Re-visited 'Remington Steele' recently, now with more time on my hands with a much needed calmer period after intensive studying, and it is every bit as good as remembered. Had memories of it being brilliant for most of its run before running out of steam in the last season, those recollections proved to be correct. 'Remington Steele' is a very good show and for much of the run more than that, but it deserved a better final season.
Visually, 'Remington Steele' has a very elegant and stylish look throughout, very 80s but strikingly so. Love the slickness of the photography and the beautiful locations, editing is also succinct and the costumes, hair and make-up are both appealing on the eyes and nostalgic. The music has a slinky jazziness to it, never overbearing the action or being discordant with it while having presence and energy. Not easy to forget the main theme either.
The writing is beautifully balanced and cleverly written. The comedy is witty and sophisticated while the romance is both sensual and bubbly, the chemistry between Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist is irresistible. The mysteries are fun and suspenseful and with rarely if ever a rushed or draggy moment, or anything that comes over as ridiculous (excepting the Season 3 finale perhaps).
Brosnan is charismatic, suave and charming and he handles the comedic and serious sides beautifully. Zimbalist is at her loveliest here and her most sparkling, while Doris Roberts is a sheer delight. Zimbalist's real life father Efrem Zimbalist Jnr is suitably commanding.
With so many positive attributes, it feels sad that Season 5 doesn't live up to the rest of the show. There are shows with worse final seasons, like 'Lost' and the US 'House of Cards', but it was disappointing enough to bring things down a little. The energy doesn't sparkle as much and the central chemistry is underused and too hostile.
A triangle is also attempted, but that feels shoe-horned, not of much use and makes one like Laura less), the characters aren't as interesting or well written with development being ignored and there is too much Tony, an irritating character and the show's low-point. Am in two minds as to whether it worked for me or not that 'Remington Steele' ended on an unfinished note.
In conclusion, hugely enjoyable but ended disappointingly. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Visually, 'Remington Steele' has a very elegant and stylish look throughout, very 80s but strikingly so. Love the slickness of the photography and the beautiful locations, editing is also succinct and the costumes, hair and make-up are both appealing on the eyes and nostalgic. The music has a slinky jazziness to it, never overbearing the action or being discordant with it while having presence and energy. Not easy to forget the main theme either.
The writing is beautifully balanced and cleverly written. The comedy is witty and sophisticated while the romance is both sensual and bubbly, the chemistry between Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist is irresistible. The mysteries are fun and suspenseful and with rarely if ever a rushed or draggy moment, or anything that comes over as ridiculous (excepting the Season 3 finale perhaps).
Brosnan is charismatic, suave and charming and he handles the comedic and serious sides beautifully. Zimbalist is at her loveliest here and her most sparkling, while Doris Roberts is a sheer delight. Zimbalist's real life father Efrem Zimbalist Jnr is suitably commanding.
With so many positive attributes, it feels sad that Season 5 doesn't live up to the rest of the show. There are shows with worse final seasons, like 'Lost' and the US 'House of Cards', but it was disappointing enough to bring things down a little. The energy doesn't sparkle as much and the central chemistry is underused and too hostile.
A triangle is also attempted, but that feels shoe-horned, not of much use and makes one like Laura less), the characters aren't as interesting or well written with development being ignored and there is too much Tony, an irritating character and the show's low-point. Am in two minds as to whether it worked for me or not that 'Remington Steele' ended on an unfinished note.
In conclusion, hugely enjoyable but ended disappointingly. 8/10 Bethany Cox