The Last Ship - could've been worse

[YJ02]

So far the ratings are good for an easy renewal. TNT has to be especially encouraged that the audience held and there was no week two drop off like occurs a lot - that is a first sign it may have legs.

And I agree - I especially like seeing our military not being portrayed as buffoons or psychos for once. They do have navy advisors and unlike some other shows they seem to be actually listening to them.

Finally, they are getting the TONE and the atmosphere right so far. I hope they keep it up.

The Al Qaeda thing was done well...but the fact that they did it was questionable. Again, I am seeing this show weaving all sorts of elements into the show in a mostly successful attempt to appeal to a wide audience. There are elements for left wingers, right wingers, religious people, people of color, the LBGT community, and exercizes in Humanity. That is quite a large trophy to be handing to this show after just two episodes, but it deserves it. I could even see the ratings for this going UP from where it is.

I am still trying to place it in a genre. It is, as unlikely as it might seem, genuine science fiction. I would place it in the Science Fiction/Action Adventure genre, and add a toss of Post Apocalyptic to it. But since it is in contemporary time, and using conventional sets and locations, it feels more like something else. What I am grateful for:

No zombies, aliens or supernatural creatures,
Realism in terms of the military, the civilian portrayals, and the premise.
(Evidently) actual collaboration with the Navy on decorum and operations aboard the ship and on land.
Actual science being used to find the cure (synthesizing the vaccine, needing the primordial sample, etc). No magic here, no alien organism.

What a pleasant surprise for a new show!

I would say it fits into whatever genre the original ON THE BEACH fit into as a place to start. I don't know--how about military sci fi of a type?

JOE, I was wondering ,since you did some research , Happen to see if real navy ships carry a complement of M4 rifles, ammo, kevlar helmets and PBA(personnel body armor)? Or is this just Hollywood? Naval personnel are not trained on small arms unless they are going to be a "master at arms (MP)", SEABEE or unless/until one goes to SEAL training

 

[Joelist]

As it turns out the escort classes (like the Burke's) do indeed carry that equipment. It started when we started having them doing duty in waterways on anti-smuggling and anti-pirate work, both of which require tactically equipped boarding parties. The big boys (CVNs) carry their own Marine contingent and of course LHAs and the like have actual ground combat units embarked.

 

[Rac80]

we watched episode two last night and are still pleased with it! I agree w/OM- can't quite categorize the show but they are doing everything right- not draaaaammaaaaa but not robotic either! science fiction seems the best category- no fantasy elements thus far (knock on wood) so here's hoping it continues on!

 

[Joelist]

And episode three is watched.

Still holding up pretty well. The ruse they played on the old Russian BC (which only worked because it is older) has a grounding in real world military stunts to confuse radar. They even remembered to mention the need to cut the foil to the exact correct length and have it at the correct angle relative to the Russian ship and the horizon. In fact it has been used to confuse missile radars in exercises, with helos from ships with enterprising captains trailing lengths of foil to appear as a ship to the missile.

The Russian Admiral seems a good opponent over the longer term, and I am guessing the guy locked in the sealed room is either their version of Doctor Scott or an immune carrier that they are trying to use to create a serum. Pacing was still good, the atmosphere and tension still good and acting still good. There was a little interpersonal stuff (about 90 seconds all told) but if you have zero then the characters don't come off as human beings so I can tolerate some so long as it serves the plot - which this did - and not the other way around.

 

[shavedape]

I'm sorry but my eyes almost rolled out of my head when that one serious young soldier said to the girl: "I love you. Now stay away from me!"

 

[Joelist]

I'm sorry but my eyes almost rolled out of my head when that one serious young soldier said to the girl: "I love you. Now stay away from me!"

Why? He also explained why - her presence messed up his ability to think clearly in the situation. How much time did all the interpersonal stuff take? Maybe 90 seconds. Did it serve the plot? Yes. He understood that he had to keep away from her to do his duty - and did so.

 

[Overmind One]

we watched episode two last night and are still pleased with it! I agree w/OM- can't quite categorize the show but they are doing everything right- not draaaaammaaaaa but not robotic either! science fiction seems the best category- no fantasy elements thus far (knock on wood) so here's hoping it continues on!

Yes, science fiction seems the best genre for this. But it is so different for science fiction! Present day, no laser guns or floating HUD displays, no futuristic devices or talking AI, it is very refreshing. And so believable! Chillingly plausible. Not much needed for suspension of belief at all. Im getting ready to watch episode 3.

 

[Joelist]

This week's installment is more towards the military adventure end of the spectrum definitely. There's a bit on the virus but it is definitely more towards military adventure.

 

[Overmind One]

This week's installment is more towards the military adventure end of the spectrum definitely. There's a bit on the virus but it is definitely more towards military adventure.

I dont know if anyone here is as deeply into Star Trek as I am, but the fact is that Gene Roddenberry actually drew on what we are seeing in this show for Star Trek. I am not talking about the virus premise, I am talking about the way we see this ship operating. The way the bridge operations go, the hierarchy of the ship command, the terminology and the tactics. Roddenberry borrowed the Navy decorum for the NCC 1701. He even named the Norfolk VA shipyards as the place where Enterprise was built. You can easily imagine Captain Chandler as a starship captain and his First Officer there. The Russians are like the Klingons or the Romulans. But in this show, the actual Navy is used, on an actual Navy ship in present times. It's brilliant!

Having said that, this episode was a tactical one. Like you said, the military adventure. The tiny bit of cheese with the lovebirds on the ship was annoying, even if short. This show does not need romantic relationships AT ALL. I hope they weed it out and dont go back to it. All they have to do is kill one of the two in the couple to normalize it. Both of them are redshirts anyway.

 

[Overmind One]

I'm sorry but my eyes almost rolled out of my head when that one serious young soldier said to the girl: "I love you. Now stay away from me!"

Me too...I just said aloud, "Seriously?". But it was short and sweet.

 

[Overmind One]

And episode three is watched.

Still holding up pretty well. The ruse they played on the old Russian BC (which only worked because it is older) has a grounding in real world military stunts to confuse radar. They even remembered to mention the need to cut the foil to the exact correct length and have it at the correct angle relative to the Russian ship and the horizon. In fact it has been used to confuse missile radars in exercises, with helos from ships with enterprising captains trailing lengths of foil to appear as a ship to the missile.

The Russian Admiral seems a good opponent over the longer term, and I am guessing the guy locked in the sealed room is either their version of Doctor Scott or an immune carrier that they are trying to use to create a serum. Pacing was still good, the atmosphere and tension still good and acting still good. There was a little interpersonal stuff (about 90 seconds all told) but if you have zero then the characters don't come off as human beings so I can tolerate some so long as it serves the plot - which this did - and not the other way around.

I like the Russian Admiral, but he will get cheesy if that is the constant nemisis in the show. I am hoping for the majority of the episodes not having him in it. What is going on at home in the US? What about the Japanese or the Chinese? What is going on in Africa and South America and Australia? What happened to our nuclear subs? I hope we do not focus on this Russian Admiral throughout the show. He is interesting, but that could get boring quickly.

 

[Joelist]

Me too...I just said aloud, "Seriously?". But it was short and sweet.

Exactly. It was short and sweet. To have zero interpersonal stuff would make the characters not human but in small doses and kept subordinate to the plot it's fine.

 

[Joelist]

I like the Russian Admiral, but he will get cheesy if that is the constant nemisis in the show. I am hoping for the majority of the episodes not having him in it. What is going on at home in the US? What about the Japanese or the Chinese? What is going on in Africa and South America and Australia? What happened to our nuclear subs? I hope we do not focus on this Russian Admiral throughout the show. He is interesting, but that could get boring quickly.

Actually the Admiral did fill in some of those blanks in the episode. We learned that for the most part the world has descended into anarchy and China was mentioned, as well as what happened to a lot of the fleets.

My big question is how this premise can support a show longer term. But for now I am enjoying the ride.

 

[Overmind One]

Actually the Admiral did fill in some of those blanks in the episode. We learned that for the most part the world has descended into anarchy and China was mentioned, as well as what happened to a lot of the fleets.

My big question is how this premise can support a show longer term. But for now I am enjoying the ride.

THIS. The answer is, of course, that it CANT go too long term, because viruses and plagues are never forever. This is the problem with The Walking Dead too. Zombies cannot last forever, nor can their dead animated bodies ignore decomposition. In this premise, we are also dealing with fuel, food, and the presence of the virus. Actually, these self-limiting issues should allow for shows that only last two years or one year. For a Syfy show, that might be ideal since they are so cancellation crazy. If they stretch things past that because of good ratings, but do not offer a plausible reason that things are being extended, then it looks silly like TWD does.

 

[YJ02]

As it turns out the escort classes (like the Burke's) do indeed carry that equipment. It started when we started having them doing duty in waterways on anti-smuggling and anti-pirate work, both of which require tactically equipped boarding parties. The big boys (CVNs) carry their own Marine contingent and of course LHAs and the like have actual ground combat units embarked.

cool--at least the TPTB's are following that

 

[YJ02]

Why? He also explained why - her presence messed up his ability to think clearly in the situation. How much time did all the interpersonal stuff take? Maybe 90 seconds. Did it serve the plot? Yes. He understood that he had to keep away from her to do his duty - and did so.

real world and with the 2 being officers-one in command of his squad--their relationship would have been known to nearly all on the ship very soon, no matter how careful they were

now though, with it being the end of the world and all-we have the issue of one day--post vaccine--of rebuilding population

the americans--even on the nuke subs if any left-have that possibility as there our women on board every ship nowadays

the russians-as depicted-do not seem to have any females on board (i am thinking that is not accurate of reality, not sure though) the admiral said to his crew that they would rule the world--kind of hard to follow through on that long term with no replacements

So, such a "love story" in this context may be felt necessary by the writer's

and just saying here, but when they asked the female officer if she was still a good shot since she used to go hunting,etc--that is a big time civilian and hollywood mistake. No hunting rifle has anything to do with the weapons they are using here (the M4)

AND WHY do we only see officers having meaningful conversation and/or input (minus the master chief)? When we do see enlisted talking, they are depicted as being intellectually inferior and borderline robotic
That IS NOT accurate of today's military--if anything it is the junior officers who act like that these days (especially since one only needs a 2.5 GPA in college to earn an ROTC(Army or Navy) commission upon graduation--that's all one needs to maintain financial aid!

But Just Peeving--I still like the show overall so far

 

[Joelist]

Remember Navy runs different than Army here. This is a small DDG crew and they are a bit less formal. Their teams are not squads trained for ground combat and the membership fluctuates.

As to her shooting, marksmanship is not a requirement for Navy shipboard personnel. I handled both a hunting rifle and a M4 two weeks ago and one definitely does transfer to the other.

 

[Overmind One]

Remember Navy runs different than Army here. This is a small DDG crew and they are a bit less formal. Their teams are not squads trained for ground combat and the membership fluctuates.

As to her shooting, marksmanship is not a requirement for Navy shipboard personnel. I handled both a hunting rifle and a M4 two weeks ago and one definitely does transfer to the other.

TRUE. So why did she say she "qualified as Expert Marksman"? It IS a requirement in the Army and the Marines. I have never seen anybody in the Navy on the rifle range. But I believe the Seals get rifle and combat training.

 

[Bluce Ree]

I don't know that you need to make a ball for this one yet.

What?!? Deprive Joe of more balls?

 

[Joelist]

http://www.navyadvancement.com/navy-marksmanship/

Naval personnel can also opt to pursue marksman qualifications with chain of command permission or if their specialty calls for it.