Flashpoint: Eagle Two [season premiere]
By fred | January 10, 2009
(S02E01) After a long break the great Canadian import that is Flashpoint was finally back on our screens, and even though this is officially called the premiere of its sophomore season, it isn’t really the case. Last season has received a 13-episode order, all of which had been fully produced even though only 9 made it to the air. So while this was a season premiere, it was intended to be the tenth episode of last season.
All that to say, it wasn’t meant to be a season opener, and if there a huge cliffhanger by the end of episode 4 or if haircuts change between 4 and 5, don’t be surprised. I know, this is groundbreaking stuff and I’m surprised myself not more people talk about it. On another level, while it wasn’t meant to be a season opener, this episode worked pretty well as one, and once again was a brilliant demonstration of the strengths of this show.
I know that this isn’t a revolutionary concept, it’s nothing but yet another procedural about a group of cops as we’ve seen so many others. It’s true, and yet it’s not, because we haven’t really seen others like this one. Where American show would put the emphasis on the action and have the lead play the big hero that won’t sleep until it’s over and break the rules to save the day, here things are different.
Here, the psychological aspect of things is the most important one, because in a crisis situation that’s what will make the difference between chaos or not; here the rules are there for a reason and if one doesn’t want to obey and play by the book, he’s out, because rules are what save lives in the end; and here there are no heroes, not in the single figure who shines above everybody else way.
Here, we have a team of people dedicated to their job, it’s team work. Everyone is assigned a task and stick to it, fulfilling his assignment to the best of his abilities, because that’s how in the end they can manage to save the day, take out the bad guy before they kill anyone and put an end to the crisis with no casualties and only one single shot fired. Because that is how you’re supposed to be things, that’s why rules were invented, and that is their job.
This episode was also a nice refreshing change from the classic hostage situation at gunpoint that we’ve seen on many occasions before, as this time they were called in to play bodyguard and assure the security of a couple of rich people. It was another approach to the job, and even allowed for a very natural peak into the personal life of some characters.
The only thing I’m not really sure about was that final kiss in the end, and the romance that would follow up, but it’s not that they haven’t been hinting at that for a while now. Question though, are two people working in the same unit allowed to date ? Or should they announce it, and that means one of them has to go ? I’d think so, I’m sure she’s not willing to go anywhere, and I doubt he is. And I’m not sure I’d like to see them be secretive about it and not respect the rules for a change…
What did everybody else thought of this episode ?
Posted in Reviews
Shows: Flashpoint
