delga | { "Spare me. I hate getting parental advice from my children." }

So, I find the flashbacks cheesy, but I don't dislike them. Again, what's selling me on the show is the lack of embarrassing humour; it's low-key, not slapstick (which makes me cringe). Also, Amsterdam has the most amazing fingers (seriously, when he touches Doctor Lady's face? GUH.)

No, shallow aside, I like seeing the recurring characters. Eva is a tough, likeable character who is a good balance for Amsterdam's seeming omniscience; Omar is a warm secondary character and his relationship with John is layered with ironies and warmth. Even Doctor Lady is growing on me, although: SHE'S MARRIED. Don't make your protagonist into an adulterous bastard. I know he's been waiting 300 odd years, but that doesn't change the fact that she's still married to someone else.

I'm less invested in Amsterdam's ongoing emo (every case a reminder of past failings! Why did they decide to start doing that?) and more in his wider understanding of companionship and family. The way the confession scene was cut together in 1x04 (with the father and then the pistol dual), I thought it was going to emerge that the guy Amsterdam shot was one of his offspring. Apparently not. I haven't seen the new pilot but do they still have that "I knew you were going to leave me" line in there? Because if they do, that would have been nice to see again for some continuity.

I have to say that my favourite scene from 1x03 was the following interaction between Eva and John:

John: PTSD - ever had it?
Eva: No. You?
John: Off and on for the last three-hundred years.
Eva: (eyeroll) Seriously.
John: Okay, three hundred and fifty(!)
Eva: Whatever!

There was something seamless about the delivery in that small section, and Eva was definitely channelling some Dani Reese at that moment. I love when Amsterdam plays out his dramatic irony, and I love that whilst Eva doesn't really know what to do with it, it doesn't make her bitter towards him like Stereotypically-Annoying Detective.

So, yes, I am watching, and I will continue to watch unless the show becomes particularly asinine. So far it's light-hearted if not earnest, amusing whilst maintaining pathos. The cast is wonderful in its diversity. We'll see, we'll see.

Later today: more recs. Also, I'd appreciation participation in and pimping of my second Important Poll. Many thanks.