Can you explain to me why ...
Question: Can you explain to me why
Cane is getting such mixed reviews from critics and fans alike? I'm a bit biased since I live in south Florida (it's a big hit down here, as you can imagine) and I'm Cuban myself. The show's authenticity should not be questioned. It is spot-on in every aspect, from the music to the family to the south Floridian accents. But beyond that, it has a lot of substance. The characters are interesting, as is the family dynamic. I was equally interested in both the business side and the family side. The only thing I felt was a bit clichéd was the son enlisting in the military. But I'm not going to lie: I'm interested in where that goes, too. So why all the mixed reviews?
Answer: I can't speak for "fans" or other critics, but my problem with
Cane has nothing to do with its authenticity but rather with its surprising lack of energy and invention. In fact, its intriguingly mixed cast and the show's Cuban-American backdrop are what make me want to give it a shot. But it's like the writers think they're writing the first-ever prime-time family-saga soap. In the first two episodes, I could see every beat of this story coming, especially when it comes to the conflict between the Duque and the Samuels families and the fallout of Alex (
Jimmy Smits) having ordered the murder of a bad guy threatening his family. I also expected more heat from the performances and more fire from the writing. Instead: debates about investing in an ethanol refinery? This feels to me like
Dallas-lite, and not even from the early good seasons. Sitting through
Cane so far has bored my
pantalones off. But is there a market for this kind of storytelling? I'm betting there is, as there is with many mainstream CBS programs. Just don't expect a lot of buzz, unless things heat up pretty quick.
