MovieChat Forums > Counterpart (2017) Discussion > If The Second Episode Is As Satisfying A...

If The Second Episode Is As Satisfying As The First, I'm Hooked

posted 7 years ago by R_Kane (15828)
5 replies | jump to latest

Two very important words: great casting, and Stephen Rea wasn't even in the first episode. As you may or may not know, and this won't spoil things for you, this show is about two parallel earth dimensions, exactly alike, except . . . not. Not since scientists in what was then West Berlin created or found a portal between the two Earths, and government agencies from the two dimensions started fucking with each other. Everyone has an exact anatomical doppelgänger. If you want to see some fine acting, watch J.K. Simmons in the lead role. Simmons has shown his acting chops long before Counterpart. His J. Jonah Jameson in the only good Spider-man movies was a completely different character from his Nazi white-supremacist sadistic meth-asshole Shillinger character in the HBO series Oz. In Counterpart, in one dimension, he is a milquetoast. In the other, he is dynamic, assertive unto aggressive and, boy!, does Simmons deliver, in multiple scenes including both these characters. The difference goes beyond how they normally choose to dress, and extends not only to vocabulary and posture, but also (amazingly) to the muscle tone in their faces. It would have been easy for the "high concept" of this series to have sucked, cf, The Leftovers, but, instead, I find it to be exciting and captivating. The premier may be an exception. I may have to recant this post; but I don't feel that I will have to do so. If you have a solid cast and a solid premise, you probably have a solid future.

[–] BlueeyedSara (90) 7 years ago

JK Simmons is a rock star in this show. It is so clear which version you see on the screen. I can't wait to see how this develops.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 7 years ago

I'm hooked. The writing is sharp. (Yay! Good writing!) I sense a wealth and depth to the developing narrative, such as the mild Silk being inspired by his bold Counterpart, being drawn into his birthright, as it were. Perhaps something similar with the Nadia/Baldwin scenario. When the musicians were rehearsing Vivaldi's Four Seasons, my first thought was that the conductor was an oaf and that the tempo was much too slow, but, when Nadia went into her solo, it was inspired, delicate, sprightly and torrential. There is a strong relationship between the fine arts, the performing arts and the martial arts; hence the visceral connection between Nadia and Baldwin. Mushashi Myamoto, the greatest Samurai in history, was also one of Japan's finest
artists. He said, "The blade and the brush are one, and the same." I agree.

Another reason why I am
stoked for this show: Ulriche Thomsen, who was Kai Proctor on Banshee, the BEST action premium TV show I have ever seen. Dynamic Silk has no problem getting in this guy's face in Counterpart, and I think that's hard to do; and what a treat to see.

Final thought: Seeing dynamic Silk PLAY milquetoast Silk in the scene in the bar with the violinist, and yet still seeing dynamic Silk INSIDE the facade was both an acting revelation and a small treasure.

Poast Final Thought: Who has any ideas about what's going on between badass Silk and his wife, who he said was dead, but who (1) tried to have him disappeared, and (2) is screwing a guy her actual husband would eat for lunch?

And, Sara, I agree that J. K. Simmons IS a Rock Star in Counterpart. I think it's interesting that, sometimes, Premium TV/cable/steaming/On Demand TV series make us more aware of, and immersed in, a performer's talent than a movie theater does. Speaking as a home theater designer, I think that's because there is more intimacy and awareness in the experience at home than there is in the (what I think is outdated) public theater experience. What do others think?

PS I LOVE the Berlin settings. So dark and twisted and right and Richt.

[–] Sandoz (2021) 7 years ago

It was a promising episode, BUT...

I was almost ready to give up on this show within the first 5 minutes because of the obvious predictability that the girl cowering in the hotel room was more than she appeared...which turned out to be exactly the case about a minute later as she went terminator on the two agents. Luckily once the story shifted its focus to Simmons character--characterS, that is, it got better.

I only saw this because I had a free Starz preview last weekend. I probably won't get a chance to take a look at the whole season until the dvds are released, so enjoy the show.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 7 years ago

And you. Enjoy the discs. I think that this will be a good ride.

And, in my experience, the Blu-ray disc versions of of the TV show is much more involving than what you have seen before.

[–] Sandoz (2021) 7 years ago

Yeah, it's definitely a plus to watch the discs and not have to wait a week in-between episodes. The only thing that bothers me is that I have to go on a media black-out about the show until they're released to avoid hearing spoilers!