"Medium"
Published January 08, 2005
It is also the epitome of true evil. If evil really exists in this world, it has the face of Allison DuBois. And it gets worse, when you go to the official web-site you find the story is based on a psychic called, are you ready? Allison DuBois.
Now, you might think "evil" is a bit harsh, but think about what the character of Allison did in the pilot. She didn't produce one reliable or verifiable fact or piece of evidence. The cops had nothing, no corpse, no evidence, no witnesses, just a neighbourhood teen-ager, who it turns out was raised in abuse, neglect and trauma. Now, he's in maximum-security prison, and based on Allison's manipulation of an inept, vengeful Ranger to extort a jail-house snitch "confession", now faces a death-penalty trial. This isn't just a miscarriage of justice, this is a full-on gang-rape of justice, and an utter perversion of the rule of law.
Allison is nothing more than a parasite seeking out grief, fear and vengeance to feed on so she can feel good about herself, since that's all that counts in her world. She is a sociopath on a rampage, albeit very charming, attractive and clever. Which makes her the absolute face of evil.
In the first episode of "Penn & Teller's Bullshit" they exposed people who claim to talk with the dead, and Allison utilizes all the tricks they show, cold reading, avoiding independently verifiable information, and so on. At least the people they are dealing with aren't sending abused teenagers to prison and execution.
For all that it is a well-put together teevee show, Medium is pure evil, and I cannot in good conscience watch it ever again, and neither should you.
- "Medium"
- Published: January 08, 2005
- Type:
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Books: Crime, Video: Crime, Video: Television
- Writer: Jim Carruthers
- Jim Carruthers's BC Writer page
- Jim Carruthers's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Actually, teenagers don't watch MTV, and it isn't evil, simply because it doesn't think it is doing good. Allison DuBois and "Medium" are evil because they present what they do as good, without any consideration of right or wrong, just doing what they consider good, without any thought to consequences.
True evil always tells you to "have a nice day".
>>True evil always tells you to "have a nice day".<<
Actually, it usually tells me 'have a blessed day'.
The real crime in this show - which is defeinitely entertaining and well written - is putting Patricia Arquette in hideous beige lipstick which makes her look more like a walking corpse than the dead people she's talking to.
Dave
What would really make this been there-done that premise (CSI/Cold Case/Law & Order with a psychiczzzzzzzz....) interesting is if Arquette's character really was the true face of evil. We see her week after week manipulating the police and whoever for her own nefarious gains until X Intrepid reporter/police officer/whoever gets on her trail to stop her.
Now that at least sounds half-way worth watching, doesn't it?
"Millennium" came close, especially in the second season, particularly with ep about the demons meeting at a donut shop to compare their mis-deeds. But, Chris Carter hit the crack pipe, and the whole thing, along with X-Files just became a mess.
"Point Pleasant" which starts next week, sounds promising with the daughter of the devil washing up in New Jersey.
But the essence of true evil is in it's banality, and "Medium" has captured the essential spirit. And a note to the producers, if you are taking us all to hell, would it hurt to put a little effort into presenting Patricia Arquette a bit more smokin' hot?
I love the show medium!
You were losing me until you equated Dubois with pure evil ... then I couldn't help but to raise my eyebrows at what a good point you made. She really did play fast-and-free with due process to force a confession.
Very good call, very well written piece. I'll have to check out this site more often.
I love Medium because Jake Weber is soooooo sexy. I admit it... I watch t.v. shows for the eye candy whether I like the actual show or not. As for the real Alison Dubois - I agree. She's evil. Have a blessed day!
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/24037)
Sounds like good, clean fun to me. I watched it, too. Just foolishness made up to entertain a brain dead public. One must watch it occasionally, else... be eaten by the evil it promotes. Sort of like watching an hour of MTV to see what the hell your teenagers are up to. Hmmm...I see a connection...Medium & MTV, both evil.