I've long been a Chris Gorham fan, even though I'm not particularly sure why. I mean even back as far as Popular and Odyssey 5, two shows I didn't actually like, but for some reason liked Chris in (we're tight like that). I didn't love Jake 2.0, or Medical Investigation either, and thus the story just keeps getting stranger. I can't think of another actor that I equally look forward to, who has never been on a show that I particularly enjoyed.
Although, despite critical and ratings difficulties, I did rather enjoy the goofball antics of Harper's Island. Well, until we found out the real story, and things got downright silly (the pretty obvious secret to the show is that the killer is the only person the show never tried to convince me might be the killer).
At any rate, I've always enjoyed his work, and I think a large part of that might be the fact that he has always worked against the grain of his cheery, charming appearance. Not that he, and his roles, haven't taken advantage of it, but there has usually been some twist to his character, as opposed to simply playing the straight-up "most affable person ever," that he was clearly born to play... in some respect anyway.
Finally on board with something that: will hopefully get a solid run, is getting a great push, features him prominently, and I actually like (one or two of those before perhaps, but not all of them), the Covert Affairs star is getting yet another push this week with an Auggie-centric episode, "Communication Breakdown."
The episode focuses on a computer hacker, the CIA's efforts to get her on their side, and the fact that the Russian beauty is Auggie's ex-girlfriend. With several angles available, getting the girl is going to be tricky, not least because Auggie is probably the only workable entry to the genius anarchist, and since he dumped her a few years ago, she isn't likely to play nice. With few alternatives, Auggie gets to go out in the field to try to convince her to come in, and that she might be in a lot of danger.
COVERT AFFAIRS - "Communication Breakdown" Episode1007 - - Photo by Kerry Hayes USA Network
The whole situation is further complicated by the fact that Auggie isn't completely on board with the CIA's viewpoint with regard to how to handle things, and it can be somewhat difficult to begin the negotiations with someone who thinks that a hack that can disrupt all forms of communication on at least a citywide scale is the sort of thing that should be made available to anyone who wants it.
Filled with action, and with the interesting twist of having much of that action led by a blind character, the episode is a rather adept examination of one of its main characters, and serves as timely and interesting foundation for further development. Auggie, a rich character already, struggles with the blend of personas he has to create himself out of, and Gorham does nice work with the delivery of not only his lines, but his silences. Having your past catch up to you is tricky enough, but when several parts of your past come together in one series events, and part of your past includes, "back when I could see," there's a lot riding on one character in this episode, and he pulls it off nicely.
If there's an episode you don't want to miss, this is it, and it's worth quickly getting acquainted with the series for those who aren't already fans.
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About Marc Eastman
Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
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