Take Two Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Take Two
Rachelle Lewis
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Rachel Bilson and Eddie Cibrian star in the new lighthearted summer drama Take Two.
The creative team behind Castle brings viewers a familiar concept with a twist in Take Two Season 1 Episode 1. However, despite having a familiar formula, the show proves very quickly it is the perfect summertime escape.
This time around an actress, played by Bilson, is looking to regain her credibility after a tabloid run-in caused her to go to rehab. A movie role as a private eye is a perfect choice, but she wants on the job training to help play the role more authentically.
Enter a cynical private investigator, played by Cibrian, who is punishing himself for a case gone wrong. He is forced to let her shadow him for one week to repay a favor to her agent.
They spend most of the time sparring and bantering with each other, as they attempt to solve their first case. A father hires Sam and Eddie to find his missing daughter Lynette, but the duo quickly discovers that is not the real case.
Eddie: Does your friend know he broke about 11 state and federal privacy laws?
Sam: Oh please you are just mad that I have better sources than you.
Eddie: No I am mad because you think the rules don't apply to you.
Sam: Not all rules. I just ignore the stupid ones. Otherwise I would not have gotten to where I am.
When they track down Lynette they realize she was never missing. She is seeking revenge on her boyfriend's killer. This leads the PI team to realize this case is far more dangerous than they thought.
They learn the man who hired them was not Lynette's father. He is part of a criminal organization that had Lynette boyfriend killed when he was going to expose all their crimes.
There are many unexpected surprises in the case that keep the two main characters guessing, while both keep trying to prove they each know the right way to get the job done. Sam and Eddie's egos end up being one of the biggest obstacles to their crime-solving until one incident finally gets them on the same page.
Sam: We know it won't end well if we do nothing. Is it a risk? Yeah but I would rather risk everything for a shot at justice thank risk nothing and be nothing. So what is it going to be? Are you going to give up or are you going to listen to your better angel and make a difference in the world?
Eddie: That is a powerful speech. Of course I liked it better when you gave it to your suicidal partner at the end of season 3 when you were hunting down that murderous clown.
When Eddie wants to leave the case to the cops. Sam is the voice of reason convincing him to move forward despite the danger. He puts his trust in her and discovers Sam's television background does come in handy in the real world.
In the end, his trust in Sam pays off. They solve turned out to be a very high profile case when they bring down a prominent judge involved in organized crime.
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However, despite their different backgrounds Sam and Eddie make quite the team. Their styles clash but also their unique differences help them play off each other. There are even a few moments where it appears these two might even like and respect each other.
After the case is over Sam is left questioning her next step. She was drawn to working in the real world as a crime solver. Eddie is left with a new perspective on a business and his life, which he had been soured on since he got a client killed years ago.
The good thing about Take Two is that it doesn't immediately give off the notion the two main characters will ever be romantically involved. After watching the first episode, it is easy to see the writers are focusing on building a friendship, not a romance.
But that doesn't mean a romance is completely out of the question. Many great TV shows spend years building up to a romance between the main characters whom at the beginning were just friends.
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A twist at the end of Take Two Season 1 Episode 1 will have fans tunning into the second episode to see how the story of Sam and Eddie continues. Despite each of them having a new lease on life, could they really work together all the time?
Their unlikely partnership is very entertaining, but fans have seen it before. The story will need to be stepped up a notch or two to sustain viewers for an entire season.
Ultimately the show is funny, has a great cast and a significant amount of potential. It's biggest hurdle is its recycled concept but hopefully, viewers won't hold that against the show and give it a chance. There is the potential for this to become another guilty pleasure for viewers.
Eddie: I was too busy keeping an eye on you instead of the client. What the hell were thinking answering your phone in the middle of a gunfight?
Sam: I was trying to silence it so we didn't get shot.
Cibrian and Bilson have great chemistry, which is a major part of the show's appeal. Although it is touted as a drama, the actors' lighthearted manner makes this a comedy as well. There are some great one-liners delivered by both actors. It is easy to see both stars make this show more enjoyable.
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Rachelle Lewis was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in 2019..
