Some actors can probably compensate and/or argue their way to a more consistent character.

Has anyone on this show done it? Neither Bones nor Booth (especially Bones) is particularly consistent. They were finding their footing, and I think they decided to go with more stereotyping for most of their geeks. Only Hodgins gets to be socially ept.

TJ Thyne and Tamara Taylor are the only ones on that show that I'd give much credit to.

I give them all a pass for the first season, but once they've played a character that long they really should take some ownership if there are things in the writing that they question.

once they've played a character that long they really should take some ownership if there are things in the writing that they question

Which is the problem I have with how NCIS writes most of its characters, especially DiNozzo. That ep when he posed as a john and fumbled it completely was waaaay off considering his established backstory as a competent and experienced former cop and go-to undercover guy.

OH MY JESUS, Raylan shirtless in low slung jeans with no underwear. Lord, I love the iliac crest.

I love the dialogue! "I have the right to think you're creepy."

they really should take some ownership if there are things in the writing that they question

They might not work in an environment where that's possible, assuming they're the sorts of actors that really grok their characters. Not all do. And not all writers will let the actors push back.

NBC re-aired the For The Defense episode of L&O this week. Ah, the proper birth of the Mike/Connie ship. The reaction shots from both of them were absolutely marvellous. And there's a great bit where Wahl is spouting off some nonsense in the hallway and Cutter is standing there staring up at him in disbelief and they play off Roache's shortness in ways they usually camouflage, but works tremendously.

I love that episode to pieces.

I haven't been watching House much this season, though the ones I catch are often good. But the last shot of this past ep struck me as especially good. House has a dossier on Wilson's first ex-wife, who he's currently seeing and who House wants to drive away. Presumeably there's juicy, damaging info in there. He toys with it, but instead of opening the package he tosses it in the trash. Then he grabs his bottle of OTC ibuprofen and downs a few, instead of the Vicodin of the past.

The shot quietly illustrates the points where House has genuinely changed--a modicum of restraint when it comes to attempting to manipulate people and the move away from his addiction. He's alone in the shot, so none of it is for an audience. This really is a different man than at the beginning of the series.

But his honest hatred of Wilson's first ex is wonderfully pure. And hers of him.

They might not work in an environment where that's possible, assuming they're the sorts of actors that really grok their characters. Not all do. And not all writers will let the actors push back.

True. And I'm not in a position to know what the atmosphere is on that set, but one would think that if they're letting Boreanaz direct that the cast isn't completely voiceless.

OH MY JESUS, Raylan shirtless in low slung jeans with no underwear. Lord, I love the iliac crest.

Testify! I had to rewind to catch the dialog.

MFNLaw was at my place last night, and I showed it to her. We enjoyed the pretty. She looked at it and said "well, you do love the iliac crest" HAR! It's nice when your friends know you.