Ah, The Veil, the show that's like a secret agent with a fake British accent—trying to infiltrate the world of prestige spy thrillers but ending up more like a bumbling intern who accidentally spills coffee on classified documents. Buckle up, my fellow espionage enthusiasts, because we're about to dissect this six-episode rollercoaster of confusion, questionable decisions, and more plot holes than a Swiss cheese factory.
Picture this: The Veil is the lovechild of James Bond and Carmen Sandiego, conceived during a high-stakes poker game in a dimly lit Parisian alley. It's got all the ingredients for a gripping spy thriller: shadowy organizations, double agents, and enough secrets to fill the Library of Congress. But alas, it stumbles like a tipsy MI6 agent trying to chase down a villain on cobblestone streets.
Our heroines, Imogen and Adilah, are on the run. They're like Jason Bourne and Lara Croft, minus the cool gadgets and charisma. The show's premise? Well, it's as clear as a foggy London morning. Something about a mysterious veil (hence the title) that grants superpowers or maybe just a killer skincare routine. Honestly, I lost track.
The finale, titled "The Cottage," promised answers. Instead, it delivered more questions than a pop quiz in a foreign language. Imogen and Adilah—our dynamic duo—stumble upon a cottage (because where else would you hide from international assassins?). And there, they confront their fate. Spoiler alert: Fate wears a trench coat and speaks in riddles.
Let's meet the cast, shall we?
Max: The token American. He's like a walking stereotype—loud, obnoxious, and probably owns a "Freedom Fries" T-shirt. Max's heroic ending? A bullet wound that's less threatening than a paper cut. But hey, at least he didn't spill his Big Gulp on the secret plans.
Malik: The suave Frenchman. He's the kind of guy who sips wine while defusing bombs. His patience with Max deserves a Nobel Prize. Also, he's in love with Imogen, who's too busy interrogating Michael (another spy) to notice. Talk about a complicated love triangle.
Michael: The enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a man-bun. His British accent? About as authentic as a Buckingham Palace guard breakdancing. But hey, he's got secrets, and secrets are currency in the spy world. Also, he's the reason Imogen's throat remains unslashed. Thanks, Michael.
Remember those moments when characters just stood around, staring into the abyss? Yeah, The Veil has more of those than a meditation retreat. The dialogue? Sparse. The action? Scarcer. It's like watching a chess match where the pieces refuse to move. Maybe they're waiting for a plot twist to checkmate them.
The Veil had potential—the kind that makes you lean forward, spill your popcorn, and whisper, "What's happening?" But alas, it squandered it faster than a lottery winner at a casino. Elisabeth Moss's fake British accent? Let's just say it's faker than a knockoff Rolex sold by a guy named Vinnie in a back alley.
So, my dear viewers, skip The Veil. Instead, rewatch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or binge-watch Alias. Or better yet, become a spy yourself. At least then you'll have a valid excuse for lurking in dark corners and wearing sunglasses indoors. Remember, the real veil is the one that hides the remote control when you're searching for it during a thrilling finale.
And with that, I vanish into the shadows, leaving you with this parting advice: If life hands you a veil, make sure it's not just a fancy curtain. :dark_sunglasses::mag:
Every single episode:
Velma/Teddi: Hey Colter, we got a new one for you. Reward is something of tens of thousands and it's in Generic City.
Colter: Oh, Generic City? It's only 122,30 miles from me and I'll be there in 58min and 29 seconds.
Parent/Spouse/Friend/Offspring: I know Grandma was a hardcore porn addicted, but it's not like her to go missing. IT'S NOT LIKE HER.
Local police: Yeah, grandma was bat shit cray cray no worth looking any further. And get out of my city. And checking John Doe is a waste of time.
Colter: Hey John Doe, where is grandma?
John Doe: I told the cops we were dating, they didn't listen. Must have been something to do with her cock fight betting. Me and granny were in love.
Cock fight Ring Leader: Yeah, bitch owed me a couple grand, so I made her cook me chicken soup until her debt was paid. You'll never find her.
(some 15 mins of Fights, lurking, gun tossing, calls to local police, Reenie, Bobby, Tedi, Velma and Scooby Doo)
Grandma: Who are you?
Colter: Hi, Grandma, your _____ hired me to find you. You're safe now. Let's go.
Grandma: They'll never let me leave.
Colter: Follow my lead as I used to do with my dad when he showed me how to survive in the woods.
Local police: Yeah, it was good working together. You shared a lot about your dad, hope you find more, since the audience hasn't had an update since the 1st episode.
Grandma (at home): Thanks for saving me.
Colter: You should thank the person who was looking for you. (that is by far my favorite lol).
Person who hired him: (slides check like all their money isn't gone and they will eat nothing but roaches for about 2 years before recovering financially) Thank you so much.
Anybody: hey let's do something.
Colter: Nah, I don't socialize and need to brood about my dad's death, while I do jack shit to solve it.
I started watching Harry's Law expecting another law procedural, but the first season totally took me by surprise. It was unique, funny, and more of an evolving story than a separate-episode procedural. Harry's Law set the bar pretty high in its first season. The unexpected mix of law firm + shoe store, the ghetto neighborhood, the balance between jokes and serious situations, was quirky and fun and quite honestly really awesome to watch.
Then season 2 came and all went to the garbage bin. Harry's Law became more like Boston Legal part 2, the fun and unique moments reduced to a strict minimum to entertain the viewership. The ghetto aspect was gone, the shoe store almost a gimmick because they couldn't just cut it, and aside from the pageant episode that had me LMAO'ing to the top of my lungs, it had lost its unique charm that had made me fall in love with it.
Is season 2 good? Yes, very. But not even close to the awesomeness of season 1, which is why this show got axed. It just didn't live up to its stellar debut and that's such a loss because there was a lot of material to explore, had the show stuck to it roots.
However, I'm now very very much a fan of Nathan Corddry and Kathy Bates, and I believe Harry's Law was worth watching if only to discover these two actors that I hadn't seen extensively before, and to understand what an original law series could bring to the table vs other traditional procedurals.
