B.J. Fletcher: Private Eye
Review by ralst
B.J. Fletcher: Private Eye - Episode 1 from Regan Latimer on Vimeo.
B.J. Fletcher: Private Eye is a tongue in cheek web-series that follows the exploits of an inept private investigator, Fletch, and her plucky best friend Georgia 'George' Drew.
Season One:
At first glance, the series seems amateurish, with overblown characters and silly plots, but if you give the show a chance - I gave up after two or three episodes and only caught up with the series a year down the line when I was hosting an insomnia party - you'll discover that, yes, it is very silly, but that it's meant to be. In a TV world where there's a CSI in every city and Law & Order off-shoots are sprouting up in any untended piece of airtime, it's refreshing to have a crime based (very loosely) show that doesn't take itself seriously and, shock of all shocks, features lesbians!
You'll just have to turn a blind eye to the wooden acting of some of the minor characters and accept the show for what it is... a comedy where for the majority of the time silliness rules supreme.
B.J. Fletcher, the character, is an idiot. She narrates her thoughts into a large old-fashioned tape recorder and wears her retro leather jacket like a badge of office. Fortunately for those people who hire Fletch, she is ably assisted by her childhood friend, George, who although not exactly a rocket scientist, does manage to inject a little common sense and people skills into Fletch's investigations. Together they make a pretty, well, funny and inept team, but somehow they get the job done and solve the case of the week within three or four episodes.
With over a minute and a half of 'previously on' and titles, the earlier six-to-eight minute episodes felt rushed, but things started to improve by the middle of the first season and by the second season episodes were coming in at fourteen-to-nineteen minutes. A vast improvement that allowed the time needed to develop the characters and the romantic love triangle that arose in the second season.
Season Two:
If there's one thing I love about web-series it's how they can grow and improve between one season and the next. B.J. Fletcher: Private Eye is a definite case in point. In addition to the gradual increase in episode lengths I mentioned above, the writers also capitalised on the unrequited love plotline they'd initiated in season one and flipped it on its head by giving George a girlfriend.
Love triangles are the staple of TV, film and, now it would seem, web-series, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable.
Jenna, George's girlfriend, soon became my favourite character, despite her somewhat dodgy accent (if you've ever heard my rant about bad English accents you'd know how big a deal that caveat truly is) and she managed to add a new dimension to the storyline. She is also by far the most intelligent and normal character on the show. Also, did I mention she's rather hot? It's her voice, I think, not that a silly little things like that would ever influence you, I know, but it needed to be said.
Distrubution/financing:
All the episodes from seasons one and two are available at the official B.J. Fletcher website. In addition, you can watch the episodes and a series of behind the scenes interviews and bloopers at their Dailymotion channel (both links at the top of the page). As nice as it is to be able to view the series for free, I assume that the lack of revenue is one of the big factors that's kept the third season from being produced. According to the website, there is still hope for that elusive third season, but as it's been over two years now since the end of season two I wouldn't hold your breath for a third.
Verdict:
It's silly. Fletch is an idiot. George is cute. Jenna is hot. If you're in the mood for something indepth or serious you'll be very disappointed but if you fancy a bit of fun, that won't tax your little grey cells, you just might find it's exactly what you've been looking for.