The Cleaner: Chaos Theory
By fred | August 6, 2008
(S01E04) I guess the question for me at this point isn’t so much about this episode, but the show in general. It was a new series, it could have been interesting so I tuned in to check it out. And I know it’s only been four episodes, that’s really not much, but it’s enough for me to see that I don’t think this show will be what I first thought it might be, or look like, and that what it’s shaping up to be might not be something I’m interested in.
I’ve said before that while we were sold on the idea that Banks was the savior, the one who helped people kicking out addiction, he was only finding them, “kidnapping” them and driving them to the nearest rehab center. That hasn’t really changed, and quite frankly I don’t find that very exciting. Also, it was meant to be addictions, all kinds of addictions, but so far it’s only drugs.
Sure, you got your speed, your crack, your cocaine, your heroin, there’s lots of different kind of drugs out there, with different kinds of addictions. Still, it’s always the same, more than you think.
Take this episode : at first nothing happens, because it will take about 15 minutes for Banks and his team to get hired on this week’s job ! That means for 15 minutes we just get to see them hanging around and waiting, basically, while we meet with our latest drug addict and how he’s destroying his life. When finally they got a new job, and by the way why does Banks always look reluctant at first, like he doesn’t want new jobs, when we all know he’s always looking for new people to save, he even takes cases when he can’t get paid…
Anyways, then they watch. They don’t do nothing but watch, and so do we. That goes on for close to half an hour, during which nothing happens. Oh yeah, Banks’ crew start to lose it : Connie want to get Darnell to buy drug for some reason, and then he decides to go on, get a gun and play the cowboy, because they really need Banks to be around and glue them together, telling them what can and can’t be done, of course.
Meanwhile our drug addict of the week keeps destroying his life as bad as can be done, just like it happened last week, or will next week I’m sure, until the clock tells us the episode is almost over so Banks and his people rush in, “kidnap” the guy and send him to rehab. Next thing you know, he’s saved and Banks is the hero of the day, once again. Hurray.
I just find that really boring : witnessing someone’s life falling apart due to drug abuse, while Banks deals with his family problems. Which by the way, don’t interest me at all. It’s probably me, but I don’t care about his marriage, how is relationship with his wife is working out, or with his kids. I also thought that the fact that his old friend who saved his life back in the day was the one who did drugs in his house was very predictable, and illustrated how he helps people : he ask for help, so he’s hired already, he’d been around watching him for a while already, so he’ll just walk him to the rehab center and we’re done.
I’m just saying, it’s all boring to me, and I think I’ll stop watching this show. See, I’ve never been a fan of Eureka, and I still think the first season was a monstrous pile of crap, but things have gotten a little better with time and I find myself watching this show and actually kinda enjoying it, and I just can’t say the same for The Cleaner.
Posted in Reviews
Shows: The Cleaner
