THE GOOD GUYS “Partners” Review

THE GOOD GUYS Partners

THE GOOD GUYS “Partners” Episode 20 – Former partners return, loyalties are tested, and we finally get to see some of the Savage and Stark movie in the “Partners” season (possibly series) finale episode of THE GOOD GUYS.

“To partners old and new.” I’ll drink to that. I’m thrilled Gary Cole is back as Frank Savage and what a gift for fans to show some of the magic that is the Savage and Stark movie. At an Eighties’ Oddities festival, no less. Yes, it’s a bit heartbreaking, but Frank and Dan will always rise above and their “By any means necessary” lab destruction at the end is a terrific bookend to their partnership.

I know Chris Klein is supposed to be irritating since he’s playing a dirty cop and all, but that accent grates. I’m not sure I could have stood hearing “Bailes” one more time. Jack pounding on him while yelling “They made you Deputy Chief” and then “My name is Jack–not Bailes” is one of my favorite scenes of the series, especially “Just to be clear, he’s not qualified to be Deputy Chief” and that one last kick. Jack has grown so, so much.

Wow, am I fickle. I’m now more than a little in love with the idea of Jack and Samantha and I’m ridiculously disappointed the show didn’t go there sooner. Don’t get me wrong–I love Liz and I like Liz and Jack, but the romantic chemistry tonight is all Jack and Samantha. “I promise not to kiss you.” So adorable.

The best chemistry on The Good Guys, of course, belongs to Jack and Dan and I have loved watching their relationship develop. Jack understands and accepts Dan much better now, but he retains some of the necessary exasperation. “I never seem to have a good day when you eat chili.” I love his face when he says, “It’s not just the cash value of a crime that makes it crimey” to George. Dan by osmosis. Meanwhile Dan is a terrific mentor. “Don’t use so much of this; use more of that; maybe even some of those.” Hee. Bradley Whitford has always been an extraordinarily good actor, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have as much fun with a role–not even Josh Lyman–as he has with Dan. It’s impossible not to have just as much fun watching.

“That was the first time I ever set foot in a CSI lab and I hope to God it’s the last because that place sucks.” What a fitting ending–so very meta and so very awesome with Jack and Dan putting on their sunglasses and jumping the Trans Am to go bust some punks. “I’m gonna keep bustin’ punks the only way I know how because it’s right. Not only is it right–it’s fun.” Damn right it is.
Favorite lines:

“Try sprinting with a gut full of that chili. Think she’ll give me a to-go thingie?” I will miss Dan’s ridiculous running so very much–almost as much as his even more ridiculous mustache.

“A snitch is like a wife–you treat her however you want twelve months out of the year so long as there’s a diamond necklace under the Christmas tree.”/ “Well, it’s clear why you’ve never been married.” And never, ever will be.

“I’m happy for his success. I’m delighted for his success. It’s delightful.” I love Colin Hanks. That is all.

“You’ve been very helpful. If I ever have the opportunity to bust you, I’ll give you a running start.” Dan’s sense of honor is admirable.

“Actually they like me very much. I’m the kind of guy they want to have a beer with.” I could not possibly love this line more.

“You should at least learn your hostages’ names.” & “I just kissed him a little bit. We were under gunpoint.” Adding Angela Sarafyan to the cast was a stroke of brilliance. Samantha fit in seamlessly right away and her awesome quirkiness is just what the show needed.

All good things must come to an end, and whether this is a season or series finale, it’s good to see The Good Guys go out on a high note. It’s been said before, but I really think the show could have grown into a hit if it had been on USA paired with Burn Notice or Psych. Regardless, it’s been a fun twenty episodes and I’m grateful to FOX, the cast, crew, writers, directors, and producers for putting it on my television.

What did you think of “Partners?” If this was indeed the series finale, do you think it’s a fitting end?

Follow me on Twitter @michstjame

By Michelle | December 10, 2010 | 7 Comments

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Natasha

I really hope it was just a season finale. I agree with you that it is a perfect fit for USA, and hope that if Fox doesn’t bring it back, USA will.

I’m so glad that you’ve been doing recaps of all the eps this season, it was a little sad to see a lot of people give up on the show just when it was getting its groove. Samantha was definitely a fantastic addition to the show. Finding a way to have Julius be more of a regular really helped too.

Pretty much want to just say ditto to your entire review– Jack and Samantha’s kisses were quite sweet little surprises– and her little mumbles after both were adorable.

I loved that Dan and Frank wore tuxes to the reshowing of “Savage and Stark”. So sad that the whole audience treated the film as a complete joke. Those guys still have some cool moves in them. The way Dan handled his Trans Am at the end being one example.

Every time Chris Klein was on screen, I was debating which character of his was more smarmy and annoying– George, or Dusty in Just Friends. But then again, I don’t think George annoyed me as much as Liz’s ex-boyfriend did. (As great as it was to see Jack take down George in this ep, I think I enjoyed him punching that ex even more.)

http://www.daemonstv.com/author/michelle/ Michelle

Hmmm, I think I have to agree that watching Jack punch Liz’s ex was more satisfying than seeing him take down George, but it’s awfully close.

Incorporating Julius more was great for the show–such a great character and actor. I also think the other tweak of using fewer flashbacks was a good move. While I enjoyed the show from the beginning, I don’t think there’s any question that it improved as it went along. I also don’t think there’s any question that the people making it had an absolute blast, which is always a huge bonus.
Chris

What’s incredible to me is that people don’t see the irony in that scene in the movie theatre. Dan and Frank come from a time when the economy was doing well and people didn’t have EVERYTHING figured out, but they clearly had a lot more figured out than we do now. And they got laughed it. Maybe that’s the message of the show. You don’t like us? Fine. You’re the ones who just don’t get it. Have fun paying off your visas and paying off your hefty mortgage.

Samuel

The conclusion of the episode last night was just dead on perfect for a good series. I suppose there’s always hope it would return to FOX during the summer or USA Network takes it on (how crap like PSYCHE finds an audience is still a puzzle season after season). But you were a good series and I hope you find an afterlife on DVD – it shall be one to purchase!

Jeff

Have you watched psych Samuel? You obviously are not a very good judge of what is good if you think it is crap and and an “e” to the end of it. That show is brilliant. Just because after one episode you watched sometime you decided to hate it arbitrarily doesn’t mean you know anything.
Chris

US Network TV died for me before I was born with All in the Family. It showed glimmers of hope in the 80s, but was pretty much toast. All in the Family pushed the boundaries of what you could say on television. These days that kind of thing would be outlawed in favour of Cindy Lou Who almost all growed up in her underwear.

It’s weird that in one TV show, you can illustrate how everything’s gone wrong. We’ve forgotten what’s really important. Look at the top shows – infidelity, backstabbing and selfishness. I don’t think television should be the moral police either. But it’s interesting to see how our change in priorities, reflected in television, have led us to where we are. For me, the last 2 or 3 minutes are one gigantic middle finger to American society of the last 10 or 15 years.

Chris

It’s a tough pill to swallow but it seems people would rather see geek theatre (other cop shows) or teenage girls in their underwear (Gossip Girl and all its knockoffs). That scene with Dan and Frank in the movie theatre, without giving everything away, summed up the show’s problem.

I’m blessed to have exposed myself to some great, great movies and have learned to appreciate Beverly Hills Cop and Rush Hour and 48 Hours. It’s clear many have not and really don’t care.

There’s a corniness to American television that always looks the same. Sex is everywhere, and a straight arrow cop and a geeky lab tech sharing an awkward, illicit kiss doesn’t really cut it. This show, unlike current small screen fluff, is self aware. It knows it’s corny and has fun with it. Most other shows don’t know they’re ridiculous.

It’s too bad there isn’t a place for a show about interesting, quirky people who aren’t always out to get each other, but in an MTV world, all people care about is what you look like. The Good Guys is/was ABOUT SOMETHING. Most shows you could put on mute and miss very little. It’s too bad, but it’s the superficial, politically correct world that we live in.