Hatrack River Forum: The Middleman

This is topic The Middleman in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

New show I kinda like.

Based on a graphic novel series I kinda like. Basic concept is sort of a weirder, more super-heroic, less alien-centric version of Men in Black.

Zany fun.

Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :

The banter on this one's fun. In this scene, Ida is a robot gone bad.

Middleman: You cannot harm me, or, through inaction, allow me to come to harm.

Ida: Kiss my Asimov.

--

I also enjoy when they make consistent refrences to something throughout the show (like the episode where every place name and character name was an oblique refrence to Back To the Future III), and I'm always sad when I'm not in on whatever they're refrencing.

Not every episode's a gem, but when it goes well it's fun.

Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :

I caught one episode with a vampire puppet. Reminded me of an old Buffy episode. The commercials for it looked incredibly stupid but its smarter than I was expecting.

Posted by Dan_Frank (Member # 8488) on :

It makes me sad that they seem so intent on keeping the Middleman and Wendy's relationship completely platonic. After seeing so many TV shows where main characters were thrust together lamely and for no believable reason, I finally see a show where the pair actually have really good chemistry, and it's the one time the creators don't thrust the main characters together. [Frown]

Nevertheless, it's a pretty cool show. Cheesy, but usually not so much so that it detracts significantly from the story, and with surprisingly good writing and banter.

My favorite scenes are probably all the ones where people discuss !!!, the energy drink.

Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Dan_Frank:
It makes me sad that they seem so intent on keeping the Middleman and Wendy's relationship completely platonic. After seeing so many TV shows where main characters were thrust together lamely and for no believable reason, I finally see a show where the pair actually have really good chemistry, and it's the one time the creators don't thrust the main characters together.

That's because the story of Wendy and her "he's not gay, he's in film school!" boyfriend isn't over, and because the creators are more interested in having an ongoing flirtation between the Middleman and Lacey. [Smile]

Posted by scholarette (Member # 11540) on :

I don't want Middleman and Wendy to get together. I love having a show where a straight man and a straight woman are friends with no hanky panky between them. And I like him with Lacey, though I imagine that whoever he is already in love with will be an interesting story.

Posted by Dan_Frank (Member # 8488) on :

quote:
Originally posted by scholarette:
I don't want Middleman and Wendy to get together. I love having a show where a straight man and a straight woman are friends with no hanky panky between them. And I like him with Lacey, though I imagine that whoever he is already in love with will be an interesting story.

I wish more shows had straight men and straight women as friends with no hanky panky. But as it happens, I love the chemistry these two have together, and think in this case, there ought to be some hanky panky.

Also, I think the Lacey romance is pretty reprehensible, actually. I think the way they first "got together" is creepy, I think they have nothing in common, no onscreen chemistry, and generally just make no sense as a couple.

Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

Stating she's an a conceptual artist and him quipping that some have referred to him as one as well is "creepy"? [Smile]

Posted by Dan_Frank (Member # 8488) on :

No, stalking him because she thinks he's sexy looking is creepy.

I love the Middleman, and I don't think anything he does is particularly creepy. But Lacey varies between boring and contemptible. She has very few redeeming qualities, in my opinion, and the few she has all pertain to her relationship with Wendy. I really can't swallow her and the Middleman, at all.

Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

The Middleman: The Complete Series DVD set is due out this summer, and a new graphic novel set in the TV show's continuity is in the works. If they do well, then there's a chance of seeing new live action projects with the characters.

Hopefully next time on something higher profile than the Family Channel. [Wink]