Can it be -- two years?

[maggiethecat]

Can you believe it?

Has it really been two years since Blind Justice premiered? In anticipation of midnight, I'm here to celebrate March 8, 2005. There are so many things I could say after all this time -- and after all we've been through together -- but I think I said it best in the recap I wrote of The Pilot. Written first for the old Blind Justifications board, and then tweaked and re-posted here when Shmeep and Mouse founded our "home away from home."

And what a ride it has been -- and continues to be -- at Beyond Justice. Analysis threads, games and limericks and poems and all sorts of good fun, from dissing Christie's wardrobe to some deliciously creative and well written fanfic. We've been through births and deaths and almost two years of friendship and togetherness. We are contentious and different and opinionated and, in the end, we thank the Blind Dude who brought us together.

As E. M. Forster famously said, "Only connect." We did.

So, since I'm feeling a tad nostalgic -- and because I can't think of how to say it any better than I did all those months ago -- here's a snippet of the old recap to re-savor (I hope). For Auld Lang Syne, for the Eighth Precinct . . . and for Jimmy.

* * *

I wasn’t a regular NYPD Blue or ABC viewer so I hadn’t seen any of the promos for Blind Justice. I simply turned it on March 8th for three reasons: it was new, it was from Steven Bochco, and it wasn’t Law & Order, which I’d finally wearied of. As for Ron Eldard, I remembered him vaguely from the early days of E.R. but that was about it.

The first shot hooked me . . . the close-up of Eldard’s eyes, alert, sharply focused, as he entered into the shootout at the bank. As the scene progressed -- bleached palette, jump cuts, voices slowed, fragged images edited so you felt the confusion but still knew exactly what was happening -- I realized I was holding my breath, not quite believing what I was seeing. Not quite believing that this good-looking blond guy, whoever he was -- “Terry, he’s empty, take the shot, Terry!” -- had to cross the street to wrest the gun from the hands of his cowering partner, and calmly and purposefully walk toward the gunman and fire the shot that tore out his jugular, and then -- immediately -- the horrific shock of the bullet tearing across his temple, his head jerking back . . . and the bookend, the second close-up of Eldard’s eyes, blank, unseeing, his face pallid and damp with sweat.



I remember thinking -- and I still do -- that it was just about the most compelling two minutes I’d ever seen on film. And I couldn’t believe I was seeing it on network television.

Now, from a distance, one of the reasons I find the opening so valuable is not only because it set up the premise of the show -- and brilliantly -- but because it is the best evidence we have of the kind of cop Jim Dunbar was before he was blinded. And he was about as good as it gets: smart, supremely confident, intuitive, quick to act, and brave as hell.



In a very real sense, the creators of Blind Justice were following the most ancient and basic precepts of Greek tragedy: the hero must fall from a great height . . . and then climb back up.

Back to the present. More than that I need not say, since we've been over every nanosecond of The Pilot again and again and again. (Heh.) But once more I have to thank Steven Bochco and the supremely talented creative team who brought us Blind Justice . . . and brought us all together.

[anna]

I watched the pilot last night - yes, at 9:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday. I did not consciously set out to watch that particular episode on that particular night. In fact, it had been a while since I had watched any of the episodes. However, when I realized what I was doing, it seemed only right. And you know what? After all my viewings of it, I still sat there and watched every minute of it - no fast-forwarding, no picking up a magazine or wandering into the next room. Now that's a show.

[Duchess of Lashes]

So well said, Maggie, on all counts! We have taken all 13 episodes, picked them apart, found their little flaws, analyzed them until two weeks from Tuesday, played with them, screen capped them, etc., and still I can, as Anna did last night, sit down and watch an episode from start to finish, and relish it like I did the first time I saw it two years ago.

We all had our own reason for tuning in - for me, it was the appeal of welcoming Ron Eldard back in to my home on a weekly basis after a hiatus that was just far too long - but there was so much more that kept me coming back week after week, hoping that the brass at ABC would see the value of this show.

Alas, not meant to be, but look where we are two years later - we may not have what we wanted - more Blind Justice - but we have this - thank you Shmeep and Housemouse. I, for one, have enjoyed this little ride too.

[maggiethecat]

You are both making me want to get into the comfy chair ("Bring me . . . the comfy chair!") with a cup of good Ceylon tea and indulge in The Pilot once again.

I think I will.

After all the analysis we have enjoyed and indulged in, it is still possible to suspend disbelief and watch this amazing show as though it were brand new, as anna said. And that says a lot.

[Katryna]

maggiethecat said:

And what a ride it has been -- and continues to be -- at Beyond Justice. Analysis threads, games and limericks and poems and all sorts of good fun, from dissing Christie's wardrobe to some deliciously creative and well written fanfic. We've been through births and deaths and almost two years of friendship and togetherness. We are contentious and different and opinionated and, in the end, we thank the Blind Dude who brought us together.

Maggie, how right you are! This Board and its members have become so much a part of my life. It is the place I go when I first wake up and where I go just before Bed - and as many times in between as I can manage; even though I would not call myself a prolific poster! I want to join Lori in thanking the admins for keeping this board going for us.

You are so right that we owe that blonde (blind) Dude a big thank you for being the catalyst that brought us all together!

[Duchess of Lashes]

Think I might join you in that evening plan, Maggie, although I will be curled in the corner of my comfy couch with a good cup of Earl Grey (where's the Bailey's?) and the Pilot....not the one that actually aired; the other that existed prior to that....the one with the incredibly haunting music.

[Deleted]

Ahhh......memories.

Would anyone like to know what I was doing on the premier night? GRRRR!!!!!!!

Well, I was invited to sing Verdi's Requiem at Carnegie Hall - my VCR was broken, I did not have a DVD player at the time and conveniently no one could tape it for me. GRRRRR!!!!!!!!

If anyone is familiar with Verdi's Requiem, it's quite depressing and dark (flames of hell licking at your feet, etc.), so my mood on stage only lent to that performance.

It was not until about three weeks after I finally saw the pilot. GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[carl1951]

Time flies when you're having fun.

Looking forward to another year.

Love to my ladies.

Later, Carl

[bjobsessed]

I can't believe it's been two years. I remember missing the first three and then watching them all at once at a friend's house and the rest is history. Who would know that I'm watching BJ with a really good friend from the land Down Under. That--besides Ron--is the best. New friends all because of The Blond Dude and BJ.

[mlm828]

Another bittersweet anniversary -- we seem to have a lot of them here in "BJ Land." But the sweet far outweighs the bitter. Two years ago, when we (or most of us) tuned in to watch the first episode of a new show, who would have believed that it would bring together such a diverse and interesting group of people from all parts of the world -- or that we'd still be here two years later? All of our lives are richer for it. Many thanks to everyone who made it possible.

[Chris]

I came to the party a bit late since BJ didn't come to Denmark until September 2005 but I am with you all the way this is such an amazing show.

I never dreamed of experiencing anything like this, having met a group of people with whom I have so much in common, and hopefully I will get to meet you face to face too eventually

Like Kathy said, I too, am on the board whenever I get the opportunity and it still amazes me that all this has happened because of a (brilliant) TV-show.

I enjoy coming here to talk about BJ and RE and everything else we talk about on this board, and I want to thank The Admins for giving me the opportunity to do so, you are doing a great job with this, Thank you

I saw the Pilot again yesterday, thanks to Anita. I haven't seen the Pilot since 2005 because I was so stupid not to tape the first three episodes back then (Was I insane back then, or what went wrong )

Modified to add: While I don't remember the first time I watched the Pilot I remeber deciding NOT to tape the whole series, I said to myself, grow up, it's ridiculous to tape it...
I did tape the Pilot and watched it several times and then taped something else on the tape. As did I with FFU and RTT. But on Oktober 13th 2005 - that date I do remember - I had to work when BJ was on, and all I could think of was, what if my VHS broke down, or I didn't set it at the right time or....
I had to spend the night at the office so I turned the TV on there. We don't have cable there and the reception is very poor, so I could barely see what was going on, nor hear much of the dialogue - at least I had the subtitles to help me out - but I had to watch it.
That's when I realized that this was something special and from that episode on, I taped them all, and here I am

maggiethecat said:

* * *

I wasn’t a regular NYPD Blue or ABC viewer so I hadn’t seen any of the promos for Blind Justice. I simply turned it on March 8th for three reasons: it was new, it was from Steven Bochco, and it wasn’t Law & Order, which I’d finally wearied of. As for Ron Eldard, I remembered him vaguely from the early days of E.R. but that was about it.

The first shot hooked me . . . the close-up of Eldard’s eyes, alert, sharply focused, as he entered into the shootout at the bank. As the scene progressed -- bleached palette, jump cuts, voices slowed, fragged images edited so you felt the confusion but still knew exactly what was happening -- I realized I was holding my breath, not quite believing what I was seeing. Not quite believing that this good-looking blond guy, whoever he was -- “Terry, he’s empty, take the shot, Terry!” -- had to cross the street to wrest the gun from the hands of his cowering partner, and calmly and purposefully walk toward the gunman and fire the shot that tore out his jugular, and then -- immediately -- the horrific shock of the bullet tearing across his temple, his head jerking back . . . and the bookend, the second close-up of Eldard’s eyes, blank, unseeing, his face pallid and damp with sweat.
I remember thinking -- and I still do -- that it was just about the most compelling two minutes I’d ever seen on film. And I couldn’t believe I was seeing it on network television.

Now, from a distance, one of the reasons I find the opening so valuable is not only because it set up the premise of the show -- and brilliantly -- but because it is the best evidence we have of the kind of cop Jim Dunbar was before he was blinded. And he was about as good as it gets: smart, supremely confident, intuitive, quick to act, and brave as hell.
In a very real sense, the creators of Blind Justice were following the most ancient and basic precepts of Greek tragedy: the hero must fall from a great height . . . and then climb back up.

Back to the present. More than that I need not say, since we've been over every nanosecond of The Pilot again and again and again. (Heh.) But once more I have to thank Steven Bochco and the supremely talented creative team who brought us Blind Justice . . . and brought us all together.

Maggie, you said it, this is exactly the way I felt when I saw it again, I have been listening to the Audio Descriptions, but seeing it again just blew me away, the opening scene is so strong and breathtaking, it's unbelievable.

I want to join you in the comfy chair, not with a cup of tea but hot chocolate, curl up and watch the Pilot again, but I'll have to wait till tomorrow

divinemrse said:

Ahhh......memories.

Would anyone like to know what I was doing on the premier night? GRRRR!!!!!!!

Well, I was invited to sing Verdi's Requiem at Carnegie Hall - my VCR was broken, I did not have a DVD player at the time and conveniently no one could tape it for me. GRRRRR!!!!!!!!

If anyone is familiar with Verdi's Requiem, it's quite depressing and dark (flames of hell licking at your feet, etc.), so my mood on stage only lent to that performance.

It was not until about three weeks after I finally saw the pilot. GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor Mame Dahling
I think I would have cried singing Verdi's Requiem, had I been you. As beautiful as Verdi's Requiem is, it is very depressing and for you to be missing out on the Pilot and seeing RE in it, THAT must have been almost unbearable

Take care and keep smiling
- Chris

[rducasey]

Maggie, so beautifully written and so true! I love all the comments from everyone else as we feel so nostalgic on this anniversary. It has been an amazing ride. I never knew as I sat down to watch that pilot two years ago how it would impact my life. I, like a lot of you, start my day and end my day on the board. Friendships I have made from this board have enriched my life so much. I, too want to thank the admins for making all this possible. And of course a big thank you to Mr. Bochco, but mostly to our Blond Dude for making this all possible.
Cheers and let the fun continue!

[Deleted]

anna said:

I watched the pilot last night - yes, at 9:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday. I did not consciously set out to watch that particular episode on that particular night. In fact, it had been a while since I had watched any of the episodes. However, when I realized what I was doing, it seemed only right. And you know what? After all my viewings of it, I still sat there and watched every minute of it - no fast-forwarding, no picking up a magazine or wandering into the next room. Now that's a show.

Amen!

[housemouse]

What a wonderful ride. I wouldn't trade this board for anything. Thanks to all who have made it all that it is over the past two years.

Here's to two more!

[inuvik]

Happy 2 year anniversary everyone!

I can't say it any better than others already have. This Board is a great place to be.

I seem to have gone up 4 anonymous karma's since yesterday. Thank you all very much!