Terriers: Pilot Rewatch
April 12, 2016 12:11 PM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe
The first episode of a much-beloved but little-watched one-season-wonder. Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue), a recovered alcoholic ex-cop, teams with ex-criminal Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond James) in an off-the-books PI agency.
NOTE: This is a Rewatch thread.posted by Etrigan at 12:14 PM on April 12, 2016
I am really surprised at the love this show gets.
I thought it had a promising first couple episodes, but it doesn't live up to it, and never figures out what it wants to be. It throws a lot of things at the wall, but nothing sticks. It lurches around dragging Donal Logue by the stirrup. So it's not a good noir, it's not a good buddy detective show, it's not a good rando weird story time. The continuing plot of the land scam is such a nothingburger.
I guess it just wasn't on my wavelength at all. To me the AV Club calling it a "perfect one season run" seems as wrong as can be.
posted by nom de poop at 12:29 PM on April 12, 2016
I thought it had a promising first couple episodes, but it doesn't live up to it, and never figures out what it wants to be. It throws a lot of things at the wall, but nothing sticks. It lurches around dragging Donal Logue by the stirrup. So it's not a good noir, it's not a good buddy detective show, it's not a good rando weird story time. The continuing plot of the land scam is such a nothingburger.
I guess it just wasn't on my wavelength at all. To me the AV Club calling it a "perfect one season run" seems as wrong as can be.
posted by nom de poop at 12:29 PM on April 12, 2016
Oh man, thanks! now I'll have to fire up this sucker again tonight or tomorrow. I've nearly forgotten it, but I remember being just gobsmacked by the auspiciousness of its beginning.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:32 PM on April 12, 2016
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:32 PM on April 12, 2016
It lurches around dragging Donal Logue by the stirrup.
That's part of what makes it so great. Donal Logue plays guys who get dragged around by the stirrup, but every time, he picks himself up, dusts himself off, and gets back on the same damn horse.
posted by Etrigan at 12:34 PM on April 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
That's part of what makes it so great. Donal Logue plays guys who get dragged around by the stirrup, but every time, he picks himself up, dusts himself off, and gets back on the same damn horse.
posted by Etrigan at 12:34 PM on April 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
God I loved this show and I vehemently disagree with the AV Club's assertion that it's a perfect one season run because dammit I wanted more seasons!
Love it. So much.
posted by cooker girl at 12:38 PM on April 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
Love it. So much.
posted by cooker girl at 12:38 PM on April 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
There's also a general Terriers FPP about it on MeFi proper, mainly comprised of people saying "Oh god I love this show," which led to Etrigan creating this blessed rewatch.
Srsly, I was flipping through my Netflix and Hulu queue the other day and thought, "Dang, it's been too long!" when this show came up, so perfect timing.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:49 PM on April 12, 2016
Srsly, I was flipping through my Netflix and Hulu queue the other day and thought, "Dang, it's been too long!" when this show came up, so perfect timing.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:49 PM on April 12, 2016
...it doesn't live up to it, and never figures out what it wants to be. It throws a lot of things at the wall, but nothing sticks. It lurches around dragging Donal Logue by the stirrup.
I thought it was slacker noir (aka stoner noir?), so I felt that a certain amount of lurching aimlessness was genre convention... Though I can't call it genre convention, since the things held up as examples of the genre are usually The Big Lebowski, Terriers, Inherent Vice, and Bored to Death and only one of those really counts as a precursor.
posted by surlyben at 1:31 PM on April 12, 2016
I thought it was slacker noir (aka stoner noir?), so I felt that a certain amount of lurching aimlessness was genre convention... Though I can't call it genre convention, since the things held up as examples of the genre are usually The Big Lebowski, Terriers, Inherent Vice, and Bored to Death and only one of those really counts as a precursor.
posted by surlyben at 1:31 PM on April 12, 2016
Aaaaaaaaand it was even better than I remembered, except now that I've reunited with the show, it's going to kill me (again) to get to Ep 13 and know that's all. Random observations: the dynamic between Hank and Britt is just so wonderful: "Can you loan $1,000?" Intentional infliction of "Close to You" earworm, etc., etc.
I had also forgotten Gomez Bros. Pool Service. Jamie Denbo as H&B's lawyer Maggie is fantastic, and Rachel Miner, who plays Eleanor Gosney, also played Meg the demon on Supernatural. She's great in everything.
Love the bit where FIRST we see Hank triangulate the cell phone using Det. Reynolds' authorization code, and only LATER do we meet Det. Reynolds. Most shows would do those scenes in the opposite order, but this way is more fun and rewards us for paying attention.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:27 PM on April 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
I had also forgotten Gomez Bros. Pool Service. Jamie Denbo as H&B's lawyer Maggie is fantastic, and Rachel Miner, who plays Eleanor Gosney, also played Meg the demon on Supernatural. She's great in everything.
Love the bit where FIRST we see Hank triangulate the cell phone using Det. Reynolds' authorization code, and only LATER do we meet Det. Reynolds. Most shows would do those scenes in the opposite order, but this way is more fun and rewards us for paying attention.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:27 PM on April 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think it can be the perfect one season wonder while still acknowledging more seasons would be awesome. I think it's a lot like Wonderfalls in that it wraps itself up in a mostly satisfying way, but could easily be continued if they had gotten a second season order. They work as basically mini-series as this point even though they weren't intended to be.
I'm still at work, but now I'm excited about rewatching this later.
posted by john-a-dreams at 2:48 PM on April 12, 2016
I'm still at work, but now I'm excited about rewatching this later.
posted by john-a-dreams at 2:48 PM on April 12, 2016
That's part of what makes it so great. Donal Logue plays guys who get dragged around by the stirrup, but every time, he picks himself up, dusts himself off, and gets back on the same damn horse.
I kinda meant Logue as an actor. I think his character is not written very coherently. It's hard for an actor to win against that, (and Logue doesn't, in my memory anyway.)
I thought it was slacker noir (aka stoner noir?)
It's not really enough of any of the things it would need to be to pull that off. My feeling was that it didn't really build on itself, it just did random things and let them fizzle out.
Like, I remember the cliffhanger that someone was living in his attic. OMG WTF! Then: Oh, it's his sister. Oh, she has a rather unlikely combination of gifts and neuroses. Hm, Logue's character does not seem believable here at all. Oh, we're doing a seriousface caring mental health beat that doesn't match the tone of the show. Oh, she told him something about the dumb land scam. I guess that was her whole purpose. Okay, show, every step of that was actually a letdown.
Anyway that's my memories of it.
posted by nom de poop at 2:58 PM on April 12, 2016
I kinda meant Logue as an actor. I think his character is not written very coherently. It's hard for an actor to win against that, (and Logue doesn't, in my memory anyway.)
I thought it was slacker noir (aka stoner noir?)
It's not really enough of any of the things it would need to be to pull that off. My feeling was that it didn't really build on itself, it just did random things and let them fizzle out.
Like, I remember the cliffhanger that someone was living in his attic. OMG WTF! Then: Oh, it's his sister. Oh, she has a rather unlikely combination of gifts and neuroses. Hm, Logue's character does not seem believable here at all. Oh, we're doing a seriousface caring mental health beat that doesn't match the tone of the show. Oh, she told him something about the dumb land scam. I guess that was her whole purpose. Okay, show, every step of that was actually a letdown.
Anyway that's my memories of it.
posted by nom de poop at 2:58 PM on April 12, 2016
My people! I have found you! Oh man, I loved this show so hard. This, and Life: cancelled too soon.
The name of the show was totally dumb, but I loved its charming, offbeat sense of storyline.
posted by TwoStride at 4:23 PM on April 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
The name of the show was totally dumb, but I loved its charming, offbeat sense of storyline.
posted by TwoStride at 4:23 PM on April 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh god, don't get me started on Life (also featuring Donal Logue).
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:26 PM on April 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:26 PM on April 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
* Okay so the Terriers name is dumb, but the showrunner was totally correct that it nails the tone of Hank and Britt's character. They're pretty great underdogs/outsider types who are picking a fight with someone way out of their weight class.
* Even beyond just the completely enjoyable characters, I'll always love this show for having one of the main antagonist be a land developer and a complex land switcheroo as one of the main driving forces of the plot.
* That opening line about the milk being empty is supposed to be foreshadowing for Hank's sister obviously. I can't remember if Hank moves into his new place before she pops up though. That means Hank's sister followed Hank to a new place still without telling him anything.
* "Yeah, but we're only recognized in Vermont and Massachusetts." Oh, how far we've come. Eventually that line won't make any sense to people watching.
posted by john-a-dreams at 6:23 PM on April 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
* Even beyond just the completely enjoyable characters, I'll always love this show for having one of the main antagonist be a land developer and a complex land switcheroo as one of the main driving forces of the plot.
* That opening line about the milk being empty is supposed to be foreshadowing for Hank's sister obviously. I can't remember if Hank moves into his new place before she pops up though. That means Hank's sister followed Hank to a new place still without telling him anything.
* "Yeah, but we're only recognized in Vermont and Massachusetts." Oh, how far we've come. Eventually that line won't make any sense to people watching.
posted by john-a-dreams at 6:23 PM on April 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
For a pilot episode, it's pretty amazing how well this comes together. The characters already have great chemistry together (not only Logue and James, but Laura Allen is great with both of them). There's a lot of painless infodumping - we know Dolworth is former police, recently divorced, and has a drinking problem. we meet his former partner, his former partner's current partner, his ex wife, and hear about his ex wife's fiancee. With Pollack, we know he's good at B&E and meet Kate, who we know is in school. And that's not even getting to the land development portion of it.
Terriers was amazing at casually setting up information that ended up being important later - the golf instructor was mentioned as missing before he's found dead, the fiancee is mentioned as an architect long before it becomes important in the storyline, and we hear Reynolds' name before we meet him. This is the sort of stuff that so many TV shows fail at, and it really helps make a couple of the more unbelievable twists easier to swallow.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:03 PM on April 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Terriers was amazing at casually setting up information that ended up being important later - the golf instructor was mentioned as missing before he's found dead, the fiancee is mentioned as an architect long before it becomes important in the storyline, and we hear Reynolds' name before we meet him. This is the sort of stuff that so many TV shows fail at, and it really helps make a couple of the more unbelievable twists easier to swallow.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:03 PM on April 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Huh. Netflix thinks I will love this show, but I didn't enjoy the pilot enough to keep watching. Should I give it another try, or pass? I pushed myself through the first season of Person of Interest on faith and didn't regret it, so I wouldn't begrudge an episode or two of Terriers if it improves (I know that's subjective).
posted by moira at 8:13 PM on April 12, 2016
posted by moira at 8:13 PM on April 12, 2016
Netflix thinks I will love this show, but I didn't enjoy the pilot enough to keep watching. Should I give it another try, or pass?
That was precisely my reaction when I tried watching, but the positive reviews here and in the FPP are making me reconsider giving up on the show.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:17 AM on April 13, 2016
That was precisely my reaction when I tried watching, but the positive reviews here and in the FPP are making me reconsider giving up on the show.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:17 AM on April 13, 2016
Something I forgot until rewatching -- they could have called this show Leaping Into Truckbeds and it would have been more descriptive than Terriers.
posted by Etrigan at 10:12 AM on April 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 10:12 AM on April 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
I missed this show when it was on and didn't see it until I stumbled across it on Netflix a few years back. I have no idea why I watched it. Did I just need noise in the background while working late? Do I just like Donal Logue that much? I have no idea. But it's been on my queue ever since and I refuse to take it off.
posted by Seamus at 11:46 AM on April 13, 2016
posted by Seamus at 11:46 AM on April 13, 2016
I just wanted to add that I adore Winston.
And that it was so weird from seeing this when it aired, with a generally really charming and fun Michael Raymond James, to then seeing his darker turn on True Blood.
posted by TwoStride at 5:53 PM on April 13, 2016
And that it was so weird from seeing this when it aired, with a generally really charming and fun Michael Raymond James, to then seeing his darker turn on True Blood.
posted by TwoStride at 5:53 PM on April 13, 2016
Years too late, but it occurred to me today that one better title for this show--among millions, likely--would have been Shady California. 'Cause you know... California is actually sunny, but these guys are shady and...
Never mind.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:44 AM on April 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Never mind.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:44 AM on April 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's Always Shady in Ocean Beach?
That's not exactly inaccurate, even in real life.
posted by LionIndex at 7:03 PM on April 14, 2016
That's not exactly inaccurate, even in real life.
posted by LionIndex at 7:03 PM on April 14, 2016
I'M SO GLAD i FOUND THIS THREAD!!
a) I only like TV if it's super smart (check) and
b) written by feminists. Check. (Pilot passed Bechdel test, albeit barely, when the lawyer talks to the daughter about her likely fate.) OK, it's definitely a show about men, but so far there are at least multiple female characters with a range of perspectives.
b) I only ever like the first season of anything. It drives my loved ones insane, but that's what it is. So a one season show is perfect for me! (Firefly forever!)
c) I really needed something low-stress, but entertaining and engaging. Check and check.
d) Good acting is key: these guys have great chemistry with each other. I could also believe that the ex-partner cop was really the ex-partner of our hero.
Overall, I am really grooving on this show. Also, I like Shady California.
posted by latkes at 4:03 PM on March 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
a) I only like TV if it's super smart (check) and
b) written by feminists. Check. (Pilot passed Bechdel test, albeit barely, when the lawyer talks to the daughter about her likely fate.) OK, it's definitely a show about men, but so far there are at least multiple female characters with a range of perspectives.
b) I only ever like the first season of anything. It drives my loved ones insane, but that's what it is. So a one season show is perfect for me! (Firefly forever!)
c) I really needed something low-stress, but entertaining and engaging. Check and check.
d) Good acting is key: these guys have great chemistry with each other. I could also believe that the ex-partner cop was really the ex-partner of our hero.
Overall, I am really grooving on this show. Also, I like Shady California.
posted by latkes at 4:03 PM on March 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh I just want to add that I love how they handle the homoeroticism/potential homophobia that hovers around their relationship. Basically, they acknowledge it with comfort.
posted by latkes at 4:07 PM on March 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by latkes at 4:07 PM on March 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
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