My score above is for all of season 2. Big spoilers ahead: This is one of my all time favorite shows and I've watched the whole thing more than once. That said, I freely admit it's not perfect and if you aren't happy at this point, you should probably stop watching.
First, they do the same thing shows have been doing for decades, where they decide to keep Jake and Leslie apart in more and more convoluted ways, which definitely gets frustrating. I think that practice is pretty old fashioned but you either go with it or you don't.
Second, the writing does have issues and might be it's weakest attribute. I obviously still love it overall. The weakest point of a 10 star show is still pretty solid and effective. But they will continue to write not for realism but for the audience's entertainment. Time and again, characters occasionally do things that don't make sense purely to create suspense or just to make the plot work. I always use the example of a few episodes earlier, where Des is in jail and Allison keeps upping the charges against him. There's no good explanation why she couldn't tell Jake why she is doing it, except then the stakes won't be anywhere near as high. There's also no explanation how Rose finds his home in that episode either. I don't see how it's realistically possible. She just does it. Wait until the next episode that involves Des's dad. That's a doozy. I admit, there are frustrating plot points but it's never enough for me to stop watching. But again, I understand how that might not be for everyone.
I also believe Jake is the type guy who will never ever be faithful to one women, even if they are married. He's the embodiment of that meme of the guy holding his girlfriend's hand but turned around to look at another's butt. He's pretty much a sex addict with ADHD. He's like Ferris Bueller- you like watching him on screen but you might not be friends with him in real life. But in the end, I do like him because he's so well meaning and I love the rest of the Doyle clan including Des and Leslie and all their friends. Well, Jake does turn out to be better than Christian and Kathleen in the end. I love the setting in St John's, the feeling of a big, warm, messy family that is filled with love, and the overall vibe of the show.
Yes, it is pretty silly how much Jake gets away with legally. But I'm not sure any show with cops is remotely realistic after all. I'm also really tired of shows where the detective solves crime after crime, proves they're on the side of the law (even if they don't always do things legally) yet each week some cop screams at them to quit their job and stop meddling. Or treats them like a suspect. Ok, Leslie does a minor version of this a lot but that's not what I mean. But now I find shows refreshing where the detective and police can work together or where the detective is given a little leeway. So yeah, the Doyles do rule the town but I can let it go.
If you're looking for gritty reality, this isn't it. Stop watching now. If you love the characters, the setting, some easy excitement - this show is for you.
First, they do the same thing shows have been doing for decades, where they decide to keep Jake and Leslie apart in more and more convoluted ways, which definitely gets frustrating. I think that practice is pretty old fashioned but you either go with it or you don't.
Second, the writing does have issues and might be it's weakest attribute. I obviously still love it overall. The weakest point of a 10 star show is still pretty solid and effective. But they will continue to write not for realism but for the audience's entertainment. Time and again, characters occasionally do things that don't make sense purely to create suspense or just to make the plot work. I always use the example of a few episodes earlier, where Des is in jail and Allison keeps upping the charges against him. There's no good explanation why she couldn't tell Jake why she is doing it, except then the stakes won't be anywhere near as high. There's also no explanation how Rose finds his home in that episode either. I don't see how it's realistically possible. She just does it. Wait until the next episode that involves Des's dad. That's a doozy. I admit, there are frustrating plot points but it's never enough for me to stop watching. But again, I understand how that might not be for everyone.
I also believe Jake is the type guy who will never ever be faithful to one women, even if they are married. He's the embodiment of that meme of the guy holding his girlfriend's hand but turned around to look at another's butt. He's pretty much a sex addict with ADHD. He's like Ferris Bueller- you like watching him on screen but you might not be friends with him in real life. But in the end, I do like him because he's so well meaning and I love the rest of the Doyle clan including Des and Leslie and all their friends. Well, Jake does turn out to be better than Christian and Kathleen in the end. I love the setting in St John's, the feeling of a big, warm, messy family that is filled with love, and the overall vibe of the show.
Yes, it is pretty silly how much Jake gets away with legally. But I'm not sure any show with cops is remotely realistic after all. I'm also really tired of shows where the detective solves crime after crime, proves they're on the side of the law (even if they don't always do things legally) yet each week some cop screams at them to quit their job and stop meddling. Or treats them like a suspect. Ok, Leslie does a minor version of this a lot but that's not what I mean. But now I find shows refreshing where the detective and police can work together or where the detective is given a little leeway. So yeah, the Doyles do rule the town but I can let it go.
If you're looking for gritty reality, this isn't it. Stop watching now. If you love the characters, the setting, some easy excitement - this show is for you.
