Okay, back by popular demand, my lovely wife, Rachel, will guest blog an spoiler-free interview review of Fox’s TV show Touch.
I’m pretty happy with this show so far, having just watched the last episode Sunday. Rachel and I were big 24 fans, Keifer Sutherland’s last TV show if you don’t count the webseries, “The Confession,” where he was a hitman. His role seemed too violent in that show, and I wonder if that had something to do with Keifer taking a less violent role in Touch.
Rachel, what do you think about this new direction for Keifer? There is still some drama in Touch, but not nearly like in 24.
Rachel: This new direction is great; however, it’s difficult to get used to because his character is so much gentler and less intimidating. Instead of his character beating up people, he gets beat up. He does get his time to yell at people and beat them up too, but it’s a lot less than in 24. So it’s an interesting direction, but definitely different than what I am used to watching from him. I do love that there is less crazy drama than in 24. I can breathe better and not get a headache. 
For me, it’s more enjoyable to watch.
Tim: I’m kind of in between. I loved 24. Not many shows addicted me like that one. Watching them on DVD was almost ideal because of how it allowed us to watch back to back episodes. Some seasons were worse than others, and the themes and end of the world scenarios became repetitive, but overall, that was my favorite action television show.
So, in steps Touch, and if you remember my reaction, I wasn’t that impressed initially. Yeah, the feel good moments were fun, but I wasn’t that interested in a weekly magic show of how three unrelated people would be connected by four numbers, no matter how cute the resolution.
Scene from Touch, Episode 8 “Zone of Exclusion”
Maybe it was my love for his Jack Bauer character that made me so disappointed in his “emergency” mannerisms — you know, the way he tries to make dialing a phone number as dramatic as tightrope walking over Niagara Falls? You have a point about the adjustment period to this new role. At times it is as if we’re watching Superman losing an arm wrestling match to Goon #2.
Maybe it will take some time to adjust. I won’t spoil anything, but in the last scene the look on his face was really powerful, and my favorite example of his departure from Jack Bauer. While both shows were about fathers, this show has more of an everyman type of father, one that I can see reflected in my own. That scene touched me in creating a moment of fondness for my dad as we saw how much he loved his son.
I kind of got rambling there. Any thoughts on that? Do you think Season 2 will start off with a nuclear threat?
Rachel: Yes, it was ideal to watch on DVD, especially for me so I could know what was going to happen a lot faster than over a season. Remember when we decided to watch a season as it came on tv? We both didn’t like it.
Yes, you were not, so I was surprised when you kept watching. Yes, I agree that they were trying to make mundane things seem dramatic to add interest.
Yes, loved the ending of this season as well.
I enjoy how there are events with what seems to be unrelated people that end up connecting. To me, that is extremely neat and interesting. I love there are story lines from all around the world and they connect with Kiefer’s character’s son Jake, and ultimately, to Kiefer’s character, Martin.
No, I do not think a nuclear threat, just an explosion of…well, you need to watch the last episode to know what is going on…
Tim:Yes, I think a helicopter is going to explode in the first episode, with a panel blown off the door that shows Jack…
Ah, the good ol’ days. Still shot from 24.
I mean, Martin, the clue to to finding his son’s lost crayon, which is how they will stop a young boy from buying cigarettes, which will in turn stop an angry father from kicking his dog. How, you ask, well, you’ll have to turn in next season to find out. Why it matters? You might never find that out.
Sorry, not sure where that came from. So, what are your rankings (characters, plot, theme), and for a twist, where would you place this show among others you’re watching (i.e. better than… worse than).
Rachel: Haha, you are too much, Tim. That is true, we may never find out.
Characters: 7
Plot: 7
Theme: 8.25
What are you rankings?
As far as a twist, cannot decide, what about you, Tim?
Tim: Characters: 7 – Some have really emotional character arcs within their short screen time, but I sometimes shake my head at Keifer and his son.
Plot: 7 – While I enjoy seeing how the pieces fit, there doesn’t seem to be any foreshadowing. They just appear, and then they are revealed later. The overarching plot is mildly interesting, nearer to 6, so unless they ramp it up in Season 2, I’ll probably lose interest.
Theme: 6.5 – Yeah there are feel good moments, but it’s a little too hippie for me, and I’m not sure what I think about the “righteous” aspect to it.
I’d put this above Smallville Season 10, but below Justified Season 1.
Rachel: Yep, agreed, I think the main characters are interesting, as well as the minor, but it is not over-the-top.
I guess I don’t care about foreshadowing as much as your writer-brain, but I understand. I think the overarching plot is intriguing and makes me want to know what is going on with the mysterious things behind some of the characters and situations.
Yeah, the righteous aspect is definitely off our beliefs.
Ahh, yes, Smallville, I would agree.
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Thanks again, Rachel. Sorry about kind of taking over the show on that one. Asking you these questions on a grumpy, tired, Monday morning may not be the best plan.
I’m kind of sad not to include a discussion of the ending, so if you’d like to discuss spoilers, just note in caps “spoiler” in your comment, and hopefully that will be enough warning for people to avoid that thread of discussion. Any thoughts then about the “righteous,” the ending, and how you think Season 2 will go? Helicopter explosion right off or what?
If anyone is interested in how my writing and podcasting are doing, I posted a blog post with a brief update and my first vlog.
