By now, we are able to safely say that Alert: Lacking Individuals Unit isn’t simply grappling with Nikki Batista’s demise –it’s experiencing the sequence’ gradual, painful unraveling.
What even is that this present anymore?
For the reason that abrupt and weird choice to kill off Dania Ramirez’s Nikki, Alert: MPU has appeared misplaced in one other identification disaster. The unlucky fact is that this time, it in all probability gained’t get better.
I do know what you’re pondering. You’re questioning why somebody who hasn’t lined the sequence persistently for a while continues to be whining about it a lot.
However it’s positively maddening how Alert: MPU began with a comparatively fascinating premise (though it nonetheless pales in comparison with Discovered), after which opted to revamp it twice.
Maybe I’m within the minority on this, however I loved Alert: MPU Season 1 largely due to the familial factor at its heart and an elite workforce of quirky people fixing instances of lacking individuals.
The Keith thriller had an fascinating sufficient hook that I needed to see extra, particularly the aftermath of the reality blowing up their lives.
However Alert: MPU Season 2 by no means delivered on the aftermath half, and the household factor took a irritating backseat — or moderately, it disappeared offscreen altogether.
And never solely that, however one of many sequence’ largest promoting factors — the chemistry between Nikki and Jay — vanished within the sophomore season as properly.
By that second season, Alert: MPU felt like one other run-of-the-mill procedural that sometimes had some sturdy instances.
However it notably shifted focus, dropping characters like C, sidelining Nikki inexplicably, and honing in on the buddy-cop dynamic forming between Jay and Mike.
Because of this, whereas I discovered the shift to utterly prioritizing that dynamic disappointing on this new season, it was removed from a shock. They telegraphed what they have been doing with these two for a while now.
Nevertheless, that by no means ought to’ve resulted in Nikki dropping house in her personal narrative and sequence. It warranted a deeper dive and comparability to a different feminine character.
The factor is, Alert: MPU didn’t simply unceremoniously kill off their feminine lead, however for these of us following together with the sequence within the aftermath of that disorienting selection, it seems like they’ve just about erased her, too.
The true insult isn’t simply Nikki’s demise — it’s the present’s failure to acknowledge her absence with even a shred of emotional depth.
Jason, who as soon as appeared deeply in love along with his ex-wife, reacts with baffling detachment. Mike has a number of passing moments of grief that really feel compulsory greater than impactful.
As for his or her daughter, Sidney? It’s gotten weirder.
As a substitute of letting her grieve or course of her mom’s homicide, the present turns her arc right into a cringeworthy “My Two Dads” subplot with Mike and Jay, full with repeated, painfully unfunny jokes about being “Dad One” and “Dad Two.”
It serves as one other reminder that, no matter no matter occurred behind the scenes leading to Dania Ramirez’s exit, Alert didn’t deal with its feminine lead with any semblance of care and didn’t contemplate the viewers.
They’ve dedicated to this new buddy-cop dynamic agenda and have finished so with the subtlety of a jackhammer.
However the execution is so poor and awkward that it’s turning into difficult to observe. Whether or not you liked Nikki’s character or had little curiosity in her, it’s arduous for a viewer to wrap one’s head round how carelessly and callously they’ve solid her apart and seemingly gone to nice lengths to erase her from each facet of the sequence.
The work bit is unhealthy sufficient, however the place it actually stings is with the house life.
It’s virtually as if Nikki was by no means there to start with — and positioning Sidney as a younger girl about to embark on a journey of motherhood with out the lady who raised her ought to’ve been an amazing storyline for the sequence.
Nevertheless, even that has little to do with Nikki and her demise, however moderately it facilities on Jay and Mike (once they didn’t bypass Nikki for her delivery mom, that’s). There isn’t a lot house for Sidney to reconcile with how her mom’s demise occurred at a crucial time in her life, which is tough.
As a substitute, now we have Jay and Mike bickering over what their grandchild will name them.
I get that Alert: MPU is attempting to take care of its humor, however because it stands, with every episode, the sequence solely proves the way it overlooked itself and is horrible at dealing with feminine characters.
Nikki barely seems like a blip on the radar of this sequence regardless of her earlier significance.
They’ve additionally taken to sidelining Kemi, and Wayne has no semblance of presence or significance past being Jay’s largely offscreen girlfriend.
However so long as Jay and Mike get to be cute besties and platonic soulmates, that’s all that issues, proper?
Am I alone in feeling this manner? Please let me know beneath!
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