Black Sash


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That's a shame, because I like it. Martial arts, a wisecracking old retired master, hot girls, it's pretty much the ideal cheap-entertainment show. It's not deep, but I'm ok with that. Here, it's shown at 10:00 sunday nights, and then they show Fastlane on MTV at 11, so that's two good hours of eye candy and goofy-fun buttkicking.
 

I like it, too. I missed the last episode, but the first two were okay. Like other Tollin-Robbins shows (Smallville, Birds of Prey, Lone Ranger), this series has potential. I just hope it lasts long enough to find what works and what doesn't. (Imagine if Smallville were still stuck in the super-villain-of-the-week formula.)

They've got a strong lead character and actor. I've been a fan of Russel Wong since the Vanishing Son movies. I'm not particularly sold on the teens, but the concept of troubled teens) is good. They're not that great, but not that bad, either. This could be a really great series if the writing were more solid, a little edgier, and the show had more of a direction (which can be said of all Tollin-Robbins shows).

I'd say the show is better than Birds of Prey and Lone Ranger, but still has a ways to go before catching up to Smallville (which is a good show, but not great either).
 
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I dunno,

the show definately has potential but it needs help. Some of the characters are very cliche and as such need further development to make it worthwhile.

It could be good, but it could also get worse. I remain undecided on if I'll add it to the "shows I watch" list and I'll wait for a few more episodes before I decide.

DC
 

Personally, they emphasized too much on teen angst, which is a very bad approach because viewers might think that this is going to be replacing the departing Dawson's Creek series.

The only good element about the show is that the teacher who is a former cop who was framed, spent his time in a Hong Kong prison, and now returns to open the martial arts studio but in need of money to pay his lawyer. Now if they could step that up to include the countinued high expense of maintaining that studio so he has to do more bounty hunting, then that would be great.

Wanna make it more interesting? Turn it into a "Clan Scooby-Doo" mystery-adventure drama show.
 
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I may have jumped the gun on the cancellation thing: I misred the original AICN article. This was a list of USA Today's Gary Levin picks of what is coming back and what was not. So it's not official, but they contend he is rarely wrong.

“Canceled (or near death)”

Abby, Andy Richter, AUSA, Birds of Prey, Black Sash, Bram and Alice, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson’s Creek, Dinotopia
Do Over, Ed, Family Affair, Firefly, Futurama, Girls Club
Greetings From Tucson, Haunted, Hidden Hills, In-Laws
Just Shoot Me, MDs, Miracles, Mister Sterling, Off Centre
On The Spot, Pitts, Presidio Med, Providence, Push, Nevada
Queens Supreme, Regular Joe, Robbery Homicide Division
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, That Was Then, Touched By An Angel, Twilight Zone, Veritas: The Quest
 

It's still early, of course, and Black Sash apparently did a bit better in the ratings last week. But martial arts shows don't last.

Walker: Texas Ranger - 9 seasons
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues - 4 seasons
Jackie Chan Adventures - doing okay so far, 2+ seasons
Martial Law - 2 seasons
Raven - one season
Mortal Kombat: Conquest - one season
Vanishing Son - one season

So some have been fairly successful, but I don't think they've hit upon the right formula in Black Sash for an ongoing series. I hope I'm wrong, though, because Russel Wong rocks.
 

Chun-tzu said:

But martial arts shows don't last.

Walker: Texas Ranger - 9 seasons
I don't know about you but to actually air at least five seasons is success enough.

< sarcasm >

So what was the above show's success formula? ;)

< /sarcasm >
 

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