Television Series

Once and Again

All-time great series

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Cheers

Homicide: Life on the Street

I Love Lucy

M*A*S*H

My So-Called Life

Taxi

WKRP in Cincinnati

Once and Again

Last updated 28 May, 2006

Once and Again banner

Premise: The recently divorced Lilly finds herself flabbergasted by a sudden and compelling attraction to the longer-divorced Rick. Before they know it, her daughters and his son and daughter are trying to “somehow form a family.” By the creators of thirtysomething and My So-Called Life.

Current status: Cancelled. Season 1 is available on DVD.

Commentary

Season 1 - Review pending purchase of DVD
Season 2 (mid-point) (2000–01)
Season 2 (end) (2000–01)
Season 3 (mid-point) (2001–02)
Season 3 (end) (2001–02)

Season 2 (mid-point)

5th favourite show

By the same creative team that produced My So-Called Life, Once and Again hasn't struck a chord with me in quite the same way, but like that show, it's beautifully written and acted. It's sometimes too real -- to the point of being uncomfortable to watch. I suppose that's not necessarily bad.

Top

Season 2 (end)

4th favourite show

This fine program was once again saved from cancellation. It will move to Fridays, but that's what VCRs are for. It also had a particularly fine and touching season finale.

Top

Season 3 (mid-point)

5th favourite show: B+

Strengths

The kid's plotlines: All these have been wonderfully compelling.

The acting is superlative all around.

Character development: Lilly has become more likable this year, partly through coming to recognize her own flaws. Even more amazingly, Karen has become more sympathetic. She used to seem like nothing more than an evil ice queen.

Weaknesses

Some of the adult storylines aren't that interesting. For example, I think I was supposed to be deeply touched when Sam finally opened up to Judy, but somehow I wasn't. And Rick doesn't seem to have much of anything to do this year.

Rick and Lilly may be trying to have a child. Bleh. Tiffany's pregnancy storyline was good, but I have no interest in Rick and Lilly going there (or pursuing a "we can't get pregnant" storyline, either).

Top

Season 3 (end)

Favourite show: A+

You can't kick a show once it's been cancelled, especially one as lovingly well-written as this one, even though its second-last episode disappointingly focused on the second-string character of Lilly's Mom. Most disappointing was that more time wasn't given to the budding relationship between Jessie and Katie, but at least we did see a resolution to Grace's crush on Mr. Dimitri (with a kiss! So wrong but not completely...), Eli start to get his life together (finally!), Karen's rehabilitation from her accident (completely with romantic interest — hey, what happened to the DA she was kissing last year?), and Jake actually make a commitment to Tiffany.

Oh, and Rick actually got a plotline, finally, albeit in the very last episode.

The behind the scenes interviews with which the series ended were wonderful. At least what I saw of them were. CKVR, in its infinite wisdom, decided to cut off Evan Rachel Wood's tearful interview for frickin' commercials! Grr, argh.

RIP, Once and Again. I'm going to miss the lot of you.

Top

Links

Once and Again official Web site (still running)

Next Television program: Queer as Folk