I’ll admit it: There are some TV shows where I just end up falling behind, because there are only so many hours in the week. One of those series I fell behind on watching practically as soon as it started is The CW’s Hart Of Dixie, which stars Rachel Bilson as a young doctor who has ended up in a very quirky town.
It’s not that I don’t like it — it’s got a lot of potential, even though responses between my friends are mixed and going strongly in either direction — I just haven’t been able to keep up with it.
Last week, The CW hosted a screening of tonight’s episode, “In Havoc & In Heat,” and while it’s probably kind of sad for me that that’s what it took to get me to tune in again, I can see why they showed it off. It’s a fun hour that I think hints at what this how is — and more importantly, what it could become.
The best thing about this episode – tonight at 9 on The CW – is that it is populated by very quirky characters. Yes, Rachel Bilson’s Zoe looks wayy too young to be a doctor, but guess what? She’s Rachel Bilson, and she (along with Melinda Clarke) made even the worst episodes of The O.C. watchable. But it’s the rather weird people of the town that pop in and out — like a pair of sisters where it seems one has gone mad — that starts to give me Gilmore Girls flashbacks. And that is definitely a good thing.
This week also gives us some MORE quirky characters as George’s parents visit. George’s mom is played by Ilene Graff – yes, Mr. Belvedere mom Ilene Graff – and she is hilarious in an Emily Gilmore sort of way. Biting and wonderful. I hope we get to see more of her in the future. The quirk factor actually rises among [almost] all of Bluebell’s characters as a heat wave seems to take away some inhibitions a bit. Even Zoe isn’t immune. Lots of clothes – male and female – come off. Will Zoe finally give in to some temptations she’s been hiding? This is an episode that answers that.
There are elements of the show that still don’t work for me. As charming as Jaime King is, the character of Lemon irritates the heck out of me, and that accent – even if it’s dead-on to what accents may sound like in the South – is grating. Her entire storyline with Cress Williams’ ex-football player mayor didn’t interest me at all. But back to Lemon – again, I know, over-the-top quirky is in – but she really took me out of the moments. Fortunately, that was the only thing I could really complain about, at least in tonight’s hour.
I like Scott Porter’s George a lot; he seems to represent normalcy in a town that’s a little cuckoo. But I have to admit, I’d more be rooting for Zoe to get together with Wilson Bethel’s Wade… something about the two of them seems to really ignite a spark. I like it.
So, if you’re curious if Hart Of Dixie is right for you, tonight is a decent place to start. Given the time and the love, by the fans and the network, I think it could be one of The CW’s best shows. And if the goal was to get me to watch next week — this episode succeeded.
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I absolutely love this show! Can’t wait for 9pm