Rubicon [**SPOILERS**]

JP Liz V1

AMC will offer viewers a sneak peek at its new original series Rubicon immediately following the season finale of Breaking Bad on Sunday, June 13.
Rubicon stars James Badge Dale (The Pacific) as Will Travers, an analyst at a New York-based government intelligence agency, who begins to uncover a complex conspiracy following a shocking tragedy. Miranda Richardson and Arliss Howard co-star. Rubicon is executive-produced by Henry Bromell (Homicide: Life on the Street).
The thriller officially premieres on Sunday, August 1

Promo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO__kZJ9M9A

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Weird, I wrote a short film called Rubicon last year...
That trailer didn't really impress me - unless I hear great things, I don't see myself watching it...

Richard Dower

http://www.amctv.com/originals/Rubicon/

http://www.tv.com/rubicon/show/78960/summary.html

Anyone seen the pilot?, comments?

chalkitdown1

I'll be watching it tonight. Looking forward to it.

Mr E

Threads merged.

Searchy searchy, Mr. Dower.

Watching it now. Its a bit.... dry.

opr

Word of warning the pilot is a teaser and the show itself doesn't start till August so you will have a bit of a wait.

Opr

Richard Dower

Watched the pilot, very slow paced....hadly any insight into potential plot or arc, it was quite dreary tbh. Nice to see Jessica Collins here (The Miniature Killer - CSI), but overall it was rather dull.

expectationlost

code in crosswords reallly!

Im expecting gleeman to start singing and clicking his fingers?

good to see lord wahtshisname on tv again

Richard Dower

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/news/a251401/james-badge-dale-teases-rubicon.html

I can't see myself watching this, now that even the actors confirm the slow pace, aka boring.

Conor108

Anyone seen this? Pilots doing the rounds in the usual places. Not too sure what to make of it from the promo. Looks like its got Leckie from 'The Pacific'.

Mr E

First episode was about 6 weeks ago. Threads merged.

Richard Dower

Ratings winner, for AMC: http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/08/02/rubicon-is-amcs-highest-rated-original-series-premiere-ever/58851

I'll watch the second ep. later on, but i just don't feel it's my type of show.....

JP Liz V1

The two-hour premiere of AMC's conspiracy thriller Rubicon delivered 2 million viewers Sunday, making it the highest-rated series debut in the network's history.

speedboatchase

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

The two-hour premiere of AMC's conspiracy thriller Rubicon delivered 2 million viewers Sunday, making it the highest-rated series debut in the network's history.

In fairness it's only their third-ever show. I expect Waking the Dead will trounce that record soon

FreeOSCAR

Just watched the Pilot Preview show and wasn't overly impressed by it.

I realize that there is a proper pilot out now thats 2 hours long, is it worth watching the next hour?

Richard Dower

The second ep. is better, it's still slowed paced but there is more of the conspiracy element in the second ep., i thought it was better then the pilot....i'll watch the third tonight.

Richard Dower

Ep. 3 - much the same, it's a very low budget show....very slow paced, again with this ep. we got a few pointers and insight into the conspiracy element, you're getting tiny bits each week. It seems like the writers would go for character development, but i've seen very little in three eps.

These guys are supposed to be analysts, but the office looks like...an office, an office with little in it, you barely see a computer or a phone, i've never seen such a bare office in my life.

This is not high tech CTU....it looks like a side street company going out of business!, even the main entrance has one guard and a couple of black & white tv screens, all the tech seems to be from the early 80's or something, you'd imagine these guys would be hold up in some swanky office block, but no....maybe that's the point?, overall i am gonna stick with it a bit more.

But i'm not sure it's everyone's cup of cha.

The Black Oil

The pacing's glacial, but that doesn't bother me terribly. There's not much in terms of character or an overall plot, but it has my interest for the moment. If the plot doesn't demonstrate more forward momentum as we get deeper into the series I'll probably stop watching.

Richard Dower

I'm giving it another 2/3 eps. to see....i like the intro music when the credits roll, ep. 4 tonight.

Richard Dower

Love the opening theme:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZVPM88m-58

Richard Dower

Episode 4 was the best thus far, why?....because we got the see the analysts DO there job, crunch data, make BIG decisions like deciding should they kill a Al Queda bad guy, then weighing up collateral damage and civillian casualities etc., it gave a bit of depth to thse guys....it showed the decisions they make kill people and also how it effects the team on a personal level.

The main arc, little to nothing, few bits of info on the 7 names, but i thought the scenes of them in Washington tryna justify there budget etc were good.
I'll stick with it a bit longer.

The Black Oil

Agreed on that. It was a good episode as we got to see them working away and without Will, too.

I think I was a little wary initially as I'd seen the trailer for The Adjustment Bureau before Inception and the former had a similar vibe to Rubicon, in some respects.

Skerries

it is a slow burner but i'm going to stick with it to see where it goes, it probably won't make it passed the first series

Ludo

Watched the first 2 episodes of this over the weekend. Must say that I really enjoyed it. As other people have said, it is not to everyones taste. I am looking forward to watching the next three episodes tonight.
Can't see it lasting too long though unfortunately.

Richard Dower

^ per comments above about not lasting long:

Rubicon
- 1.140 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.2/1 A18-49

A 0.2 A18-49 is woeful, it started out of the gate strong but has dropped each week....and we're only 5 episodes in, AMC will probably play out the series....but i can't see a renewal.

This week we got more on the conspiracy, but one thing i find is the show is rather confusing, it's hard to get to know the characters and who is who.

Review of ep. 5 (cotains spoilers) http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/08/rubicon-episode-5.html

Richard Dower

Rubicon to air on BBC4: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a268369/bbc-four-to-air-rubicon-in-the-uk.html

BBC Four has now revealed that Rubicon will air as part of its Autumn and Winter 2010/2011 season

Richard Dower

I thought ep. 6 was pretty solid, but a copule of romance scenes were just bizarre, they just do not fit the show!

Will's paranoia is now rampant when

he finds bugs in his appartment/mobile phone

, his sense of paranioa was palpable, then he gets a call from Jessica Collins to "come over" ...lol!, he missed out on getting laid over his paranoia, happens :-)

I find Jessica Collins rather attractive, she has this old fashioned and rather classy look about her....she's not stunning by any measure, has very strong facial features and cheekbones, a rather 30's kinda Hepburn look about her....nice body too!

But we had a couple of bizarre scenes which eluded to romances in the offing, we could do wthout that in the overall scheme, but i guess they were light relief.

I'm still preplexed as to who is whom and the names of all the players, but it's grabbed my attention...this ep. was much better in terms of the overall conspiracy/arc.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/08/rubicon-wills-on-the-run.html

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/rubicon_recap_booty_call.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389371/board

I think for most people or your average viewer...they'll find this show though going, not just in pacing but presentation and characterisation, it has alot of loose ends and red herrings, scenes that seem insignificant later become rather important.

It can be quite confusing at times, getting to know the names and who is who, it's a "thinking mans" show, tweenies need not apply.

Richard Dower

Ratings for the latest ep. up a bit:

Rubicon
- 1.306 million viewers
- 0.8/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49

Note the 100% increase in A18-49 numbers compared to last week, it's still very much touch and go for renewal, but....it's a very cheap show and AMC have a tendency to give shows a chance.

The Black Oil

I'm enjoying it a bit more now. It's progressing. I think it picked up after a different set of writers were used from episode 4 or so onwards.

Here's a review of episode 4.

Richard Dower

I heard the original showrunner left, thus we might be seeing the new direction as you stated.

Richard Dower

Is Rubicon boring? http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/08/31/rubicon-is-not-boring-and-neither-is-mad-men/2#comments

Richard Dower

Hmmm, seems to be getting more critical attention: http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/09/04/rubicon-amc-review/

Must admit, i look forward to Rubicon now.

Richard Dower

Woo!...ep. 7 is supposed to be the best so far, with API on lockdown due to a spy.

Richard Dower

Review of last night ep. - which i haven't seen as yet, i'll watch it later tonight with The gates: http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2010/09/06/rubicon-watch-lie-to-me/

The Black Oil

Episode 7 could have been a real sidestep or even a step backwards, but it was alright. A few too many

FBI bods around the place, though. The polygraph stuff was perhaps a little tepid and probably some sort of diversion. It was good to see the team under a different kind of pressure - individually and collectively. Spangler must know someone's been through his desk..

Richard Dower

It was ok, all those FBI agents seemed out of place, when you consider how low key the rest of the series has been, that owl creeps me out!

Richard Dower

Ep. 8 tonight....they best start moving things along and give us the plot!

Richard Dower

Very strong ep. lots of twists and reveals. Finally some answers as to who is involved in Atlas McDowell and the players. Also loved the whole interrogation on site with Tanya and yer man, Caleb is a snealy so-n-so!, but his logic rattting out Maggie is solid and undeniable.

Very well written ep. as well, think best of the season thus far....we got a few answers and pointers in this ep., look forward to next week!

Richard Dower

I like reading the LA Times blog on Rubicon, they give a good overview of each ep.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/09/rubicon-.html

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/13/rubicon/

http://www.tvfanatic.com/2010/09/rubicon-review-caught-in-the-suck/

Mr E

Glad to hear it picks up. I've nothing against slow series as long as there is a pay off. I haven't started watching this (other than the early pilot) but I'll lash through it in a couple of nights when I get a chance.

PhiloCypher

Mr E wrote: »

Glad to hear it picks up. I've nothing against slow series as long as there is a pay off. I haven't started watching this (other than the early pilot) but I'll lash through it in a couple of nights when I get a chance.

I think its fair to say conspiracy films and 24 have trained us to expect global conspiracies to be unraveled in a 24 hour period making Rubicon quite a jarring change of pace at first , but unless they are going to have our intrepid Will unravelling a new global conspiracy every season the slow reveal is necessary (albeit potentially frustrating if the show is cancelled)

Richard Dower

The ratings, even for AMC, are quite poor....they won't announce a decision on renewal or cancellation until the season plays out, do i think it deserves renewal?...i'm undecided as of now, it all depends how the last few eps. play out.

Ratings for Sunday, still poor:

Rubicon
- 1.115 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.2/0 A18-49

The Black Oil

Hard to know with the ratings and how they will be read by AMC.

Really enjoyed episode 8, I think pretty much everyone got a fair amount of screen time and it was good to see Miles and Tanya outside of the office.

Richard Dower

AMC's criteria are different for other cable shows, the threshold for renewal is lower....but the ratings are still the worst of all three AMC shows, i expect Walking Dead to be a hit. Thus it's hard to say if it'll get renewed or not, the fan and critical response overall is very mixed, many say it's boring and goes nowhere.

The Don

I'm enjoying the slow pace of this show. There is a lot of character development and the latest episode is the best so far. They are doing well at showing what working in the intelligence community must be like. Good to see more about Atlas McDowell.

They seem to be following a set plan for the shows seasons and I hope it doesn't get axed as its a welcome change from the usual over the top fare.

Richard Dower

Info packed article: http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/16/Rubicon-james-badge-dale/

Richard Dower

Interesting, in tonights ep. Will

bangs the hot artist wan next door, is she legit or is she working for higher powers?

Richard Dower

K...here we go.

Richard Dower

So, episode 9....LOL!...ok are these guys being serious?, Will calls over at midnight to hot arttist girl and she instantly invites him in, after a sarnie and bottle of veno they do the dirty??????

Stretching belivaibily to the max on this plotpoint....i just thought the whole scenario was unreal and very unlike how the show has portrayed characters and events, but....i think Andy is a plant, i think she's working for the conspirators.

We get closer and closer now to Atlas McDowell and it's founding fathers being found out, how long before katherine Rhumor meets up with Will?....Katherine walks by API, that camera musta seen her!

The members of Atlas are getting weeded out one by one now with that picture, it's starting to build steam this show.

Reviews: http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2010/09/20/rubicon-watch-movin-out/

http://booktoscreen.blogspot.com/

Respected Ken Tucker loving this show more: http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/09/19/rubicon-season-1-episode-9/

Oh!..i just had a brainwave!!!!...what if hot artist girl is murdered in the finale and it gets pinned on Will!!!!

Stokolan

Is this show worth the watch?

Richard Dower

Depends what you're taste is, if you're willing to endure the very VERY slow pace, i suggest you read the links and comments here. You need to be patient, it's not a show for the braindead.