Support NeoGAF

[TwoDurans]

The thing I love about it is that it's punctuated with indulgence, but looking at the whole picture, if it didn't have the casual sex scenes and the extravagant action, it would be a very dark and almost humorless show. The out there stuff hits like a serious FUCK YEA because it's a reaction to swinging back from a very important character taking a bullet to the head or some other traumatic event. I find it very hard to isolate any one thing about this show, be it a screencap or a scene or whatever. You can't isolate anything about it and say "this is what Strike Back is like" because it swings back and forth to it's own beat. It is very much the show it wants to be, it's not struggling for more or making due with less, which makes it hard to have a conversation about. But it accomplishes it's goals so well and so honestly, I don't know how anyone couldn't be hooked after two episodes. There is nothing particularly "bad" about it if it gets your shit going the way it's designed to. It's easily one of the best things on TV and probably the most fun to watch.

I agree wholeheartedly. I was trying to tell friends about it tonight, and the only thing I could say was "watching episode 9 literally had me on the edge of my seat." TV doesn't do that to me anymore, so Strike Back will always be one of the best shows I've seen just for that reason. I'm invested in a way that I haven't been in a show in a long time.

 

[MisterNugNug]

However I wonder, when did 20 suddenly go from rogue 5-man party to full-blown command center thing again? Did I miss anything?

I don't believe Episode 9 takes place immediately after Episode 8. Some time has passed since; probably in the span of a few weeks.

 

[Cornballer]

Posting this early since I'm going to be out of town for a couple days...

Season finale is on Friday (which might be today depending on where you live):

Episode 10

Spoiler

In order to stop Knox, Scott comes to Bryant for assistance. Meanwhile Stonebridge has trouble focusing on the mission as he is bent on revenge. Section 20 get assistance from South African police to stop Knox's plot.

 

[MisterNugNug]

Posting this early since I'm going to be out of town for a couple days...

Season finale is on Friday (which might be today depending on where you live):

Cannot WAIT.

 

[Munin]

Well, like last season's finale I found this finale a bit underwhelming as well, but thanks to the high of episodes 7 to 9 that doesn't really matter too much. I wish they would have carried Vincent Regan's character over to the coming season though - this show has a habit of killing off its characters just as they're getting interesting. Oh well. Also a shame about Knox' once complex motives reduced to the usual tropes in the end, but whatever, maybe I'm asking too much of the show.

Overall it was a great, fun season with zero filler, for the next one though I'd appreciate some fresh approaches and changes.

 

[Clevinger]

I wish they would have carried Vincent Regan's character over to the coming season though

I'm glad he's gone. That terrible American accent was so distracting. Why they couldn't have let him do his real accent, I have no idea.

 

[a secret-boss]

I was worried there for awhile. I thought they r going to kill Rhona. Like kill their Commander every finale lol

 

[Clevinger]

I was worried there for awhile. I thought they r going to kill Rhona. Like kill their Commander every finale lol

Don't worry, there's always the first episode of next season to off her!

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Good finale. I liked the "On 0" callback at the end.

for the next one though I'd appreciate some fresh approaches and changes.

Same here. I really enjoyed this season overall, but I would like a different approach for the next one. Maybe instead of focusing on one big bad for the entire season, they could do away with that and make the season long overarching storyline into something different? Maybe focus on making the 2 episode arcs stronger and more standalone, with the season long arc being something smaller and more personal? Maybe even air both episodes in the arc on the same night?

I was worried there for awhile. I thought they r going to kill Rhona. Like kill their Commander every finale lol

Me too! When she got shot I thought "Are they really going to kill the leader of Section 20 at the end of every season?" haha

It seems like she won't be continuing her stint as leader of Section 20 next season though, with her comment about one head rolling (hers) being enough. Too bad. I wonder if the next commander will be another woman?

 

[a secret-boss]

Don't worry, there's always the first episode of next season to off her!

Hell no

I grew to like Rhona's role. I thought the CIA lady was going to die. I guess her on-the-run story hasn't ended yet

 

[Cornballer]

Season finale reviews:

- Onion A|V Club
- Sepinwall

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Rhona Mitra has been tapped as the female lead opposite Eric Dane in TNT‘s action drama pilot The Last Ship, executive produced by Michael Bay.

Looks like she won't be back next season after all. (though I suppose she could juggle both series if they're filmed far enough apart)

 

[Cornballer]

Yeah, I noticed that earlier today. Maybe she'll come back and give a final appearance, though that might not happen at this point.

 

[Funky Papa]

Caught up. I'm not sure if I did the right thing watching the episode tired and sleepy as I was, but I felt slightly let down. The notion of Conrad going from scheming African revolutionary to crazy terrorist wanting to nuke the shit out of Johannesburg just because he was in a pissy mood was very far fetched and felt forced, although maybe I did miss something. I also disliked Stonebridge's transition from IMMA GONNA MURDER YOU to Saint Francis. On the plus side, everything else was tight as usual and the call out to "we go on zero" was amusing. I give it a solid B.

Now I wonder if they plan to keep South Africa for the next season or if they intend to move somewhere else. I love SA and it's obviously a cheap place to film, but they can't milk it forever. Time for some more European adventures?

Edit: Rhona Mitra playing a tuff girl character and making it at the end of a season must be a first for her!

 

[Funky Papa]

I'm not sure if I should start a new thread, but this just came up in Strike-Back's Facebook


Banshee Season 1: First Official Trailer (Cinemax)

'Banshee' stars Antony Starr as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pennsylvania, where he continues his criminal activities, even as he’s hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier.

Cast

Antony Starr as Lucas Hood
Ben Cross as Mr. Rabbit
Cedric Stewart as Damien Sanchez
Frankie Faison as Sugar Bates
Ivana Miličević as Carrie Hopewell
Rus Blackwell as Gordon Hopewell
Ryann Shane as Deva Hopewell
Ulrich Thomsen as Proctor
Joseph Gatt as The Albino
Chelsea Cardwell as Beaty


It's got muscly dudes, hot chicks, grimacing baldies, psycho Amish and the producers of True Blood.

 

[Keen]

I'm not sure if I should start a new thread, but this just came up in Strike-Back's Facebook


Banshee Season 1: First Official Trailer (Cinemax)



Cast

Antony Starr as Lucas Hood
Ben Cross as Mr. Rabbit
Cedric Stewart as Damien Sanchez
Frankie Faison as Sugar Bates
Ivana Miličević as Carrie Hopewell
Rus Blackwell as Gordon Hopewell
Ryann Shane as Deva Hopewell
Ulrich Thomsen as Proctor
Joseph Gatt as The Albino
Chelsea Cardwell as Beaty


It's got muscly dudes, hot chicks, grimacing baldies, psycho Amish and the producers of True Blood.

Looks interesting, will watch. Thanks!

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

I'm not sure if I should start a new thread, but this just came up in Strike-Back's Facebook


Banshee Season 1: First Official Trailer (Cinemax)



Cast

Antony Starr as Lucas Hood
Ben Cross as Mr. Rabbit
Cedric Stewart as Damien Sanchez
Frankie Faison as Sugar Bates
Ivana Miličević as Carrie Hopewell
Rus Blackwell as Gordon Hopewell
Ryann Shane as Deva Hopewell
Ulrich Thomsen as Proctor
Joseph Gatt as The Albino
Chelsea Cardwell as Beaty


It's got muscly dudes, hot chicks, grimacing baldies, psycho Amish and the producers of True Blood.

Yep, been looking forward to this. Cinemax!

 

[Cornballer]

I'm not sure if I should start a new thread, but this just came up in Strike-Back's Facebook

Go for it if you want to - someone should make a thread before it airs. Ratsky and I have been discussing it in the Fall TV thread for a while.

 

[a secret-boss]

I'm not sure if I should start a new thread, but this just came up in Strike-Back's Facebook


Banshee Season 1: First Official Trailer (Cinemax)



Cast

Antony Starr as Lucas Hood
Ben Cross as Mr. Rabbit
Cedric Stewart as Damien Sanchez
Frankie Faison as Sugar Bates
Ivana Miličević as Carrie Hopewell
Rus Blackwell as Gordon Hopewell
Ryann Shane as Deva Hopewell
Ulrich Thomsen as Proctor
Joseph Gatt as The Albino
Chelsea Cardwell as Beaty


It's got muscly dudes, hot chicks, grimacing baldies, psycho Amish and the producers of True Blood.

thanks for posting here since I subscribed to this thread or else I wouldn't know about this

 

[Funky Papa]

Go for it if you want to - someone should make a thread before it airs. Ratsky and I have been discussing it in the Fall TV thread for a while.

I'm not sure if I'm going to have the time to keep it updated :-/

 

[Cornballer]

I'm not sure if I'm going to have the time to keep it updated :-/

I can help keep it updated when I have time with the usual stuff. I probably won't be able to watch on time every week, but I'll post news when I see it.

Ratsky might be interested in doing the thread if you don't want to.

 

[Funky Papa]

All glory to Ratsky, then!

 

[RatskyWatsky]

 

[Cornballer]

I take it that's a yes? *thumbs up*

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I take it that's a yes? *thumbs up*

Sure!

 

[Cornballer]

Sounds like they're starting production on S3 this week. Here's a few tweets from one of the writer/directors:

Goodbye UK; back to South Africa for the next 3 months. Someone has to; those car chases, gunfights, explosions and sex scenes won't direct themselves.

Just wrapped the last full production meeting before start of shooting on Strike Back. We're in great shape; next 5 months is gonna be one wild ride.

Cinemax ran a marathon of Strike Back this weekend, so I checked out a couple of the older episodes. I'm pleased to report that Stonebridge catching the bomb in S1 is still one of the coolest things I've seen.

 

[Cornballer]

First bit of S3/S4 casting news:

- Robson Green Joins Sky1/Cinemax Action Series ‘Strike Back’

My sources are telling me that British actor Robson Green has joined the cast of the Sky1/Cinemax series Strike Back as a regular for its upcoming season (the fourth for Sky1 and the third for Cinemax). Details of Green’s role are being kept firmly under wraps, but I’m hearing that he will be playing

Spoiler

a senior member of Section 20.

Green’s previous credits include Wire In The Blood, Being Human and Mount Pleasant.

 

[Keen]

First bit of S3/S4 casting news:

- Robson Green Joins Sky1/Cinemax Action Series ‘Strike Back’

Nice, loved him in Wire in the blood

 

[RatskyWatsky]

First bit of S3/S4 casting news:

- Robson Green Joins Sky1/Cinemax Action Series ‘Strike Back’

Scott and Stonebridge's new boss perhaps?

 

[Cornballer]

Scott and Stonebridge's new boss perhaps?

That'd be my guess. Sounded like Rhona Mitra is done based on last year's finale.

 

[a secret-boss]

Awww I was liking Rhona

 

[Funky Papa]

Rhona can remain happy knowing that her character got to live at the end of a season.

That must be a first for her.

 

[Cornballer]

I missed this from a few weeks ago, but Tony Saints left Strike Back to work on his own project on BBC, so Michael J. Basset is taking over as showrunner.

It looks as if there will be a change of leadership as action series Strike Back heads into its new season (the fourth for Sky1 and the third for Cinemax). My sources are telling me that Co-Executive Producer Tony Saint will not be returning to the Left Bank Pictures produced series, which just recently entered production in South Africa. Saint had been with the show since the second season (its first on Cinemax) and after serving as a member of the writing team, he was elevated to co-executive producer/lead writer/show-runner for the most recent season. I hear that Saint’s position on the series is being filled by Michael J. Basset who is wearing four hats on the new season. Word is that Basset is serving as the fourth member of the show’s writing team alongside Simon Burke, James Dormer and Richard Zajdlic, whilst also serving as lead director, co-executive producer and show-runner. The series has something of a history of shaking things up with its show-runners since Cinemax came on-board with season 2. The writing team on the ten episode second season was led by co-showrunners Frank Spotnitz and Dan Percival, with Tony Saint taking over in season 3.

I hear that Tony Saint’s departure was an entirely amicable one and was Saint’s decision as he would be unable to give his full attention to Strike Back as he is deep in development on a new drama series for the BBC. My sources tell me that this project, created by Saint, is titled The Interceptor and is based on the memoir of the same name by former UK customs officer/SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency) agent Cameron Addicott. One insider has described the project as a “high octane police drama.” I hear that BBC Drama Production is producing and that the series, which has been given an order for eight scripts, is being developed for BBC One.

 

[darkwing]

wow this show is incredible, is there a season 3 coming?

 

[Cornballer]

wow this show is incredible, is there a season 3 coming?

Yes. It should start up this Fall on Cinemax. They're filming it right now.

 

[darkwing]

Yes. It should start up this Fall on Cinemax. They're filming it right now.

thanks, missed shows like this, like The Unit

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I missed this from a few weeks ago, but Tony Saints left Strike Back to work on his own project on BBC, so Michael J. Basset is taking over as showrunner.

A little shake up via a new showrunner can only be a good thing IMO.

 

[Cornballer]

A little shake up via a new showrunner can only be a good thing IMO.

I haven't read a ton about the production, but I get the feeling that they loosely plan the season-long arc, and the writers & directors sort of take it from there with their double episode sets. A new showrunner probably impacts Strike Back less than a lot of other shows.

 

[Vert boil]

Fully caught up now.

Season 3 was a step down from season 2. Cool moment throughout but I didn't like the story line. Really glad they killed off the wife but I would have preferred they did it at the end of season 2 like they've seemed to have done Mitra, instead of dragging it out to the start of new season like they did with Porter. But, at least they are willing to cut away the dead weight like those three characters.

Nice that they brought Richmond out into the field. Cool addition there along with cameos from Kareem Said and Adebisi.

Hopefully they'll return to what I enjoy most about the show, two buddies shootin' shit up and they'll stay away from the personal stories next season. The wife stuff and the seemingly borderline PTSD Stonebridge dealt with early on in season three really screwed with the show. Whatever they do about Scott's contract killing past probably won't be such a big issue next season but I can see it bogging things down again.

 

[Cornballer]

- Strike Back Season 3 Tease (youtube)

SB3!!!

 

[Funky Papa]

Speedboats! Jungles! Explosions!

I'm so damn ready. My loins long for some SB action.

 

[Cornballer]

Casting news, too!

- Deadline: Dougray Scott & Milauna Jackson Join Cast Of Cinemax’s ‘Strike Back’ For Season 3

Dougray Scott (Desperate Housewives), Milauna Jackson (Blood Done Sign My Name) and Robson Green (Wire in the Blood) have been added to the cast of Cinemax’s action drama Strike Back as it starts production on 10-episode Season 3. The trio joins returning cast members Philip Winchester, Sullivan Stapleton, Rhona Mitra, Michelle Lukes and Liam Garrigan. Green plays

Spoiler

a new member of Section 20, Scott a rogue operative James Leatherby, and Milauna Jackson is a key player who crosses paths with the counterterrorism team.

In Strike Back’s third season, counterterrorism unit Section 20

Spoiler

pursues a deadly terrorist network from Colombia to Beirut to Europe, uncovering deadly plots that reach to the West.

Returning directors are Michael J. Bassett (who also serves as co-executive producer), Julian Holmes and Paul Wilmshurst; returning writers are Simon Burke, James Dormer, John Simpson and Richard Zajdlic. Cinemax is producing Strike Back with Left Bank Pictures and British channel Sky.

Pics of Dougray and Mliauna:

Rhona Mitra is back, too.

 

[Cornballer]

- Sepinwall on the casting news: Cinemax's 'Strike Back' adds cast for new season

New pic, too:

 

[Wiktor]

- Sepinwall on the casting news: Cinemax's 'Strike Back' adds cast for new season

New pic, too:

Wow, Robson Green is finally done fishing? . It's a nice sport, but dear God, he drowned full years into it. He's way to good of an actor for that.

 

[Funky Papa]

I can't believe Rhona is coming back for more. AWESOME. On top of that, a 10 episode run pretty much ensures some super tight plot with no filler episodes, just the way I like it. I also like the fact that the team will be visiting new locales.

Spoiler

I really liked the European episodes, although I suspect the Colombian jungle sequences will be recorded in the South African bush with green filters since I don't think they have the budget to film in an actual jungle. Same with the Middle East.

Edit: Scott, bro, you have a paying job now. I think it's time to buy some new jeans and throw the hobo ones into the trash.

 

[a secret-boss]

- Strike Back Season 3 Tease (youtube)

SB3!!!

time to gear up.

and Rhona is coming back nice

 

[RatskyWatsky]

10 episode season? Check.

New non desert-y locations? Check Check.

Milauna Jackson? Bueno.

Rhona Mitra? Bueno Bueno.

"SB3"? Blegh.

 

[Cerberus]

Dat jungle action!

Happy to see Rhona come back too.

 

[Munin]

HYPE

 

[Cornballer]

- Digital Spy: Martin Clunes joins 'Strike Back'

Martin Clunes has become the latest star to join Sky / Cinemax drama Strike Back.

Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible II) and Robson Green (Wire in the Blood) were previously reported to have been cast in the action-drama's latest season.

Clunes will also appear as

Spoiler

former MI6 agent Sebastian Gray, now an intelligence officer operating out of Beirut, Sky has confirmed.