I had a strange dream this morning, involving the cast of The Inside. They were performing a play and somehow I ended up as Rachel Nichols understudy. I hadn't watched any previous rehearsals or even read the script, but I got thrown into a run thru rehearsal. I think that the thing that freaked me out the most was that Web (yes, the character... not Peter Coyote) was directing.

I'd never had an Actors Nightmare type dream before.

I'd never had an Actors Nightmare type dream before.

Was MADAME BUTTERFLY or DEATH OF A SALESMAN involved?

I wonder what's tweaking me? Rebecca doesn't play as strong right off. Not like Buffy going into the alley and then the overhead shot of her doing the handstand on the pipe. That's iconic. The images that resonant are the creep man-handling her out of the train, the fucked up paternalism of Webb; the white-knightism of Paul; her pulling her gun on the wrong guy.

So yeah, she's allowed to be herself, that character, and fuck up. And yet and yet....how much time before we see her be that strong person (not told so by Webb). Already she's primarily defined by her victimhood and the child abduction. She could've used a Fred-with-bloody-fist scene at least.

I would think that Rebecca's abilities are connected to her victimization. It's like finding your strength at the bottom of the barrel. I'm not at all upset by the girl coming off as not strong right out of the gate because this is a big part of who she is. I like the idea of a hero who's not a super girl. Not a girl with super powers to kick ass but one who's been kicked and found it in her to survive. I think Webb does need to remind everyone she's strong because people will continue to see her as a victim, regardless.

And although I think she's obviously haunted by her experience (hello, Creepy!MirrorGuy), I hope she's not tormented by the skills she acquired along the way--I don't want to see her become just another tormented profiler.

I'd like to see these skills accepted as a matter of fact. And I see that in the "erased" line, even though it was sad, it didn't seem maudlin.

Was MADAME BUTTERFLY or DEATH OF A SALESMAN involved?

Nope, I think this was a show my brain made up. You'd think I would've known the lines, huh?

I have to skip like a thousand posts to post this, but I have to say:

The Inside was wonderful. Damn near perfect. And, I pimped it to my friends so much they had to watch it and they loved it too!

"Webb" is aptly named: he's a spider, collecting people's souls. He's an evil man who happens to work on the good side. And he's got Rebecca, but good, too; as soon as he said, "That's my girl," she was hooked, and you could see it. Rachel Nichols did a beautiful job of playing that damaged young woman; I was really impressed.

And, I can't wait to find out what Danny and Melody have that Webb wants.

Shooting with good ol' Keith Szarabajka this week.

I am squeeing in fangirly delight. Or at least what passes for squee before the coffee hits.

Morning after, I'm still very impressed, so it wasn't just the Yay New Show adrenaline. The suicide is possibly the creepiest thing I've ever seen. I love Web's utter bastardy -- not a person I'd want to be around much ever, but as a character, he's really getting under my skin already. All the Angel-y touches in the mood, style, cinematography, etc felt like home, like this is what I've been missing, but without feeling like "ho-hum, I've seen this before".

On the downside, Rebecca/Becky still needs to grow on me some more. I'll trust that her arc is a grow-y one, but she's not there yet and I'm not in love with her as I currently see her.

Still, Tim, thanks for giving me a show. I haven't had one in a while.

Can I just say how much I love having a show discussion going on? I want this to go on for YEARS.

Having started watching season 1 ALIAS (after watching the second half of the most recent), I'm getting a big Sloane/Spydaddy hybrid off of Webb, especially the way Jack Bristow was depicted in season 1. The Sloane part, oddly, seems more like recent Sloane. Peter Coyote's got his own vibe on top of it, so it's a good thing not a bad that I'm getting echoes off the character.

Oh, and just for the record - Webb shot first!

Shooting with good ol' Keith Szarabajka this week.

Yay!

Already she's primarily defined by her victimhood and the child abduction.

This pinged me a bit, too. And I don't see how the show can escape this being a pattern, since that is her character -- she's not going to transform into Rebecca Locke: SuperSpy! overnight, and she shouldn't.

I think as long as Katie and Adam's characters continue to not like/trust her until she really proves herself, it'll be okay for me.

All the Angel-y touches in the mood, style, cinematography, etc felt like home, like this is what I've been missing

Yup. This.

I'm at work. 4 hours left. I'm itching to get home. I'm actually debating about just buggering off out the office.

I saw The Inside yesterday, in a room full of people. A well-lit room full of people. All of which were good things.

I think this was one of the better series premieres I've seen. It's left me wanting to know more about all of the FBI folks--why they're their, what their damage is, what their resultant gifts are. And I loved the way the whole thing was lit--the deep shadows on people's faces as their talking and so forth. Beautiful pain.