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Wild at Heart (2006)
Great family oriented start, lazy self-righteous series finish
The most awesome part of this series is definitely the featured animals, landscape and local favor depicted (essentially, an African animal preserve). The storyline and arc of early seasons clearly made this a family oriented show which had a message contained within each solved "problem" that doubled as a lesson about life, people and how we should treat each other. Even DuPlusses meddling was for the greater good of those he cared for and more importantly, within reason for how someone might act in real life.
Season 5 and beyond saw these lessons become on-existent with that endearing meddling becoming more about his own needs masked as helping the situation with any lesson that could've been taught clearly no longer the focus. In fact, if one turned to the shows final seasons for any of life's lessons, there would be more immoral theirs and criminals created than the same masses who received fair moral guidance from early episodes.
Dup wreaked havoc on the oil company that wants to purchase the land in clear childish fashion and yet expects his antics to be rewarded with assistance when he needs it even though he clearly would not do the same in return. The heroes becomes the antithesis of people that the world wants to hate; arrogant, self-righteous, entitled. I truly find it sad and an undignified end to a story/series that did it right for so much of its time as a family oriented show. Why would it not just continue focusing on the animals, building (and salvaging) relationships that we should all find important (family), growing pains and guidance overcoming the trials of coming of age (through all age groups)? The formula worked fantastically for 5 years +/- and I believe it could have ended its run without resorting to the unrealistic antics seen in the final couple of seasons. It's what brought this from a 9.5/10 star rating to a 6/7 for me. I just couldn't relate to their resolutions any longer as they moved right out of the realm of believability transforming this once solid series into just another far-fetched fantasy that betrayed all of the good will it had built for itself.
Wild at Heart: Episode #6.8 (2011)
I'm god...
The doctor evaluating the property for status as a protected preserve brought up a point about how much Danny intervenes against nature whereby his reply is he much save life at all costs 'cause he's a vet. It proves her point about interfering with nature's laws as its always been clear that Danny et al have always done what they've liked at all costs, only in the early seasons they were really only saving lives and giving animals the chances they deserved. It's clear that as the seasons have progressed, they've acted more and more like god, creating fates instead of just maintaining the balances offset by human interference.
It's the type of self-righteous soapboxing thats all about their superiority over nature. No way would this in any way mirror the actions of the masses, both in regards to acceptance of questionable behavior but in the actions taken (or not) to ensure their survival as a whole. Yes, the lioness was in labor, appearing in court at the pivotal moment to ensure the preserve's continued existence would cost her her life, but surviving would guarantee the ability to save even more lives in the future. One for many. Difficult decision, of course, but the greater good would be served by its sacrifice. How could one not see that, unless of course one's frog ant enough to believe he or she is the final word when it comes to matters of life and death. Even for physicians it's called a "God Complex" and only a self- important vet would believe its his decision what nature intended.
Again, it's sad, the show demonstrated such great writing and moral implication in its early seasons. It used to clearly show adherence to the spirit of things, (nature, relationships, the law), it was a mutual assistance demonstration of solidarity which morphed into repeated demonstrations of self-righteousness followed by expecting everyone else to be generous and understanding towards their plight. I.e. it's wrong to break the law so I must report and have you punished for your "crime" however, I must break the law as its the only way to prevent continued discomfort, but you shouldn't punish me as I had a "good" reason. To see this show move towards its end with a conversion to a self-righteous, self- serving, chest thumping platform without any moral guidance whatsoever is just sad.
Wild at Heart: Episode #5.10 (2010)
Unrealistic reactions begin to show themselves in the writing.
This could've been a really good season finale episode. Instead, it showcased Dup's inherent dishonest nature and the gullibility of the other members at the "den".
Dup essentially steals the company's money in order to lend it to his son, obviously without consulting anyone. A great opportunity arises to purchase another plot of land and of course the money is not available. Instead of informing his partner and so called family of his actions, Dup goes and attempts to cover up his actions enlisting the help of Liv as a co-conspirator after the fact. He lies to his new wife, partner, and everyone else there in an ever increasing web of deceit. Of course things don't work out for his cover-up and the web only becomes more intricate affecting more and more members of the family.
All in all, that doesn't sound so bad and it wouldn't be if the lesson being taught to the viewers was how to have absolutely no accountability for ones actions regardless of who it hurts. What was a great platform turns into a demonstration of how to corrupt the troubled teen, divert blame and then be forgiven as if nothing occurred at all.
Betrayal is an interesting platform as it occurs on so many levels. What made it unrealistic is the simplistic resolution, which was really just Dup admitting he lied and cheated as well as allowing Liv to take the blame for him regarding the engagement ring. All is forgiven where in reality no person could escape the accountability brought on by such blatant disregard for and disrespect cited upon to everyone. Could jut say "OK, no problem" if someone who was supposed to be your friend/mentor/family stole all of your money, lied repeatedly to your face, and used your already troubled teen daughter as an accomplice and pawn? I know I'd have at least some choice words, need for reform/change and require distance from my impressionable teen who only learned that deceit is OK if you're not caught.
Demonstrating true accountability would have endeared this show as a family friendly viewing experience instead of just a convoluted jumble of contradictions.
Wild at Heart: Episode #6.6 (2011)
Moving further outside the realm of reality...
Part of what makes a show great, like this one in seasons past, is the ability for the viewers to relate to a realistic situation/solution that's presented and rectified. Yes, it's a work of fiction, but when reactions and responses fall so far outside of the realm of how normal folks would react, it's a sign of the decline of a show's viability as a platform for good storytelling.
Case in point; "Dup" and Fartani go snooping in Vanessa's office looking for information about her status as a potential seller. It's a flagrant violation of trust, an invasion of privacy and downright insulting to treat someone you call a "friend" and ally with a straight face. They discover her copy of an offer and confront her in front of the seller, further insinuating their position upon her and demanding her accountability in the shadow of their own moral and ethical violations. How would a normal human being react? Personally, in light of their affront and blatant invasion of my privacy: all bets as an ally are off. In principal alone, especially given that when confronted they treated it as if it was their right to snoop without any apology whatsoever.
Fast forward to Dup's additional scheming to prevent the sale: he steals Danny's passport, attaches Fartani's picture over Danny's and they go together to his solicitor's offices so that he can have ownership of the partnership transferred solely into his name. The solicitor's not as clueless as he believes and contacts Danny to verify the reason Dup nd Fartani attempted to use in order to defraud Danny of his ownership. Upon confrontation, all is easily forgiven without so much as a cross word. How would you react if your "bet friend" and partner just tried to steal your half of the business? I can assure you that it would take more than a giggle and look of understanding to not press charges for identity theft and attempting to defraud me let alone just letting it pass; regardless of the rationale.
When human response to situations fall so far outside reality that no reasonable person would respond in such a manner, it's clear that the show's days are numbered. It's truly a shame as this, like most long running shows, showed so much promise with its story lines and realistic situational resolution before resorting to these cheap and lazy fantastical resolutions.
East Broadway (2006)
A fun movie that is easy to relate to with glimpses into Chinese customs & culture
I had the pleasure of watching Falling For Grace today and it sparked enough interest to have me research it further. You can imagine my surprise to discover that it was released in 2007 yet I'd only come to "stumble upon" it now, almost eight years later. This production was not only refreshing in its originality but in my ability to relate as a Chinese American who was immersed in many of the same situations depicted albeit via the opposite coast in San Francisco. There are definitely ethnic and customs based stories that can and should be told, so I wholeheartedly hope that Fay Ann Lee's mainstream endeavors haven't ended with just this film. We all need stories of perseverance and triumph more than ever; made all the more powerful when it's clearly not entirely a fictional accounting and personally relate-able. For the conviction showed in releasing her film, her way, instead of just supplicating and compromising the integrity of her story: thank you Fay Ann Lee I look forward to what the future brings from you.