Detecting a show worth another run
Pair better as buddies than lovers
Take Two Fox
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Working with private detective Eddie Valetik gives former TV star Sam Swift ( Rachel Bilson) the second chance she needs.
She is searching for a new acting job after time spent in a rehab centre. With the possibility of a role as a private eye in mind, she goes to Valetic ( Eddie Cibrian) to get some method- acting and real- life experience.
Although when the role falls through, she decides to stay on at Valetic’s agency as she enjoys solving mysteries – and the positive publicity it brings.
Aided by tech assistant Berto ( Xavier de Guzman) and the quirky Monica ( Alice Lee), this case- solving team may be unusual but it works.
The series was the brainchild of Andrew W. Marlowe and Terri Edda Miller, the creator and executive producer of Castle – and this shows as it shares a lot of similar DNA to that popular crime procedural, with Bilson playing an actress instead of Nathan Fillion’s novelist.
Bilson, no stranger to the world of TV having headed up The OC and Hart of Dixie, is gifted a wonderful character in Sam, who is comfortable getting into various roles and disguises to help solve their cases.
With a canny mind, she often uses examples from television shows she’s worked on to lead them to the culprit.
Former Sunset Beach and CSI: Miami star Cibrian is another great lead cast member, going from originally annoyed at needing to babysit a recovering addict to welcome having her at his side.
The will- they- won’t- they romance between Swift and Valetic should have been avoided, though, as they are better as a buddy double act. Berto and Monica have a much better potential romantic connection.
Sadly, this crime- comedy only ran for one season and a total of 13 episodes, as it’s a fun show well worth watching.
I was disappointed to hear it was cancelled as I wouldn’t have minded a take three.
What are your thoughts on Take Two? Does it deserve mention alongside the best television crime procedurals?
Pop me an email at ian. bunting@ reachplc. com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.
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