Should you look for the Lost Girl?

     SyFy's newest drama series, Lost Girl, is actually a show at the end of its second season in Canada, where the series is made, which a third ordered. By Americans are only up to episode two, "Where There's a Will, There's a Fae," as of last night. In this installment, Bo (Anna Silk, Being Erica) is asked by a will-o'-the-wisp (Richard McMillan, The Fountain) to recover his lost treasure for a thief. But finding the robber, Michael (Elias Toufexis, Assassin's Creed II), Bo learns that there is more to this situation than a simple robbery. Unfortunately for her, uniting a father and son through the big misunderstanding is a challenge. 

     Lost Girl is not super fantastic or original in the first two episodes. It's sort of a cross between The Nine Lives Of Chloe King and a crime procedural. Obviously, LG predates TNLOCK in production, but since the latter aired first in the states, it doesn't seem like it's so. Both deal with a central female who discovers she has secret parentage, and a whole culture not known to her. Both use a three-letter, two-vowel name of the hidden species (Mai and Fae). The major difference is that Lost Girl is more grown up, and has the case-of-the-week element to it, the second point not exactly being a mark in its favor.

     There is nothing stand out bad about Lost Girl, but nothing awesome about it either. Perhaps it improves, since a third season has been ordered, even though it is just getting started in the U.S. But the mystery service that Kenzie (Ksenia Solo, Life Unexpected, Black Swan) forces Bo into is not necessary. The best parts of the first episodes are Bo learning about the Fae: who they are, how they align themselves, and how she fits into the world. Not only that, but apparently there is some big mystery, where Bo is extremely important in their supernatural world, and she is abandoned as a baby to protect her. It's been done before, but it's also engaging, and the lead actresses are interesting enough to carry that series. Unfortunately, instead of committing to this serial concept, the writers drag out the questions, spending significant amounts of time on a guest star's issues.
     "Where There's a Will, There's a Fae" appears to be setting up the premise. It's not a bad story, though it gets a little hokey. For instance, why does the will-o'-the-wisp send Bo to hunt down his crook, and also sends an assassin? One would think one or the other would serve the purpose, and this second hire seems present only to force Bo into action sequences. However, the misunderstanding between father and son is kinda fun. Then, though, the characters disappear before resolving anything. So overall, the story is uneven and off. And Bo gets a small piece of her puzzle, then goes on with her life.

     What could save Lost Girl, if the procedural elements are down played, is character interaction. Why does Bo take such good care of Kenzie when Bo is seen to be casual about ending other's lives? Setting aside that viewers are expected to buy into this quick turn around, what about Kenzie appeals to Bo such much that it changes her? There has to be something there, more so than just finding another lost soul. Plus, Bo has two love interests, a male cop / vampire named Dyson (Kris Holden-Ried, The Tudors), and a female Fae-expert doctor named Lauren (Zoie Palmer, The Guard), so lots more confusion and gray areas to be dealt with there.

     Will Lost Girl improve? The only way to know is to watch it, airing 10 p.m. ET on SyFy.

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