Kimputer's Weblog

Hey, look, a new series on CBS that’s not CSI. It’s actually sci-fi. And it’s big budget too. The first to enter this season (NBC is right behind with Surface, and so is ABC’s Invasion), with a big slate of sci-fi die hards (just off the Star Trek trails are Brannon Braga, Mike Sussman and Andre Bormanis, joined by David S. Goyer (Blade movies)). Luckily with the contraints of the now dead Enterprise lifted, the creative force is flowing again. So, now you get what you paid for. High production value, slick story pace, snappy dialogue. We’ll have to see how this alien invasion plays out (and how the 2 other shows will compare to this one), but for now, it looks good, has a nice eerie atmosphere, and hopefully, more depth in the coming episodes.

Fox already has another break-out hit with another highly serialised series (Prison Break) even before their first high-risk project has finished (24). And usually, these shows make the most interesting series, with complicated storylines unfolding while there’s enough time for character development (as in, Lost, Alias, Battlestar Galactica, The 4400), so I had to try this one.
The concept of this season’s 20 episode it to highlight one year every episode. How serialised can you get ? Some kind of mystery happens (probably murder of a cast member), and it will unfold and finish also (with possible next seasons featuring a whole new cast and storyline). This one starts out during the summer of ’86, and follows 6 close friends, just graduated from high school. And leave it to bad writing to have no less than 2 love triangles, and from here on cliches play tag every minute or so (with slight deja-vu feelings of Fox’s last bomb, Point Pleasant from earlier this year). Most of the detail (and possibly the budget) is on the hit music and videos of that particular year, but the premium price paid for the royalties would’ve been better spent on better writers. Overall feel is a bit plastic, with acting not too convincing, so this one is a dropper.

Rounding out the summer schedule of USA Network, is this series born out of the terrific original mini-series. Continuingly developing the stories on multiple levels, it works towards an explosive season finale. While the mini-series ended nicely, and no announcement of further development, it was easy to let go. However, coming back with a full season (or half a season by network standard), and then ending it like this, is a whole other thing.
If something needs pushing envelope, it’s non-basic cable TV that will do it. The only drawback however, it will take another year to churn out another 13 episodes.

One of the first new series to premiere on the network this season, it’s the Fox spearheading what looks like a success. Airing in the timeslot where 24 leads in the ratings (also on Fox, but in the usual Jan-May run), is now a similar series. Basically, it’s a prison break (probably takes 30 days) series, with a long story arc.
Like many movie execs before (Imagine (Ron Howard and Brian Grazer), Bryan Singer, Jerry Bruckheimer, Scott Free (Ridley and Tony)), Brett Ratner fits in his own series before taking a crack at the next X-men movie. And he makes quite an impression, not really by just directing the pilot, but more by having the ability to show off this series with the same zest that made 24 a success. Right from the start you’re into it, and the intense gritty atmosphere never drops in pressure. It’s also clear the meticulously planned prison break reveals itself more and more over the season, with the intricacies and unexpected story twists functioning as the glue to your seat. In between, there is still time to get to know a whole bunch of characters better, bit by bit, while the story also keeps unfolding outside the prison walls.
All in all, with only 2 episodes aired, it’s definitely a worthy seat warmer until 24 returns in 2006, if not equally exciting.

As expected, a lot of stand alone episodes overpower this short season. Luckily though, they managed they squeeze in a few of those magnificent arch continuing stories, with a superb season finale to boot (just in time to make way for the Network TV season to start). Again, the finale revives the hope of a strong fifth season (a lot of things answered, and equally, a lot of new things to ponder about), diving into the new characters and plot twists.

Pairing with TNT’s The Closer, is a more testosterone fueled cop show. A special task force with several different specialties, headed by Gary Cole (American Gothic, Crusade), they hunt L.A.’s Top 100 Most Wanted list. It’s a pretty straight forward show, with only Gary Cole’s character having a back story and continuing struggle as a soon to be divorced father of two. The rest will have to do with almost generic dialogue. If the characters get more depth, and the pretty hot Rashida Jones (Boston Public) could lose the ever present frown, this show will have a chance in the soon to start TV network season. Otherwise, it will have to move off my limited TV schedule soon (some 20 slots per week available).

With Empire (on ABC last month) so fresh in my mind, taking anymore more of this crap is too much (usually I give a series at least a chance of 2 episodes). This time, also a 6-episode mini-series on HBO, it focuses on slightly different matters, but the outline is still the same. The power struggle to control Rome, everyone is plotting to backstab Caesar. As usual with these movies, we see a whole bunch of unknown Brit actors playing the Romans. Even the director is a Brit. But even Michael Apted can’t shake this boring thing to life. Known for cliche movies (Enough, Extreme Measures), he did bring a bit of depth and drama to the James Bond saga (The World Is Not Enough), but this script is just too much. Guess this Roman bickering will have to do without me.

Another strange series coming from Showtime, it’s a half hour dramedy about a single mom dealing in weeds to make a decent living for her and her two sons. Set in the suburbs, it creates a nice gossipy atmosphere while everything from school to parenting problems to relationship problems pass to fill the stories. The whole thing has a weird feeling to it, mixing drama with a strange sense of comedy, but headlining the show is Mary-Louise Parker, who seems to have never had a normal “sane” role, ever (also slightly psychotic in last years the Angels in America mini-series). Of course, her being the hottest 41-year women on this earth helps a lot too (she doesn’t look a day older than thirty !). For now, it’s definitely a keeper, so let’s hope the high doesn’t wear off anytime soon.

Steven Bochco, even though his latest attempt failed (Blind Justice, canceled on the ABC), is still a name to be reckoned with. With a history long relation with the big networks, he finally makes a move towards cable (FX) with a particularly dark and gritty drama. Taking place in Iraq, it follows a group of soldiers. The mission based episodes provide enough variety, and the drama and dilemmas are decently written. Both the missions and the personal drama, both at the war front and at home, seem to have enough breeding ground to last quite a few seasons (for now, the ratings warrants it).

Season 3 ended with a bang, leaving season 4 a hard one to follow. This show has always proven to be a rich character and story driven show, so the season opener came somewhat as a surprise. The following episodes proved the slam in the face was a real one.
I have no idea what the Piller family is thinking, but it feels like a cheap way out. With one episode, they cut all the storylines short. The new episodes are, while still well written, back to the “normal” episodic formula. No hightened tension because of an intense background story, no continuing character development, but just another good series. It clearly lost its edge, so let’s hope the Pillers regain their sanity and start writing with their brains again soon.

TNT’s tagline “We know drama” has always depended on a limited number of original TV movies and mini-series, lotsa older theatrical movies, combined with re-run rights for ER, Law & Order, and a whole bunch of those. But this summer they’re really stepping up a gear, with the expensive Into the West mini-series, they have two original series slated (Wanted, scheduled to air in a few weeks), while The Closer aired with success for the past few weeks.
Focusing on the female lead (Kyra Sedgwick) who starts a new job leading a new LAPD special unit, much to everyone’s annoyance (people not liking her approach to the cases, the feeling of being overstepped). Following the cases we also get a glimps in her rather chaotic life, while the cases are mostly being solved through her own special interrogation techniques. Her character seems sufficiently fleshed out to last a few season, and a key view into that development keeps things interesting.
And while it’s _another_ procedural crime show, it’s fairly enjoyable for now, but things might change if the TV season heats up again in a few months.

USA Network has a pretty strong, if not the strongest, summer schedule slated, and it contains new seasons of Monk and The Dead Zone. Also started is a second season of The 4400, originally just a one time 6 episode mini series. Well written and developed as it was, it would hold up as a mini series, but expansion was another possibility. And well into season 2 it shows the producers have a lot more coming our way to make this a special series on it own. Most notable names on the production staff are of course Ira Steven Behr and Rene Echevarria, and results are well written stand alone episodes combined with story arch continuation. Mystery, drama, action, and a thought provoking view of the world makes this as unique as their previous endeavors (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine). The way the bigger story unfolds, it looks like a few more years of this one of a kind show is a high probability.

This is Fox’ newest procederal show to highlight the summer, and almost has a (NBC’s) Profiler feel to it. With a professional team behind it (most of the Imagine team that are also behind 24), it still lacks a certain feel to it. As the team of special FBI agents of the Violent Crimes Task Force (still exactly as the Profiler) psycho analyse the crimes, there’s still time for personal drama (again, the same). And while I’m a true proponent for that, so it creates extra depth for the characters, in this series it feels too contrived.
Cases follow up each other in the same way, with the first suspect never being guilty, and a surprise ending by a character you’d least expected. It’s nice, but it’s not perfect. Then again, at least it’s not a forensic show. Let’s see how this plays out after the summer.

A mini-series on ABC, it tells the story of the Roman Empire shortly after Ceasar has been killed. It revolves around the heir of Julius, and the power struggle for a new ruler. And we have gladiators and horses and sand and sun, blabalablala.
The first episode tries to be a cheap Gladiator rip-off, and it fails miserable on all aspects. The acting is quite bad, as are the flimsy action scenes. The second episode is pretty much worse. There’s no depth in the characters, and the story telling is kinda boring. I guess the next $24 million are not spent on me (as $6 million has been the reported budget per episode).

While Steven Spielberg is always busy on the big screen, he never really left his small screen activities idle. And after Band of Brothers (HBO) and Taken (Sci-fi Channel), it’s TNT’s turn to get a big promotional boost with Into the West. And paying off it does (with 7 million watching at a time, totalling 21 million viewers on its triple play rotation).
His name alone warrants at least a peek at the pilot, I have to be honest to tell you, it’s a little bit hard keeping your attention on the screen. Basically focusing on 2 families throughout a few generations (one hard working family, with the kids going out for adventure, and one Native American family and how they cope with the invasion of the white people during the 1800’s) and how they intertwine, it is a bit boring. Themes like Indian rituals come by, and the dangerous traveling into the west are highlighted. In the following episodes we see some settling down, and just when you’re getting a clear picture of the character, the focus shifts to another generation, jumping another decade. In essence, they’re building a saga, but it’s a bit hard to connect to the characters if they keep popping up and disappearing at the same time.
A whole bunch of notable “guest” appearances should keep the star rating high (Sean Astin, Rachel Leigh Cook, Keri Russell, Skeet Ulrich), and there’s even more to come in the following episodes.
All in all, it sounds like must-see, but if it were not for the summer low season, I’d probably drop this one without much thought .