Once the turkey-coma had finally subsided, the DVR was almost as full as I was. I promise the rest of the week won’t be catch-up, but for today, we have to spend a moment reminiscing on BBC America’s first run of the tasty Hotel Babylon which ended this past Wednesday. Babylon has been on for what seems like a year – not that I mind, but BBC’s unspoken decision to lump the first two seasons together left me wondering when it was all going to end.
Well, it’s a good thing they waited. The season one cliffhanger of Charlie’s shooting seemed so forced that the drama barely registered. I honestly didn’t even remember it when they aired the conclusion the next week. The season two finale, and the episode in question, serves as a much more fitting end for its current run. A super fancy (and super snotty) hotel magnate is finalizing his plans to buy the Babylon. He only wants to hire Rebecca, but gives her the opportunity to keep on two of her staff. After much deliberation, she fires everyone but Charlie. Everyone is so upset that they stage a small coup. And no one has sex! When it turns out that the mass firing was a stall tactic to keep the Babylon out of the wrong hands, Rebecca has already lost everyone’s trust. She takes this as a sign for her to leave her post and recommends that Charlie be her replacement. He runs after her to change her mind, but she is unswayed. A teary goodbye and snoggage ensue.
Cliffhangers of this sort are easily resolved – typically. We’d expect Rebecca to return next season… possibly in a lesser capacity… maybe forced to work back up the ladder? Not the case. Actress Tamzin Outhwaite has jumped the HMS Babylon in hopes of a film career. Sad on so many levels. Rebecca was not an expendable character. Her relationship with Charlie had too long of a build up for such a little payoff. Most of the characters on Hotel Babylon are caricatures at best, but Rebecca had depth. A woman so out of touch with those around her, she barely registered as human. It should also be said that Outhwaite’s bizarre speech patterns and frequently raised eyebrows were a highlight of the show. We will miss her, but at least the door is once again open for a Natalie/Charlie reunion.
Not to hijack your Hotel Babylon post, but I just watched last night’s Bones – and while corny as hell, I just want to note that I’m consistently impressed with their ability to stretch out the Bones/Booth romantic tension. That’s some serious acting.
Isn’t it too early for christmas episodes though?
There is at least one more completed episode of Bones (I think they may have two). Since they didn’t raise any continuity issues, FOX decided to change the order and just air the Christmas episode now. That way there’s new episodes in Jan/Feb, and if the strike is resolved before Christmas, the season will air uninterrupted.
Poor Babylon, nobody loves you!
I do! But I didn’t like the finale so much. Everything went a little too far, from the takeover to the fistfight to the “coup”, and it seemed to end the story without much respect for anyone but Charlie & Rebecca. Nice to know there will be another season. Rebecca will be missed for just the reasons you say but maybe a shakeup will do them some good.