Couldn't tell, Tim. I was averting my eyes during that stuff.

Speaking of Allyson, anybody seen her around?

Yeah. I think she's hiding 'cause she can't see the show for another half hour or whatever. HAH! The one benefit to being in the Midwest. I don't get shoutouts, but I've seen hers!

What would have really rocked woulda been if Victim #4 had purple hair.

As to the gore, I was even eating during, and it didn't really make an impact. I found it mild.

I don't get the complaint about gore at all. I've been more grossed out and creeped out by stuff I've seen on CSI.

Yeah, I didn't think it was gory at all. I mean, relatively speaking. You know. Or really, super dark.

I mean, of course it's dark, but not unbearably so. I can never figure out how to describe this, except for the fact that I like Lehane, can't read Vachss.

by the way, east coasters -- now that you've seen it, doesn't all this hand wringing by the MSM critics about the gore seem a bit overwrought?

Sheesh, they see a little face ripped off and they go back to momma crying. I didn't think it was supremely gory, really, and hey, they do have that graphic content warning.

she probably *shouldn't* be a field agent/profiler/whatever

Yeah, seriously. It surprised me that Web was all, "Suit up!" And no one commented on the fact that she wasn't field-rated or anything. Maybe I've been watching too much Alias.

Girl was a math major at some expensive uni. She's wicked smart.

I read that. Math an economics, right? I hate her.

Don't mind me, I have bitter jealousy issues. But I think I liked the show and will watch next week.

I liked that. Rebecca felt like a blank slate a bit, but she's meant to be. I liked the shock of the switch between the subdued speech she normally implied to the bright perkiness she exhibited when she went into the victim's head-space. The switch to the first person narration in the scene was unsubtle, but damnit if it didn't work for me anyway.

(Some of Rachel dialog came off a bit mumbled though, enunciation-wise--hopefully that'll get better.)

I agree with Matt that I'm not getting much read off Adam or Katie's character yet. Paul interests me--the character comes off a bit of a self-righteous prig, which is deliberate I think. Not so perfect with the goodness and caring and the voice of conscience. He has an agenda, and an ax-to-grind against Web. It'd be interesting to see him take Rebecca under his wing.

But the BEST thing about the show? Is Web. What a sick, ruthless bastard and I *adore* Peter Coyote in the role. More than anything, he's going to be the reason I'll stick around for the show.

Tim, not too gory at all. I don't do gore, it gives me nightmares.

doesn't all this hand wringing by the MSM critics about the gore seem a bit overwrought?

Yes, indeedy, especially given how much CSI grosses me out on a regular basis.

Regarding gore, from TI's forum by "Sekkie"

"I liked it quite a bit. Some of the reservations I had about Rachel Nichols are gone--the previews didn't do her justice at all. Also, I really don't understand all the complaints about gore in the reviews. Yes, there was gore, but I've seen much worse on CSI. I liked the feel of the show a lot more than the other "cop/drama" offerings out there--but I do like my noir and my seedy underbelly, so it's a personal preference. The set up of the conflicts among the the team is promising. The show definitely has potential."