The show's first season began with promise and quickly dispelled any faith I had in it. While the first season had an almost equal measure of positives and negatives, it was watchable and I'd venture to say, for the most part, enjoyable. Season 2 however, thus far, has proved far from.
The second season premiere finds our "beloved" characters in various predicaments, none of which is particularly compelling. Also detracting from the premiere is that it is two parts. It isn't so much that a two hour premiere is a bad idea, but rather the fact that the two parts were shown on two separate weeks. Even that wouldn't be unbearable if not for the fact that the whole of part one is devoted to setting up for part two, which makes for a thoroughly unenjoyable and boring experience. A good premiere should bring us up to date on where the characters have been in the time since the last season ended. Either that or it should pick up exactly where the last left off. After all, we're supposed to believe that these people live outside the vacuum that is each individual episode, right? But season 2's opener does none of these things. It drags and bores relentlessly until the first hour slowly and mercifully ends leaving us with a cliffhanger, if one could call it that.
However, it isn't the lack of drama that is running the show into the ground. No. I have no issue whatsoever with a show that goes through the lives of happy people in a small town. In fact Hallmark's other show, When Calls The Heart, is delightful. What I take issue with in Cedar Cove is the seeming lack of desire to make it enticing or even the least bit interesting. The production quality and scripts are doing that quite well without the help of an overall lackluster cast. These people truly cannot act for the most part, however I'm reluctant to say that they are all awful because the scripts are truly that God awful.
The scenes in every episode thus far are disjointed and the episodes have no rhythm to speak of. No scene feels necessary or particularly interesting. The point of a scene, at least to my understanding from all of the good shows I've watched, is to move the plot forward in some way. Whether that be via character development or the deepening or worsening of a relationship or some kind of action forcing our characters to do something.
None of the above things happen in any episode of Cedar Cove so far in season 2. Scenes have two characters discuss something only to be interrupted in a timely fashion so they can pick the scene up again in a different location. Or the other character shuts the first down before anything can be solved. OR, better yet, the two characters are about to have a meaningful conversation when the scene ends and we cut away to yet another conversation.
My main issue with the show is the scripts. They are so incredibly weak and lacking substance that I'm in awe of the fact that any of them got published. The dialog is absolutely atrocious and there seems to be no direction for the show, no overarching story arc moving the plot along. Instead we have too many characters with no personality doing things we don't care about with other people we don't care about. Characters appear with no purpose other than to make a main character realize something about themselves, something they could have learned from another main character. Scenes go on too long or are cut entirely too short.
Worst of all, the actors seem to realize the futility of their efforts and it shows. If this show doesn't improve and is still brought back for a third season I'll be certain that crazy people are running Hallmark.
Also, the decision of Hallmark's to make this show unavailable for replay on On Demand and by not replaying the episodes on days other than Saturday, they force people onto their computer screens to catch up, and to pay for it often times. That really narrows viewing opportunities and damages the show, in my mind.
Update: As of 8/23 episode there are two bright spots in season 2. On the backs of two fine performances by Bruce Boxleitner's Bob and PTSD suffering Luke. They bring an interesting aspect into the story that wasn't there, not to mention much needed bolstering to an otherwise somewhat shaky cast on the acting front. By giving Mr. Boxleitner more screen time the show seems to be FINALLY taking full advantage of their veteran actor rather than bringing him in occasionally for a line or two. At the same time, Jesse Hutch brings much needed warmth and personality to the show's younger male leads who, up to now, have been anything but. Here's to hoping they continue along this path.
