'Murder In Small Town X' Talkback [Archive]

The Mad Hatter

07-25-2001, 09:52 AM

Huh? It was on? Shoot, I was hoping to see what all the fuss was about. People kept griping about how morally bankrupt the concept was (as most "reality" shows are), but the whole thing just sounded like a cool audience participation "murder mystery" game a lot of groups put together.

optimal321

07-25-2001, 10:31 AM

I thought it was kinda cool. The whole 'murder mystery' thing was neat, and a lot better idea than most other reality TV shows out now. The only thing i don't like is that the people don't really use their own detective skills. This is probably because they don't have any, but still. They just have to go out and get what the host tells them then come back and answer one question every week (or three days their time). But i don't know, i might be coming to conclusions too soon. I'm sure gonna keep watching it to see what happens.

Clayface

07-25-2001, 11:22 AM

Yeah, I saw it too and enjoyed it. It's a pretty cool show - like one of those murder mystery dinner shows. I think I'll be watching regularly.

James Harvey

07-25-2001, 11:52 AM

I was a bit dissapointed that they were just given the information, but the concept is neat, and I may watch again. It's a nice change of pace from the crap that is BIG BROTHER, SURVIVOR, FEAR FACTOR, and all those other really bad reality shows.

Clayface

07-25-2001, 12:03 PM

Hey! I love Survivor! :p

Bud 'n Lou

07-25-2001, 01:45 PM

I watched it. There were things about it that surprised me, and things that disappointed me, but on the whole, it was entertaining.
First of all, I like how there's not a new group of contestants every week, like with some other reality shows. It gives you a chance to get to know the characters, rather than having a bunch of people who you don't care whether the killer gets them, which equals no suspense.
I also like the concept that the players can be "killed off", and the method of doing so.
Now, things that I didn't like:
As many of you have already pointed out, they were given directions, and didn't have to rely on their own skills.
Also, I think there are certain instances where it gets too corny, like the suspects who had an arguement at the club. If I were either of the two players, I probably would've had a hard time keeping a straight face.
And my last gripe: the players acted as if they would REALLY die! Gimme a break. The one who was killed off this week even went as far as to say goodbye to her children. Please!
But everything else on the show was pretty cool. :-D

Gpoliceman

07-25-2001, 02:42 PM

I was watching that show and..........

..........I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!I GUESS THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CLOCK!

I'M AMAZING! I SHOULD BE A DETECTIVE!

I thought the only person on that show who knew what they were doing was the girl with blonde hair who figured out the answer to the red package question.

I was mad when the lifeguard voted her off. That was a stupid choice.

I hate it when they do that whole "guys versus girls" thing. That's so dumb and the people on the show are doing it.

Gpoliceman

Bud 'n Lou

07-25-2001, 02:54 PM

Personally, I would've voted off the redhead. She irritated me.

Edited to add that I definately know who ISN'T the killer.
The fisherman, because he's just a huge red herring. I mean, the mean personality, the fact that he found the wife's body....too obvious.
The boyfriend too. Another red herring, since we heard that he threatened the father with a tire iron. Too easy.

James Harvey

07-25-2001, 03:22 PM

I think the killer is male. Why? Becuase in a short scene we saw of him with that clock, he was obviously male. Even when they played it again -- male. Then again. that could've been just anyone playing the killer and not the actual suspects. I also thought it was pretty funny when they girl said goodbye to her kids. I can understand she was scared, but...COME ON! It's a show - and a pretty good one.

optimal321

07-25-2001, 04:43 PM

I think the killer is... THE HOST!!! No but really, i don't think they're going to actually figure out who the killer is. They'll just keep eliminating the suspects until the end when they just pick one. But that's just based on what i've seen thus far because they haven't really done much detective work. But that's just my opinion.

The Mad Hatter

07-25-2001, 05:06 PM

What? There's no actual detective work? Dang. I was hoping this would be a reality show for semi-intelligent people who don't generally like reality shows, but looks like it's not.

Then again, I should know by now that Fox does not equal cerebal.

Clayface

07-26-2001, 12:23 AM

Originally posted by The Mad Hatter
What? There's no actual detective work? Dang.

Eh, its not as bad as they're making it out to be. There is some detective work to it, but they are led by the hand a bit. You gotta remember that a real murder investigation, by professionals, can take years. Here, we've got a bunch of inexperienced Joe Schmoe amatures trying to solve a case in a very limited time - so, the show host provides them with some rather obvious leads, and lets them take it from there.

Robin2099

07-26-2001, 01:33 AM

I thought it was pretty good. It had a nice "pulp detective story" feel to it, which is why I enjoyed it. I like the idea that the contestants could be "killed off" during the course of the game, and the fact that the townspeople seemed to be like legit actors. I'll agree though that I didn't like the contestants gettting there hand held through the entire show, and some of the contestants don't seem to smart. And why did the two girls act like it was really there last 15 minutes alive? But all in all I thought it was good.

P.S. I'm going with the killer being a male too.

James Harvey

07-26-2001, 10:07 PM

With the supposed strenght and amount of blood spead across the murder scene, it has to be male. Or a real boyish girl. REALLY boyish girl. It would be a complete cop out to make the killer a female, given the seen footage.

optimal321

08-01-2001, 04:39 PM

After seeing it again last night, i realized the only thing i don't like about it. We only get to know what the writers want us to know. It may seem like 15 people are solving this murder mystery, but i think it is almost imposible for one of them to name the killer. We are just being shown the plot through these people.

However, on the upside, it still is a great mystery. If i can't enjoy the realism of it too much, at least i can think of it more like a movie than a game show.

Clayface

08-01-2001, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by DickGrayson
With the supposed strenght and amount of blood spead across the murder scene, it has to be male. Or a real boyish girl. REALLY boyish girl. It would be a complete cop out to make the killer a female, given the seen footage.

But what footage has really given us any idea that its a guy? I'm not sure I agree that it is. If I'm not mistaken, we don't evenknow what the murder weapon was yet, so there's nothing that that tells us if it was male or female. Getting a lot of blood spattered is easy - one well placed stab wound or a gun shot wound could quirt blood all over the place.

One thing I was thinking about while watching last night: what's to say that we can actually believe the killer? The killer is the one that's eliminating a suspect each week right? What's to say the killer doesn't just name him/herself as one of the "cleared" suspects? What's to stop them from going with the whole "unreliable narrator" aspect of a story?

James Harvey

08-01-2001, 06:03 PM

I noticed that last nite's "cleared suspect" was someone we barely knew, that X-Ray guy. I think it'll start getitng better within the next few weeks. Things are starting to come togethor. I was a bit dissapointing Andy was killed. He actually seemed to be one of the smartest people there. As for the unreliable thing...would they do that? It could come as a nice twist near the end of the series, almost logical, but I'm just wondering would they thow that twist in.

Clayface

08-01-2001, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by DickGrayson
I was a bit dissapointing Andy was killed. He actually seemed to be one of the smartest people there.

I was miffed that he was killed - I really wanted to see the look on the face of the woman that sent him out there - she's a mega-witch. I hope they get rid of her soon - I can't stand her. She's a small, petty person, with nothing to offer to the team so far. Death to her, I say! Death! Well, not the real kind, just the TV kind.

As for the unreliable thing...would they do that? It could come as a nice twist near the end of the series, almost logical, but I'm just wondering would they thow that twist in.

I don't know if they'd do it or not. I mean, it would be a heck of a twist at the end, but I htink a lot of people might feel a bit ripped off if they did that.

optimal321

08-01-2001, 06:50 PM

Originally posted by Clayface

I was miffed that he was killed - I really wanted to see the look on the face of the woman that sent him out there - she's a mega-witch. I hope they get rid of her soon - I can't stand her. She's a small, petty person, with nothing to offer to the team so far. Death to her, I say! Death! Well, not the real kind, just the TV kind.

Yeah, i know. The part that really gets me was in last night's ep, she was saying how hard it was to try to choose someone to go out and "play the killer's game." Duh! Why do you still hate Andy? He had to choose someone, and imo, she almost cost them their eliminated suspect. She kept saying that the killer rapped the bodies in the shower curtain or something. And it was the woman who got killed that suggested the bed sheets. Of course, then the blond lady realized it was the sheets and changed her answer. But if i were Andy, i would have voted her out too. He had to choose someone, so why not the person who almost cost them.

James Harvey

08-01-2001, 10:17 PM

Agree! Agree! Agree! The only reason she's been almost the focal point of the past couple episodes is becuase she's been whining alot about being Andy's choice. Andy did a bang up job the past couple weeks on the show. I would've loved to have seen him come back and just smile in her face. I was glad the team picked Andy. I hope the team kicks her off next week. Still, I am definatly gona tune into the end. This is the best reality program going and I hope FOX stays with it, even though it fell 23% in ratings this week.

Robin2099

08-02-2001, 02:07 AM

After watching it this week, I almost got the feeling that Andy probably voted for himself to go, just so Kristen had to make that choice. And I don't think Kristen is that bad, the biggest manipulator I think is the older girl who voted against Shirley(name escapes me right now). She seems to be the biggest antagonist there.

optimal321

08-12-2001, 06:32 PM

I know this is almost a week late, but does anyone else just hate the fact that that Kristen chick came back again!? Damn, i think i had more to say last Tuesday. Ah well, a new ep is only two days away.

James Harvey

08-12-2001, 09:08 PM

I bet she'll be voted for again. I really can't stand her for some reason. I think she reminds me of my sister. And as for that guy - are you talking about Angel?

Robin2099

08-13-2001, 01:54 AM

Yeah, I'm not a really big fan of Angel at all. Actually, I really don't like the lifegaurd who voted Lyndsey off. He really seemed to have it in for her. I mean first he puts her in that van for 25 hours, then sends her to get the clue. And she seemed to be one of the nicest people there.

Inque

08-13-2001, 02:18 AM

This is my take: It's more fun to be the contestants then to be the viewers. If I were in the show, I'd be having a hell of a good time. Same goes with Fear Factor. I'd love to get catapulted into the air. It looks like sooo much fun! I could eat bugs, I've eaten worse things.