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80As drama, tonight's pilot has its flaws, but it is, nevertheless, one of those electrifying TV productions that instead of simply seeking to divert or amuse, challenges viewers to imagine a reality other than the one they have been conditioned to accept.
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40Some viewers will be put off by the many unbelievable aspects of ''Commander in Chief," and not least of all by Geena Davis.
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63Heavy-handed.
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80It all promises to be addictive watching.
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20The writing on "Commander in Chief" often is so distressingly thin and pale, this West Wing drama will suffer in comparison to the robust early years of, well, NBC's "The West Wing."
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75"The West Wing" was more vivid, original and compelling than "Commander in Chief" is likely to become. But impressive Geena Davis and the Oval Office gender twist are indeed refreshing.
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60While not quite the out-of-the-gate obvious hit that “The West Wing” was, ["Commander In Chief"] has enough going for it that it may soon become America’s favorite soap opera about a president of the United States.
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50Polished and lively, it is also simplistic, melodramatic and half-baked — though it clips along nicely enough that you may not notice.
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20An absurd fairy tale.
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38A script so unimaginative, and characters so flat and forced, that it begs for a recall vote.
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75Davis... is very good.
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0Finally, the best new comedy of the 2005-06 TV season is here... What's that, you say? This is a drama and not a comedy? Oh, dear.
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60Maybe Davis will grow into the role. Perhaps Commander in Chief will develop into something deeper than a smooth, self-satisfied show. For now, the series enjoys one important asset: impeccable timing.
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75A diverting, silly potboiler, a bold cartoon with none of the staffers' anxious beetle scuttling that gives NBC's venerable The West Wing a sense of verisimilitude. [3 Oct 2005, p.39]
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20Simplistic and shamelessly manipulative.
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80The best new fall drama.
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40Anyone who learned politics from The West Wing will feel adrift in Commander in Chief's vacuum. Where are the polls, the clamoring press? We get little proof that the nation President Allen governs even exists.
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75It's a whole lot better than the premise on paper, and though initially it takes a bit to warm to Davis.
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60"Commander'' looks good, summons up some real energy in key scenes and establishes a certain warmth in its portrayal of the Allen family.
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70Davis fills the "leader of the free world" shoes admirably, quickly demonstrating herself to be a formidable presence when she tangles with Sutherland.
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70It's less a vision of what a real female presidency might be like than an extended allegory about gender politics in the workplace. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
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40Although it would be extraordinary for any series to match the level of political complexity and realism of "The West Wing," this one barely tries.
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70Well written and playful with its premise.
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70It is probably too soon in the series to expect to see more complexity, or some sense of the grinding difficulty of the job of President, and the number of no-win situations that present themselves every day in the Oval Office. But “Commander in Chief” really does make things look too easy.
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75Tonight's premiere rises and falls with Davis, and she's completely in command. We'll just have to hope the rest of the show falls in line behind her.
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40Despite nice touches in writer-director-exec producer Rod LurieRod Lurie's handsome-looking pilot, there's also a smothering stiffness to it, including Geena Davis' performance as the first female president.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 143 out of 172
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Mixed: 5 out of 172
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Negative: 24 out of 172
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IanB1
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NancyS10Best best show that i have never seen, even better than prison break. hope we could see more and more seasons.
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JohnC10