After an interesting and generally solid if inconsistent Season 1, there were high expectations for Season 2. Which in general was most watchable and interesting, with enough good and more episodes, but the quality was similarly inconsistent. And of course there are always high expectations when watching any season opener and there were for Season 2's first episode "Wet Saturday". Especially considering the director, two members of the cast and because the previous season ended so wonderfully.
"Wet Saturday" sadly turned out to be a very disappointing start for Season 2 and doesn't leave one with a good feeling of how the rest of the season will map out. There are good things and it has its moments, but "Wet Saturday" should have been much better. Actually found it hard to believe that it was directed by the master of suspense himself and that it came from the same director responsible for one of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' best episodes "Breakdown". Not a good sign.
It looks pretty good, with some nice atmosphere in the photography. The main theme has a devillish quality and irony. Hitchcock's bookending is suitably droll.
Cedric Hardwicke gives by far the episode's best performance, in a restrained, nuanced turn with moments of suitable dryness. John Williams is similarly very expressive and doesn't overdo or underplay and his face tells a lot.
Tita Purdom however is another story entirely, am going to agree with everybody that thought she was awful and bad enough to completely unbalance the episode. Have not seen such painful overacting in a long time and she comes over as really irritating (as does her character, who becomes unbearable quite quickly). One of the worst performances of the entire series and that is saying quite a bit. Hitchcock's direction lacks suspense and any kind of atmosphere, actually got the sense that his heart wasn't in it and that was unlike him at this stage of his career where he was making some of his best films. If you compare this and "Breakdown" for example, it is like a completely different person directed them.
Also think that "Wet Saturday" is far too heavy on the talk and too much of it felt like padding. Some of it is very over-heated and hammy. Am aware that it was aiming for the tongue in cheek approach, but this wasn't done very well in my view. Coming over as unintentionally funny and overboard on the silliness. The story lacks any kind of suspense or tension, is rather slow going, is pretty silly and feels too thin for the length. The conclusion is forgettable at best and felt anti-climactic.
Very disappointing overall. 4/10.
"Wet Saturday" sadly turned out to be a very disappointing start for Season 2 and doesn't leave one with a good feeling of how the rest of the season will map out. There are good things and it has its moments, but "Wet Saturday" should have been much better. Actually found it hard to believe that it was directed by the master of suspense himself and that it came from the same director responsible for one of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' best episodes "Breakdown". Not a good sign.
It looks pretty good, with some nice atmosphere in the photography. The main theme has a devillish quality and irony. Hitchcock's bookending is suitably droll.
Cedric Hardwicke gives by far the episode's best performance, in a restrained, nuanced turn with moments of suitable dryness. John Williams is similarly very expressive and doesn't overdo or underplay and his face tells a lot.
Tita Purdom however is another story entirely, am going to agree with everybody that thought she was awful and bad enough to completely unbalance the episode. Have not seen such painful overacting in a long time and she comes over as really irritating (as does her character, who becomes unbearable quite quickly). One of the worst performances of the entire series and that is saying quite a bit. Hitchcock's direction lacks suspense and any kind of atmosphere, actually got the sense that his heart wasn't in it and that was unlike him at this stage of his career where he was making some of his best films. If you compare this and "Breakdown" for example, it is like a completely different person directed them.
Also think that "Wet Saturday" is far too heavy on the talk and too much of it felt like padding. Some of it is very over-heated and hammy. Am aware that it was aiming for the tongue in cheek approach, but this wasn't done very well in my view. Coming over as unintentionally funny and overboard on the silliness. The story lacks any kind of suspense or tension, is rather slow going, is pretty silly and feels too thin for the length. The conclusion is forgettable at best and felt anti-climactic.
Very disappointing overall. 4/10.