The Unit (2006-Present)It's always strange trying to review TV shows. This is because - like the Hollywood movie industry maxim - the show is always as good as the last episode.
So I'm not going to attempt to review "The Unit." I'm into the 7th episode now, so that gives everyone a reference point when I call it.
I like how Mad and Capt are commenting on "Battlestar Galatica" - as a running commentary. They post when a certain episode or development resonates. Although this is not the kind of analysis I'm used to (or particularly appreciate) its something more appropriate given the TV show format and the reviewer's own time constraints. In a perfect world, a mini-review of each episode would be the only way to go. But Planet Earth is hardly perfect...
"The Unit" is a CBS show created by David Mamet. Each season is 13 episodes and the show is presently in its 2nd season. It's based on a book about the Delta Force operators and the lives they live. These are the men who are sent on secret missions around the world. In the TV show, they are referred to as 'The Unit' and the voiceover in the opening credit sequence will confirm that they officially do not exist.
What's special about the show is its focus on the lives of not only these men but also the wives at home. It sounds corny (especially after sentimental pap like "We Were the Soldiers") but Mamet is quite interested in showing how these women hold the shit together. You see, although they are indestructible on the field when they come home they can make regular man mistakes like beating up their wives and breaking furniture. It's up to the women to help these men keep their sanity. If the men are the unit in war, the women form their own unit to keep their husbands' heads out of the meat grinder in the boring real world. Plus, they have to protect their identities. We can appreciate how difficult it is for a wife to lie to everybody she knows (even her own parents) and say her husband is a clerk in a moving company!
The obvious comparison one would make is "24." But that goes away after the first episode. "The Unit" is far more interested in the dynamics of The Unit, teamwork, how these men function as killers, husbands, father and patriots. It's like the Mission Impossible or A-Team. "24" is about one man really - Jack Bauer. "The Unit" is a little more intelligent and articulate. Mamet brings a complexity to the subject and the show rarely feels like TV. This reminds me of the 5th episode which is written and directed by David Mamet himself. The Unit is sent on a mission to plant a bug in the Iranian ambassador's limo; the US suspects that Russia is selling nuclear technology to them. If this were "24" there'd be missile launches and half-a-dozen bodies by the end of the episode. But in "The Unit" the job is done without a single bullet being fired. It's good old fashioned cloak-and-dagger, smoke and mirrors sort of thing. This is exactly why I hold "Spartan" in such high regard.
The show is also stylishly shot and there are some well conceptualised directorial effects. Each episode takes place in a different country so that also helps keep things fresh. Although "The Unit" does not follow the long-story format like "24" it is not quite episodic. You must watch the show in order for it to feel right although dropping in at any time during the first season is relatively OK.
Dennis Haysbert, Scott Foley and Regina Taylor are outstanding so far. "The Unit" may not be groundbreaking; it's not even the best show of its kind. But its got a vibe of its own, intelligent stories and it has compelling characters using Mamet-speak. That's pretty good for me...
