NUMB3RS! For real this time!

[castalie]

Okay, SO! Woke up early this morning and first on my To Do List was to download Numb3rs, which I did - then had to leave the house so I did that as well, petting Clark and encouraging him because I didn't want anything bad to happen to the download. But I needn't worry and when I came back, it was there... waiting for me and just - that was a beautiful moment *happy sigh*

Okay I'll start with the... I don't want to say Bad but let's say the Not So Cool so that it's out of the way and we can concentrate on the good stuff.

The Not So Cool

Somehow... there were something that felt off to me, as painful as it is for me to say - I say painful because I love Numb3rs so much I feel bad thinking that way, but yeah, that's what I felt. I can't exactly say what but there was something wrong... or missing, I don't know. It felt like the pace was a bit different and - well okay I'll admit, it felt like there wasn't enough Don-Charlie scenes. There I said it. And alright, I always believed that as close those two work together, there has to be moments when they have to work separately because their partnership has limits and all - they each have a job to do, even when working on a case, and they can't always be together, I get that. But truth is, the writers themselves got us used to seeing Don and Charlie together a lot - like dude, it's kinda the reason why so many of us watch the show - so when they suddenly cut off those scenes - though to be honest, I'm not saying they did exactly, just that I would have loved to see more, which actually is different - well there's just something not right. Because it's not Charlie working for the FBI that I love so much but Charlie working with Don. And see, I'm torn because I also have the feeling that when I'll watch the episode a second time - haven't had time yet - I might change my mind and feel that everything was like it has always been... so I'm back to square one and wondering what exactly felt off.

Though wait, there's something I sure would have lived without - all the David and New Guy scenes. I like David a lot but I couldn't wait for his scenes with NG to be over so that we could go back to Don or Charlie or something. Then again, it might have to do with the fact that my reaction to NG? Is meh. I don't dislike him per se, he's just the kind of character I don't care about. At all. His type doesn't do it for me so seeing him so much bored me a bit. Though I'll admit that he seems smart enough to a) listen to David - who rocked, as usual - and b) even put to practice what he'd learnt with him, so he could have been much worse. I guess.

Oh and what was with the whole Don-questioning-Charlie's work thing? I mean, Charlie had to insist on how accurate his analysis was, how Don could trust it and take action not just once but twice in the course of the episode and... well okay, from a certain point of view I can understand Don's reluctance but seriously! Isn't he usually the one who's pushing Charlie and backing him up even when others are skeptical or need more proof? But Charlie didn't back down, good boy. I liked his "what's the difference between my math and partial fingerprints" moment.

The Really Cool

Though I'll be honest and admit that Don's second betrayal bout of questioning gave me one of my favourite scenes in the episode, namely the Pi speech. That was Charlie to the core - and also? I think I'm falling in love with everything having to do with Pi - and I cheered because YES! That's the kind of scene I fell in love with when falling in love with Numb3rs! And something else, I thought the whole math thing was... lacking a bit in that episode. And believe me, I'm still laughing at the thought that I of all people would notice the eventual lack of good math and actually miss it. Maybe they didn't want to scare away potential new viewers and they decided to go slow with the math? But then, they should have avoided the David Crockett scene because that was scarily bad.

But anyway, I loved that scene and cheered even louder when Don did the Pi = Bad Guy thing on the board, because that was totally an apology to Charlie for ever doubting the whole thing - and really wasn't that a great moment?













I think it was. Also? I bet it turned Charlie on to see Don write math.

As was - I bet everyone saw it coming - the dinner scene at la casa del Eppes. From a slasher's POV, that scene is awesome because you just know Charlie is being a fucking brat in putting Don in that situation and it also gives you a lot of angst potential because of what Don is saying and Charlie's reaction to it. But the angst and awesomeness of the scene are there even from a normal point of view - I mean, there's everything Don is saying, the way he's saying and then there's Charlie silence and looks and just - boy did I love that scene! It starts out light and teasing and it ends up being a tad more intense - and yeah, Charlie's behaviour in particular spoke to me *g* Well no, I did feel bad for Don because he's basically saying he's forbidding himself from falling in love - or not falling in love per se, but from committing to someone and that's pretty sad. And he's apparently not ready to listen to daddy!Eppes who's awesome and wise as always - so I did feel for Don but I was really intrigued by Charlie's own silence and the looks he gave Don... and I'm talking about the last one in particular:



See what I'm talking about?

Oh and speaking of the eppes!family - how much did I love that the episode ended up with the three men going out together? That much, yeah. Also loved the little bit about Charlie driving and Don teasing him about it.

Another moment I enjoyed was when we got to see the Geeky Trio at the Eppes' with daddy!Eppes and them gossiping about Don and talking about childhood crushes and everything. That was very sweet.

Speaking of geeky - New Girl? Is really cool - I like Megan, she can stay. She's smart and competent but not arrogant at all and she had a good start with Charlie and the whole Geeky Trio and it counts for a lot. I shall miss Terry but Megan is cool so it's all right.

Hey know what? The more I write about the season premier, the more I'm liking it lol Fancy that.

Also, on different notes:

I had a pleasant surprise - Charlie's hair! Characters' hair is an obsession so I couldn't help it. From the promo I watched, it was way longer and the curls weren't so cute but it was still okay here. Seeing the scene I saw didn't belong to "Judgment Call" - I thought it did when I watched the promo but in the end, it didn't - it means that sometime in the near future it'll become unruly and all, but for now it's okay. And that pleased me [/shallow]

They changed the opening theme a bit and even added to Charlie's speech and yay, I liked it!

I STILL LOVE CHARLIE BEYOND THE TELLING OF IT! Oh the joy of having a new Charlie fix on a weekly basis! *happy sigh*

And finally, two pics that I adored:


Charlie is good with his hands - and it can also be useful for origami!


Charlie is never cuter in my eyes than when he does the whole tilt-to-the-head thing. This is so Charlie-like!

Is it next week yet, is it?? I want moooooooooooore.

Wait! To keep with the theme, audrarose wrote a sequel to her Absolution story, namely Resolution and it's so fucking good and hot that you need to go and read it! Warnings: it's Don/Charlie. Note that when I say "warning", I might as well say "incentive" so use it whenever you want to - but don't say I didn't warn you.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/oceana_/]

Charlie is so very cute, I think I squeed about the all the cuteness.
Not my type though.
*is in denial*
I liked the episode, but it definitely wasn't one of the best. For me, it was the math that was lacking: it didn't play a very important part in this ep, I think they could have easily solved the case without it.
I don't know if you know, but this ep was originally supposed to be the second ep, so it'll be interesting to see the real premiere next week.
It is next week yet? *g*

[enigel]

Where did you find that out? I mean, was it an official thing or rumours?

Epguides.com lists both the airing order and the production order, and it would seem that the third episode was the first produced. I'm not sure if this correlates linearly with the intended order though. *cough*

Not that I'm not eagerly awaiting for the next week, and the week after that...

[http://users.livejournal.com/oceana_/]

I don't know in which order they were produced, but I read somewhere that this one was originally supposed to air as episode number two. I wish I could remember where, it must have been somewhere on LJ, which makes searching for it like looking for a needle in a haystack.

[enigel]

And an infinite stack, at that! Oh well, if there'll be a giveaway like the thing about Charlie's right to visit Don's office anytime from the first season, we'll know ;)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

No one should be so cute as Charlie is. Or well, yes they should but they should wear some kind of health warnings on their bodies *nodnod*

For me, it was the math that was lacking: it didn't play a very important part in this ep, I think they could have easily solved the case without it.

I agree with you here - and the bits of math we had seemed almost, well I don't know, not forced but it didn't seem as cool as usual. I guess they wanted to go slow with the season premiere. Or something.

I don't know if you know, but this ep was originally supposed to be the second ep, so it'll be interesting to see the real premiere next week.

I saw that when I was checking out some info on the episodes - like the names of the new actors - and it amused me. I'm curious about the original premiere now, yeah.

[http://users.livejournal.com/oceana_/]

I saw that when I was checking out some info on the episodes - like the names of the new actors - and it amused me.

Damn, you are doing research. You are a much better fan than I am. I didn't even look up the character's names!
*is ashamed*

[enigel]

Hm, I thought what was off was the excess of het in this one, but I may be wanky and biased :P

Until now they've kept a perfect balance between plotish stuff and personal life stuff; now they insisted a bit to much on the shippy aspect (i.e. the "let's get Don laid"), while usually there was something new about the family dynamic.

But, there was also more Larry, who was cute so I'm not complaining about that part ;)

Megan can stay, but the blonde chick is free to go. *is mean*

Too much questioning of Charlie from Don, as if they were at the beginning again, but I understand this might be for the new viewers.

I knew someone was going to joke about "photonic entanglement"! But what I liked was Alan's questioning look at the end and Charlie's "that's not one of mine" :D

All in all, OMT we have Numb3rs again!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Ah! Might have been the whole het thing, now that you mention it, yeah lol

See, the Larry scene with Don? I thought it almost looked totally gratuitous. I mean, his speech was nice and the scene itself was cool - loved Don's reaction to it - but it really seemed like it came out of nowhere to me.

Blonde chick is not only free to go but highly encouraged! I'm afraid I'm not keen on her type at all. I like Megan even more because of the whole blond chick now that I think of it - she certainly makes for a nice contrast.

But what I liked was Alan's questioning look at the end and Charlie's "that's not one of mine" :D

Yes! Loved that line *g*

[spikedluv]

I don't know. It felt like the pace was a bit different and - well okay I'll admit, it felt like there wasn't enough Don-Charlie scenes.

Agree with you on the not enough D/C moments, although, there really couldn't be enough even if they were together all ep, lol! I also heard that this was not supposed to be the first ep, so they had to add in a lot of stuff about the new characters that we would have gotten in the ep that was supposed to air first, Assassins. That may be why the pacing seemed off. They had to fit it in, and probably take other stuff out to make room for it that they kinda needed, lol. Stupid networks. If I write a show and A comes before B, damnit, don't make me air B first and put A somewhere in the middle!

Also, I loved Megan!! I mean, not enough to want to write fic about her, lol, but I thought she was great with Charlie. I liked that she seemed to respect Charlie and want to learn what he was trying to explain to her. Both Terri and David were like, just give us the end result, we don't care how you got it, sometimes. And while I liked Terri, I wasn't invested in her because I already knew she was leaving before I started watching the eps.

Wish the prosecutor chick would diediedie! leave, but I'm biased against anyone who tries to take Don away from Charlie...and sounds so stupid and NEEDY doing it. Yeesh! Don might want to stay away from her, I think she might have stalker tendencies. *g*

The family dinner at the Eppes' house! Loved. Charlie was so jealous. *bg* And he so interrupted them at the courthouse. And I loved the talk about his learner permit and radar methodology, lol!!

I thought it was a great ep, but that might be because I've been waiting so long to see it. Though, as you say, it could have been made better by Don and Charlie having sex more scenes together. *vbg*

[audrarose.livejournal.com]

Wish the prosecutor chick would diediedie! leave, but I'm biased against anyone who tries to take Don away from Charlie

You know, if this were a seventies show, we could count on her dying as soon as they get together. Violently and tragically. And then Charlie could comfort Don. *sigh*

[spikedluv]

Oooh, comfort sex! *eyes get really big*

I'd rather have her die BEFORE she and Don get together, though, so he's not as invested in her. Now that they've had one date working dinner, she should be hit by a bus crossing the street. Something that has nothing to do with Don's work, since he was worried about that. We don't want him to have issues about getting together with Charlie. Well, other than the obvious ones. *vbg*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I can only hope that the "off" feeling has, indeed, to do with the fact that it wasn't supposed to be the season premiere. It certainly would be a good explanation. We'll see next week, I guess *g* I also second the "stupid networks" thing because why can't they keep with the damn program!

I'm pretty keen on Megan and was delighted to find out she was actually a great character. Now though I wish the prosecutor chick would fucking leave too because I think I dislike her type of character even more than NG - who I think is called Colby, btw? So Megan can stay, but Prosecutor Chick can't! We all voted, sorry, you've been evicted!

The family dinner at the Eppes' house! Loved. Charlie was so jealous. *bg* And he so interrupted them at the courthouse. And I loved the talk about his learner permit and radar methodology, lol!!

Oh yeah, loved all those moments *loves*

Numb3rs! (as if *I* wouldn't comment on that!)

[babycakesin.livejournal.com]

YEEEEEEEEEEESSS!!! I was hoping to find your review of Numb3rs today and tada!

not enough scenes between Don and Charlie? Damn... and Don questionned Charlie's work? damn...

re: Charlie and Pi - damn, if we had had that show back when I was in college/lycée, maths class would have been so much more interesting! lol

what david crockett scene?

so the Mary Sue new girl is cool? well, that's a relief...

you're so cute when you talk about your Charlie obsession *very tight hug* *can't stop grinning*

Re: Numb3rs! (as if *I* wouldn't comment on that!)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Well okay, maybe if I watch it again - I mean, let's get real when I'll watch it again, I'll change my mind. It's just how it felt to me... though apparently, other fans agreed with me, so I don't know.

And yeah Don kinda did. That is, he didn't say Charlie's work sucked or anything - he just showed a lot of reluctance in taking action "just because" of Charlie's analysis. And he said it twice - both times Charlie insisted on the fact that he was right and everything pointed out to the Bad Guy's direction...

The David Crockett scene... you'll have to see it, really lol Charlie was explaining an equation and used the analogy of a hunter and his prey but it was so fucking tacky *cringe*

The Mary Sue is not a Mary Sue at all - and you'll have to apologise to her when you see the episode, btw *eg*

you're so cute when you talk about your Charlie obsession

Lol Thanks *g* It's a good thing, too, cause I don't think I'll stop anytime soon :-)

Re: Numb3rs! (as if *I* wouldn't comment on that!)

[babycakesin.livejournal.com]

The Mary Sue is not a Mary Sue at all - and you'll have to apologise to her when you see the episode, btw *eg*

...

damn... *burns her 'die! Mary Sue, die!' notes*

yeah no, don't stop with the Charlie obsession lol

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

Very quick with the screencaps! Thank you for doing that - they are very nice, particularly Charlie's origami offering. (Although in that last one, Charlie looks a little bit like he's about to go after Megan or Don, and not in a good way. It's the eyebrows.)

I have to admit, I was so disappointed last night, I went directly to bed. I'm downloading today to watch and see if I change my mind, but everyone's response is pretty much in the same ballpark, isn't it? Universal loathing for the horrid Don's Love Interest (and I'm afraid saw this one coming when they hired a 24-year-old actress to play a successful prosecuting attorney).

I'm new at this downloading thing... How long does it normally take you to d/l something, if I might ask!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Very quick with the screencaps

VirtualDub is my friend *clings* And you're welcome - I knew you would like them lol

You were that disappointed, really? Man, it sucks. I hope that on your second viewing you'll feel better about the whole episode. I saw a lot of negative reviews, yeah - I can't not focus on the good things myself and thankfully the good things surpassed the bad - for me, I mean - so it was okay :-)

I'm also hoping that the "off" feeling I got has to do with the fact that "Judgement Call" wasn't supposed to be the season premiere, so maybe the changes they made to have fit in its new place were responsible? I don't know *shrug*

Boy do I join you in the prosecutor-dislike. I can't even feel sorry for that because that character... is kinda the epithome of characters I dislike in a show. I loved Terry and I'm liking Megan a lot, so it's not as if they didn't know how to write great female characters... it's their own fault for writing The Other Girl like that.

And if your sole purpose is to pose as the New Love's Interest, well no wonder your characterisation looks so flat. But you know, so far, they all pretty much convinced me that it couldn't work with Don and Prosecutor Chick so... Seriously, when you think of both Terry and Kim - that woman just sounds... way off *shrug* Let's say for now, I'm not that worried.

How long does it normally take you to d/l something, if I might ask!

It all depends on your own connexion, really - and how many seeders there are, of course. Sometimes it'll take a couple of hours and sometimes it'll take all day.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I loved Terry and I'm liking Megan a lot, so it's not as if they didn't know how to write great female characters...

I'm not sure if it's their writing, or just that they had superior actresses in Sabrina Lloyd and Diane Farr. When they cast a 24-year-old cookie, she's kind of lost.

And you're right, it took 17 hours for NUMB3RS and not even 2 for Kitchen Confidential, notwithstanding it only being a half-hour show. On to Invasion!

[x5-536.livejournal.com]

i KNEW i forgot something in my review! i was in a hurry to watch stargate atlantis. yes, the thing that's off, that's wrong is that it's changed. the ATMOSPHERE is different. the characters are different. it's weird, it will get some getting used to. it's like, in season 1, they were still toddlers, now they're like running kids, you know?

i'm with you on the less and not less don-charlie scenes. ASBOLUTELY. i felt it too! it's different. maybe it's what i said about megan spending so much time with charlie like they were old friends when it should have been with don instead (i don't know if i'm explaining myself clearly here).

i don't like megan but i don't generally like new characters so that's ok.

Also? I bet it turned Charlie on to see Don write math.
:) :) :)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

The atmosphere was a tad different, yeah. It's as if all the elements were there, but altered a bit. Not enough that I suddenly wondered what the hell I was watching or anything, but enough that I wondered about it.

it should have been with don instead (i don't know if i'm explaining myself clearly here).

I totally get it, yeah. And I think you're right. Last season, the Megan-Charlie scenes would have been Don-Charlie scenes *nodnod* It's a good thing I wound up liking Megan, believe me! But I still wish we had more Don-Charlie scenes because - well because! lol

i don't like megan but i don't generally like new characters so that's ok.

So you're coherent with yourself lol

[audrarose.livejournal.com]

eeeee!! I was hoping you did a review! *g*

I didn't think the episode was that different in mood from last season, actually, but I'd been really scared that they were going to tone the whole Charlie Don interaction thing down like 100 percent, so maybe I was just relieved.

I miss Terry, too *sob* but Megan's just fine. I think she's totally crushing on Charlie. Who wouldn't? And isn't it funny that Charlie gave Terry a flower when he did his whole "math is cool!" speech for her last season, too?

I don't like the new guy much, I agree, but David got loads hotter and it gives him more screen time so...

Oh! Did you think that they really uglied up Amita? I mean, she was pretty much gorgeous last year, and I don't know if it was the hair or the complete lack of eye make-up, but woah. Trying to make her more geeky? Or real, maybe?

hmmmm....

(and thank you for the story rec! *blush* *hugs*)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Well yes, I can see why you would feel relieved if you'd really thought they would simply destroy the Don-Charlie interaction :-)

Charlie is quite the charmer, isn't he? Not that it comes as a surprise, mind you lol

I think it's the hair - they did something to Amita's hair and it looked a bit... odd. Though I'll say if in order to make her "more real", they have to mess up with her hair, it'll a sacrifice I'm willing to accept lol She's smart enough and pretty enough, she doesn't need to be "perfect".

(and you're so welcome *g*)

[enigel]

More real, I'm willing to bet, because it worked - I suddenly liked her. She was way too "top model" (not just how she looked, the body language too) for a PhD in the last season.

But Charlie gave Terry a real flower, not a paper one ;)

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

But Charlie gave Terry a real flower, not a paper one ;)

True, although Megan's took more effort and will last longer...

[enigel]

There's that, too :)

I expect Megan herself to last longer in the show, because I'm not sure it could deal with yet another cast change...

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I'd like some character!stability in my show too.

Just, if being stable means seeing Nadine all the time, well, I might change my mind lol

[zanzou-chan.livejournal.com]

I also noticed and was very sad at the lack of math. D: How is it numb3rs if we aren't having math spouted at us from every direction? *hugs it*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the next episodes will satisfy our math hunger *g*

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You know I should have just copied and pasted your review in my journal because you say everything I was feeling so much better.

I have to admit that the episode wasn't the best I've seen and there were elements that I dislike, especially Don's love interest and new guy. But at the same time all the things I love were still there, Charlie, Don, Alan, Larry. The maths and detective work, all the core elements but diluted somehow. I hope it's because it was the premier and they have to introduce the new characters and we can get back to the normal intensity of the show, and the slashy goodness too of course ;)

So I'm totally prepared to suspend judgment on most things, except love interest who I have to say, annoys the heck out of me, especially as it's so blatant what she's there for.

Don, stop looking at that woman and look at your hot brother!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

You know I should have just copied and pasted your review in my journal because you say everything I was feeling so much better.

Why, thank you ma'am!

all the core elements but diluted somehow.

That's it yeah - all the core elements were there, which is why I can't be that worried about Numb3rs yet. I mean, we still have a whole season minus one episode to get back to - we'll worry about the slow death of the Numb3rs spirit after several episodes :-) If I ever do.

So-called love interest is so pathetic and cringe worthy that I can't even believe TPTB would want us to believe that anything could happen *shakes head*

[yami-tai.livejournal.com]

Somehow... there were something that felt off to me

That is exactly how I felt too, and I felt so disappointed after waiting so long. However, a high point was during the Eppes family dinner where Don said he didn't date and gave Charlie a meaningful look because obviously he is dating Charlie ^_^! Anyway, I can't wait to see tonight's episode...

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Watched the episode last night and I loved it! Can't wait to hear what you thought of it :-)