MOONLIGHT bites!
MOONLIGHT premieres and bites!
I finally watched Moonlight last night and I was so right, I love it! It's definitely one of the top 5 new TV shows this season (for the full list, click here).
First I'd like to say that I don't know why people keep comparing Moonlight to Angel, because honestly I don't see it. The only similarity between the two shows is that they both are about a vampire in Los Angeles who is a private detective (although in Angel he has a team of people working with him), other than that it's two different shows. The look, the tone and the stories are all different. I would even go as far as saying (and I am going to get so much hate for this) that I liked Moonlight better than Angel. And before you start going like "WTF?!!" let me just say that I loved Angel (even though I liked Buffy better) and I wish it was still on, but if I had to make a choice today between watching Moonlight or Angel (and I wish I never have to make a choice like that but if I had to), I would choose Moonlight (based on the pilot and where I think the show is going). That's how much I loved the pilot.
Here are some reasons why I loved it (might include spoilers if you haven't seen it yet):
Alex O'Loughlin is such a brilliant actor. He has some of the best silent moments where you can see there is so much going on inside him. I noticed him in The Invisible and he was one of the best things about the movie. I think we should look out for him because even if Moonlight doesn't work, he is going to do really well.
Sophia Myles. I have really admired her ever since I saw her in Tristan + Isolde, and was really excited when I found out she was added to the cast. Plus, she is such a likable character in Moonlight.
Jason Dohring. Unlike most Veronica Mars fans, I didn't tune in to Moonlight to see him, but he is a fun addition to the cast. We didn't see much of him in the pilot so I'll hold off on saying anything until we see more of him.
I have to give a shout out to Sophia Myles' character, Beth Turner, for having an iPhone. In fact, I think you should give Moonlight a second chance (if you didn't like the pilot) just because she had an iPhone. Actually one of my friends did that for Journeyman. After I convinced him to watch the pilot, he said he would give it a second chance just because Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd) uses an iPhone. Who said product placement didn't work?!
One negative thing I will say about Moonlight is that the car shots of Mick driving looked really fake. They are going to have to work on that.
The connection between Mick and Beth and their backstory, even though it might not be the most original thing, it totally worked for me. Did it remind anyone of "Sin City" (Nancy Callahan and Hartigan)?
Finally, the thing that brought it home for me, the potential love story! The final moment of the episode, when Beth hugs Mick, that just had me on the edge of my seat. The way Mick looks at Beth, I absolutely loved it. There was so much unsaid. I am such a sucker for "forbidden" love. I just hope they don't wait too long before they get these two together.
Read all of my coverage on Moonlight, which includes lots of videos and photos.
(Photos: Courtesy of CBS)
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Aww, Sandie, I'm glad you liked it. I don't know if I can talk to you anymore now that you've admitted you'd watch Moonlight over Angel
but I am glad you liked it since you were really looking forward to it.
I am so glad to find yet another fan .... I agree with much of what you say although...... in Angel, we find unrequited love, here we find it again, and they both seem to love to hang on the roof top when being broody
however I LOVE IT, and hope and pray that this is the hit I see it as!
love the blog
I knew you would hate me Rae for the "Moonlight" over "Angel" comment. But you know, "Angel" was never one of my favorites from Joss Whedon, I even like "Firefly" better than "Angel" but that doesn't mean I didn't like "Angel," I loved it too. It's just that if I had to rank the shows I love, "Angel" wouldn't be at the top of the top. Oh and I adore Joss Whedon. I am forgiven now?
kystorm, good point about "Angel" I think the point I was trying to make is that if someone liked "Angel" they wouldn't automatically like "Moonlight" and vice versa. I think they appeal to different audiences in some ways. That said, I am so glad you like it too
*thinks it over*
Ok, I guess I can forgive you... the "Firefly" part won me over. I agree with you in your comment to kystorm that there are probably different audiences here. It's interesting reading all of the reactions out there. People I thought would hate it, loved it. The "Buffy-verse" people are all pretty much having the reactions I thought they would (meaning that most of 'em hate it while a select few went in saying that they didn't care about any similarities). There are lots of different reactions to the acting though and I find it fascinating.
I know, I have been reading what people think and it's usually either they love or they hate it.
The thing is though, I don't think those people are the ones that are going to make or break the show. Most people who tuned in and watched "Moonlight" have probably never even been to a TV blog. They are just people that saw advertisement for it and decided to check it out. I call these people, my parents
If I didn't tell them what to watch, they would never go read a TV blog (except mine of course 
).
As far as the acting, you know I think they are amazing.
I loved almost everything about the pilot. I can't wait to see how the romance thing plays out. And like you, I hope they don't wait too long,
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I can see many more similarities between Angel and Moonlight. The black convertible, the petite blond love interest, the incessant popping up behind people from nowhere, and finally the long lost former lover who is supposedly dead but actually isn't. And look at who's doing the showrunning on Moonlight. Our good friend David Greenwalt of Angel showrunning fame.
-Nik