Blogcritics: Comments on "Numb3rs" - Episode 1.4 - Structural Corruption

Comment by ZoofyTheJinx

Mon, 21 Feb 2005 16:47:37 EST

This show rocks. I dont think that its boring. I find it very interesting. The show is awesome. Check out my Numb3rs site

Comment by Leflyman

Wed, 16 Feb 2005 02:10:26 EST

Numb3rs occasionally hints at some smart writing, but it does comes off a bit artificial and cliched-- particularly in its exploration of Charlie's genius. It reminds me in some ways of the short-lived FOX semi-procedural, John Doe; which itself was a riff on NBC's The Pretender. Those likewise starred male super-geniuses who can figure out any crime by tapping some amazing reserve of knowledge of everything. Numb3rs is Monk with less funny, and fewer phobias. It's A Beautiful Mind, but he's not so crazy and really is working for the government. And it's CSI, where you roll all the specialists into one guy. The backstory romance between the agents bothered me on a number of levels, particularly because it was so trite. Now if Charlie comes in and starts up a fling with Agent Terry -- that might be interesting and raise a level of tension between the two brothers. 'Cause right now, it's all kind of boring.

Comment by Jim Carruthers

Tue, 15 Feb 2005 15:21:23 EST

I like "Numb3rs", but it has too much of the feel of two concepts glued together. The FBI stuff is just generic case of the week, and while there are some good casting choices, the scripts aren't all that. I always had problems with math in high school, and decided it was just because I couldn't do it. What I discovered later was that I wasn't taught it. That's where this show shines, in showing how math works, and why those who understand it use terms like "elegance". The police stuff is just hooey. Now, if they did like the first ep of season two of "The Wire" (McNutty uses tides charts and currents to determine what precinct is responsible for a body dropped off a bridge) that's real police. What they really should focus on is Charlie figure out when the cable guy is really showing up, and the best route to get to work.

Comment by visualsimplicity

Tue, 15 Feb 2005 13:03:22 EST

"Medium" has actually gotten pretty good too. Last night's episode was very similar to what you describe in "Numb3rs," where something appeared to be a suicide, but wasn't (or was it?). It's more mystery than straight forward crime-solving (I mean, the whole show is based around a psychic after all). Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette) is also a fallible protagonist even though she can see the future (as she has no choice in what she sees and when she sees it). It's entertaining stuff.