Current TV Shows Fall 2008 — Legend of the Seeker — Terminator — Pushing Daisies — Eleventh Hour — Stargate Atlantis
These past few weeks haven’t allowed much time for films, and accordingly, not much time for reviews (Though Kris has been doing an awesome job on this front. Be sure to check out her reviews of Happiness of the Katakuris, Shogun Assassin Collectors’ Set, and Quantum of Solace). That said, I have been able to check out a few interesting things here and there on the tube. So, in lieu of my weekly review, here’s a rundown of the various television shows we’ve been checking out this season. —Chris
Legend of the Seeker
First up, The Legend of the Seeker. I’d originally heard of this Sam Raimi produced project back on Filmrot, with Dave’s article regarding the adaptation of the Terry Goodkind Sword of Truth novels. Now, I’ve never read anything by Goodkind (my fantasy allotment is currently taken up by Raymond E. Feist), but the material sounded interesting enough to warrant a look.
Legend of the Seeker is your basic hero of prophecy saves land in danger fantasy story, with wizards, sword-fights, romance, and intrigue, but with an added moralistic and philosophical bent I found refreshing. One of the two episodes I watched tackled topics ranging from free speech to ethical dilemmas concerning self sacrifice for the greater good. The dialog is fairly straightforward (completely appropriate for weekend afternoon fare), but the performances are earnest, and the material entertaining. Action, too, is pretty decent, with an average of two set-pieces per episode viewed. Granted, these suffered a bit from Gladiator style speed-up-slow-down stutter-cut editing, but they were nonetheless entertaining. Plus, Bridget Regan is pretty cute as the tale’s Confessor, a sorceress/conflict arbiter, and potential love interest for the series hero – at least that’s what she seemed to me.
From a cursory viewing of the IMDB message boards, it seems that fans are a little concerned the show doesn’t follow the books as closely as it could, and some are a little miffed about Raimi’s borderline Xena/Hercules treatment of the tale. Personally, I dug Xena and Hercules back in high school (as did most people. C’mon. Admit it. You kinda like them too.), but the show is a lot less tongue in cheek than those. Furthermore, I think the show might just win Goodkind a wider audience. I, for one, fully intend to read the Sword of Truth…once I finish my queue of Feist books. A decent show I fully intend to watch more of.
On a side note, Legend of the Seeker seems to be just the first in a series of fantasy adaptations hitting the small screen. It was recently announced that George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones will be seeing the light of day as an HBO series, provided the recently greenlit pilot episode is received well. Check out Martin’s blog for more information.
Tarantino evangelizes Xena
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
This show just continues to devolve. In fact, if tonight’s episode doesn’t do anything to advance the story, I’m calling it quits on the show. Last week saw a 10 minute storyline expanded to an hour, due to wannabe Roshamon perspective shifting and pathetic Quentin Tarantino homages. Action sequences have proven as dull as they are illogical – case in point: the car chase sequence of last week. We all know Terminators are relentless pursuers. Three films, countless games, and comicbook adaptations have taught us this. So, when our team of heroes are in a car being pursued by a terminator, sporting fully automatic machine guns I might add, you might think they would do their best to get miles away from said Terminator before investigating a noise in their trunk. Not the case with these guys. The next block is sufficient enough a distance. And, when the source of the noise is discovered, a lengthy conversation is had by all. No worries though. The pursuing terminator has taken his lunch break. Everything’s cool until the next commercial.
In terms of the cast, Lena Heady still hasn’t managed to muster a convincingly tough Sarah Connor (or washed her annoyingly unkempt hair for that matter). Summer Glau seems content to channel Angelina Jolie’s Cyborg 2 role, while everyone else simply phones in their performances. Note to Fox: when Brian Austin Green seems to be the only one trying, it’s time to throw in the towel.
Pushing Daisies
Kris and I love this show, but as with most original efforts, it’s set to be axed come Spring. Sure, the show was a bit less inspired than last season, teetering on contrivancy in places, but it was still one of the funniest and most satisfying weeknight entertainments we’ve found. For those of you not in the know, the series follows the adventures of a Pie-maker/corpse resuscitator who solves crimes with his detective buddy and childhood crush turned undead sweetheart. Only there’s a catch. The people the piemaker resuscitates are given life by a single touch, and death by a subsequent one. Hence, his romance is one of a strictly hands off nature. Pretty intriguing, right? Sadly, ABC doesn’t seem to think so. If you haven’t already, sign the petition to save the show, and be sure to pick up the first season on DVD.
Eleventh Hour
Rufus Sewell and the girl from Bubble Boy solve unexplained mysteries in true X-Files style. Now, this one is an adaptation of a British show, and currently competing with J.J. Abrahms’ “original” Fringe, but it’s definitely the better show in my opinion. Episodes are taut, with little wasted time, and feature a nice mix of cutting edge and pseudo science. Dialog and editing are occasionally a bit wonky, but tolerable on the whole. Acting is strong from pretty much all involved. I’d take this cast over Abraham’s any day. I mean, Rufus Sewell and the Bubble girl vs Joshua Jackson and the creepy Cate Blanchett girl? No contest there. The main drawback I see with the show is that it’s on at 10:00 – a little late for us working folks. Still, like Pushing Daisies, there’s the inevitable DVD set to rectify this. If you haven’t already, check it out.
Stargate Atlantis
Okay, I know I’ve covered this one before, but it’s become my new favorite show (on DVD mind you. I don’t get Sci Fi). I love Stargate Atlantis, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I know, it sounds funny. How could a spinoff of a television show based on a Roland Emmerich movie be any good? I thought the same thing…until I saw it. A perfect blend of action, sarcastic humor and nerd academics. But you don’t have to believe me either. Check it out and see for yourself.
@Chris… This is awesome! I can’t ever compendium-ize like you!
Pity about Pushing Daisies… even though the 2nd season is full of superfluous cliffhangers, it is still snappy and original and just darn cute! Its slot will surely be taken by yet another hospital soap opera I’m sure. :(
Eleventh Hour is delightfully eccentric and scientific and it’s great to see Rufus Sewell actually talk rather than brooood… sounds weird to say that it is on rather late, even though I’m up way past 2am anyways.
Stargate Atlantis is really fun and entertaining… not like the rest of the way-too-serious genre I guess. I liked Stargate the movie, too, but I would’ve watched James Spader darn socks for 2hrs.
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