Most programs on television today ride try to climb the slippery slope to success. On one hand, your show must feel new and edgy to do well. If it is boring or doesn't bring something new to the table, you bore your fans and the network execs may not even let it get out of the pilot stage. On the other hand, your show can't be too far out there, or you won't find a mass audience to stick around. If the execs think your show is only going to last six episodes, they would rather throw some reality programming together on the cheap and let that ride for six weeks instead. North Shore fits on this hierarchy of quality wherever they place good concepts saddled with mediocre acting and unfocused writing.
As we open the episode, Morgan and Nicole prepare to elope. It is everything Nicole has dreamed of, namely sticking one to her father who makes most of the decisions in her life for her. The problem with this plan happens to be her betrothed, who is more interested in making his father-in-law happy than his future wife, probably because he cares more about his six figure job than having Nicole all to himself. Morgan tells Nicole's father, Walter Booth, of their plans to elope, and he makes it just in time to stop the wedding bells (and racing through oncoming traffic to do so).
This brings me to the part of the article where I usually complain about Gabriel ruining most of the episode. Gabriel got the love last time, so we should switch on over to get a little more Frankie. We all assume that he is simply a huge stoner, and normally I would say the state of his room further proves that assertion, but in this case, perhaps I am wrong in my first assumptions. Frankie's room happens to be next to MJ's, and he can't get any sleep with Chris and MJ fornicating and making all sorts of noise. When Frankie moves to the couch, MJ and Chris, come out to watch some TV. Instead of going back to his room (I guess Chris has more game than we think), Frankie takes his blanket to the beach. The beach provides no respite as Frankie's dreams are interrupted yet again, but this time it's not MJ. No, Frankie is actually hit by a rock.
Apparently some hot girl was wandering the beach throwing rocks into the ocean. And although the rock draws blood, Frankie is in luck because this woman, Monique, also likes having sex with strangers. Forgetting all hope of getting more sleep, Frankie at least makes up for the night by tapping that ass. I am willing to allow some pretty crazy scenarios go by without too much thought. Hey, I didn't complain that much when MJ and Chris ran into rogue pot farmers. But this was really strange. If I just hit somebody in the head with a rock, I would run the other way, not go over and see if they were OK, especially if I had the aid of darkness. And if this hot woman did want to have sex with me, I would take her back to my room and make lots of noise so my inconsiderate roommate could get a taste of her own medicine. Any girl who jumps you on the beach is bound to be a screamer.
As you can imagine, Jason has almost accepted defeat. He has tried kissing Nicole back to her senses, and tried warning her that her fiancee really likes a little tail on the side. Nicole never listened and we see that Tessa is ready to sweep down and pick up the pieces. I say it's about time Jason starts hooking up with hotel employees again, after making his way through several guests. Yet before those two can go at it, there is a little matter of Walter Booth staying at the hotel. Walter is not only Nicole's father, but also Vincent's main rival. We already know Morgan is casing the hotel for Walter, what we don't know is that Tessa is feeding him dirt on how to make a buyout easier, interested only in moving up the chain a little bit. Remember, she is poor and thriving for some upward mobility.
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Comments (3)
While incredibly predictable, I think this episode of North Shore sowed the seeds for a possibly interesting love triangle (and even a quadrangle if the hinted-at hookup between Frankie and Nicole in the coming attractions is real.) Of course, the star-crossed lovers are a lot less interesting that Tessa, so I'm not sure what the desired result. Most important, though, is that this show keeps bringing us Tessa sex scenes. We need much more of Amanda Righetti in bed every week.
1 of 3 | Posted by Eric | Posted on August 3, 2004 8:28 AM
We need much more of Amanda Righetti in bed every week.
Posted by: Eric at August 3, 2004 08:28 AM
Well, we can't argue with more Amanda Rightetti sex scenes. And if North Shore finally decides on keeping the same love triangle for a few episodes, perhaps it will be better. It looks like we are going to have Frankie/Nicole/Jason/Tessa plus a side triangle with MJ/Chris/MJ's Ex.
2 of 3 | Posted by J-Unit | Posted on August 3, 2004 8:39 AM
Love Rhombus!
Can't wait for TVgasm friend Dylan Bruno to come back on the scene next week. Also can't wait for the writing to, you know, become tolerable.
3 of 3 | Posted by b-side | Posted on August 3, 2004 12:40 PM