The Rookie: Feds

Where to start. We have 2 people that would never be selected for mall security much lest the FBI. Neither are very likeable and their training agents have so much baggage that it detracts from what little the show offers. Drawing on past experiences is one thing... having to listen to how the smell of a high school locker room could compare to the decomposing bodies in a morgue or being able to profile everything because you figured out what's on a 16 year old boys mind gets old fast. The unorganic way that social issues pop into the show make it feel more like an infomercial for the cause of the day. All in all, simply a poor spinoff.

When the backdoor pilot for Feds played on The Rookie, my original intention was to give the show no attention, if it was picked up. However, as they started casting, I saw a number of actors that I enjoyed, so I gave it a try.

Now I find myself enjoy watching the secondary characters and aggressively hate watching the lead. Don't get me wrong, Niecy Nash is fine in the right environment. She is great on something like Reno 911 where she is in an ensemble and where the whole concept is goofy. But her obnoxious portrayal of an obnoxious character is so irritating, it makes it nearly impossibly to watch.

The Simone Clark character walks in, specifically into a group that was harnessed with her against their will in the backdoor pilot, and is basically the Messiah of the FBI, telling everyone exactly how to do their jobs, while also comporting herself any way she pleases.

I find myself still watching for the other characters and storylines I find more interesting, as well as for the interaction between the parent series and the spinoff characters, but every time she is focus, I'm completely pulled out of the moment. This is one of those times that a shock move like removing the main character would be a huge boost to a decent show.

I actually like the rest of the cast and their dynamics. Niecy Nash distracts from the rest of the show; her acting is bad and over the top.

Think part of the problem is how the character is written especially, as there is no way a rookie agent would get away with her insubordination.

Many times, the lead is written to have a sudden "insight" to solve the crime whereas the rest of the crew is doing the real work. The lazy writing gets annoying fast.

I enjoy the performance of the actor who plays her father, but I don't know how you would keep him in the show while writing her out of the series.

The Rookie works because Nathan Fillion is believable and likeable, none of which applies to the lead of this spinoff.

OK. It's a clever idea to make a series about an annoying person who nonetheless delivers the goods. The opportunities for comedy and irony are limitless. The problem is, if the person is really so annoying, then it's annoying to watch. That's the problem here. The central character does such a good job it's hard to watch.

There isn't much support from her fellow actors, none of whom stand out and all of whom just fade into the background. And the script contusions necessary to allow her to succeed are just too contrived, not merely in quantity but in quality as well.

All told, a good idea, but the inherent problem is not overcome.

Of course you do - she tells you in every scene.

I've never seen such a weak, unrealistic gimmick played up so much and so unironically.

Seriously, the main character's superpower - and they treat it as a superpower - is that she was a high school guidance counselor. Somehow this gives her the insight to crack tough cases that seasoned, experienced, highly-trained, long-time agents can't.

That's the premise of the show. Former high school guidance counselor shakes up the FBI because of her experience as a former guidance counselor.

Did I mention she's a former high school guidance counselor? Well, she was.

Have I said too much about it? I haven't said as much about it as she does in a typical episode.

If you want to hear how the main character was a high school guidance counselor again and again and again and again, this is the show for you. If not, you might want to find something else to watch.