl, who seemed fairly capable, just shoot the mutineer? I doubt, if Crusoe’s swashbuckling efforts were any indicator, she would have roused the crew.
Now, with all that said, there were two bright points in this episode that I did actually enjoy. The first of which was the captain pleading for his life at the merciless hands of the mutineer Morgan. Morgan was going to shoot the man dead, right in the head, when the others talked him out of it, but he still ended up shooting the captain–only, as we saw, with a grazing wound. That fit what a real-life pirate might do. That’s why I liked it. Secondly, there was the scene where Friday fights Morgan, stabbing him to death. That showed, to me, Friday still has some savage left in him.
Oh, and why did the women run off on him? I guess they were more afraid of a “savage” than being held prisoner by a bunch of murderous thieves? Go figure. Again, the show lacks any mainstay female character(s). What happened to the tough pirate woman? She had a great back story. I wished they’d bring her back, but it’s probably too late for that, I suppose.
Anyway. I hope there’s an upswing after this episode, because, if there’s not, I feel Crusoe could wind up being canceled–possibly prematurely at that, though NBC, at least, gives a show a chance (unlike, say, Fox, which probably would have already pulled it from the air). Let’s just say my enthusiasm for the show has been somewhat curbed.
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