TMC
02-14-2023, 12:28 AM
https://jacksonupperco.com/2023/02/14/the-ten-best-3rd-rock-from-the-sun-episodes-of-season-four/
By the time 3rd Rock enters its fourth season, its “novelty of premise” has diminished so much that our second threshold for greatness — not just whether the premise is vital to an episode’s storytelling, but whether a mere awareness of the premise enhances the quality of an episode’s storytelling — is now more seminal. Oh, yes, as I’ve said before, the series is still able to churn out a handful of top and truly identity-validating half hours every year, but with 3rd Rock’s “situation” naturally consumed by a high concept, it must be addressed every week in order to satisfy its implicit promise to the audience, and that’s simply happening less.
By the time 3rd Rock enters its fourth season, its “novelty of premise” has diminished so much that our second threshold for greatness — not just whether the premise is vital to an episode’s storytelling, but whether a mere awareness of the premise enhances the quality of an episode’s storytelling — is now more seminal. Oh, yes, as I’ve said before, the series is still able to churn out a handful of top and truly identity-validating half hours every year, but with 3rd Rock’s “situation” naturally consumed by a high concept, it must be addressed every week in order to satisfy its implicit promise to the audience, and that’s simply happening less.