Fairly Legal Thoughts
Jul. 17th, 2012 05:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iaria+ My biggest issue with the latter half of the season was how the Justin/Kate/Ben triangle played out.
I liked Kate and Ben's relationship for the most part. Their bickering was a lot of fun and I enjoyed them even after things took a turn for the romantic. I also liked how the show dealt with Justin and Ben - neither was made the bad guy and there was no real posturing or competing between them. But Kate/Justin increasingly didn't work for me. I disliked how uneven their relationship became and how passive Kate suddenly was.
Another thing I hated was how the show kept hammering that Ben was better for Kate than Justin. How he was more in sync with her (listening to the same music at the same time!), that he got her better (knowing her perfect apartment) and that Justin was too straight-laced for her. I really hated how that sort of stuff became increasingly prevalent.
Although I did kind of love how Ben was playing a long-game - being friendly and supportive but not actually giving up on Kate. It should maybe skeeve me out or come off as him being a 'Nice Guy' but it didn't? Possibly because Ben's never tried to sell himself as a good guy and is always there to help Kate when she needs it? When he was on the balcony in the final scene of the season revealing he was Kate's new neighbour I was mostly just very amused by it.
+ Justin's one-night stand was wrong and Kate refusing to start a romantic relationship with him again would have been completely understandable. And I actually liked how the fall out from that revelation went.
But Kate's emotional affair felt even wronger to me. She slept with Justin again because she was running away from her feelings for Ben. Okay, that's fine. But she didn't just stop there, and even knowing that she wanted Ben, she let things with Justin escalate. From sleeping together sometimes, to accepting when he told her he wanted to date again, to planning on moving in together she let Justin believe she wanted to get back together, that they had a chance. And all the while you have her giving Ben longing looks and sharing meaningful glances with him behind Justin's back (sometimes literally!)
I can sympathize with Kate being afraid and reacting by clinging to what she knows is safe but what she did to Justin felt really cruel.
+ My favourite part of the first season was the Kate/Lauren relationship so I'm not pleased how much it was back-burnered this season. I feel like the antagonistic relationship between them was wrapped up far too quickly even though I do love them having each others backs. I was also disappointed by how Kate moving in with Lauren was completely wasted.
+ Still love the Kate/Leo relationship but I would like if next season would have them becoming actual friends - with them hanging out after work and Leo talking to Kate about his personal life.
+ I really liked getting to see more of Judge Nicastro. I like the actor a lot and I loved his interaction with Kate and Lauren.
+ I'm not sure why Kate didn't tell Lauren her suspicions about Archer. I mean she told him! With Lauren seemingly getting more involved with him it's definitely something she deserved to know. Especially considering her "people change" defense. I'd think she'd like, certainly she deserves, to know that he lied to her about saving the day. Or at least Kate's suspicions about it. If Lauren wouldn't believe her at least she would be able to make a choice having all the knowledge available.
I liked Kate and Ben's relationship for the most part. Their bickering was a lot of fun and I enjoyed them even after things took a turn for the romantic. I also liked how the show dealt with Justin and Ben - neither was made the bad guy and there was no real posturing or competing between them. But Kate/Justin increasingly didn't work for me. I disliked how uneven their relationship became and how passive Kate suddenly was.
Another thing I hated was how the show kept hammering that Ben was better for Kate than Justin. How he was more in sync with her (listening to the same music at the same time!), that he got her better (knowing her perfect apartment) and that Justin was too straight-laced for her. I really hated how that sort of stuff became increasingly prevalent.
Although I did kind of love how Ben was playing a long-game - being friendly and supportive but not actually giving up on Kate. It should maybe skeeve me out or come off as him being a 'Nice Guy' but it didn't? Possibly because Ben's never tried to sell himself as a good guy and is always there to help Kate when she needs it? When he was on the balcony in the final scene of the season revealing he was Kate's new neighbour I was mostly just very amused by it.
+ Justin's one-night stand was wrong and Kate refusing to start a romantic relationship with him again would have been completely understandable. And I actually liked how the fall out from that revelation went.
But Kate's emotional affair felt even wronger to me. She slept with Justin again because she was running away from her feelings for Ben. Okay, that's fine. But she didn't just stop there, and even knowing that she wanted Ben, she let things with Justin escalate. From sleeping together sometimes, to accepting when he told her he wanted to date again, to planning on moving in together she let Justin believe she wanted to get back together, that they had a chance. And all the while you have her giving Ben longing looks and sharing meaningful glances with him behind Justin's back (sometimes literally!)
I can sympathize with Kate being afraid and reacting by clinging to what she knows is safe but what she did to Justin felt really cruel.
+ My favourite part of the first season was the Kate/Lauren relationship so I'm not pleased how much it was back-burnered this season. I feel like the antagonistic relationship between them was wrapped up far too quickly even though I do love them having each others backs. I was also disappointed by how Kate moving in with Lauren was completely wasted.
+ Still love the Kate/Leo relationship but I would like if next season would have them becoming actual friends - with them hanging out after work and Leo talking to Kate about his personal life.
+ I really liked getting to see more of Judge Nicastro. I like the actor a lot and I loved his interaction with Kate and Lauren.
+ I'm not sure why Kate didn't tell Lauren her suspicions about Archer. I mean she told him! With Lauren seemingly getting more involved with him it's definitely something she deserved to know. Especially considering her "people change" defense. I'd think she'd like, certainly she deserves, to know that he lied to her about saving the day. Or at least Kate's suspicions about it. If Lauren wouldn't believe her at least she would be able to make a choice having all the knowledge available.
