PROOF a Bit Flimsy

Article originally published as PROOF Review on Seat42F.

TNT’s newest drama is PROOF. Dr. Carolyn Tyler (Jennifer Beals, The L Word) is a respected surgeon who has had a near-death experience and lost her teenage son. She’s found a way to go on, putting thoughts of an afterlife out of her head, until she is approached to study what comes after living from a scientific perspective. She’s fundamentally opposed to what she considers a waste of time, but for the right reasons, can be persuaded to try to find PROOF of what happens to us.

The thing that gets a grounded person like Carolyn to look into this is a little girl. Well, that and her own experiences. When billionaire Ivan Turing (Matthew Modine, Weeds, Full Metal Jacket) proposes the idea, Carolyn is quick to shoot it down. But appearances aside, she’s not a heartless person, and she softens when confronted with a kid who has recently visited the “other place.” It’s a bit too cheesy and done-before an event, and it doesn’t exactly start the show off on the right foot.

Carolyn is not alone in her quest, of course. She has an assistant, young intern Dr. Zed (Edi Gathegi, House M.D.), who brings a more open mind, and Janel Ramey (Caroline Rose Kaplan), who works for Turing and so is probably a spy in her midst. That’s it for now, Carolyn embarrassed for anyone to know what she’s doing, but swayed by the extraordinary amount of money Turing is offering (which of course will be used for charity because television archetype heroes cannot be the least bit selfish).

But she has other things pulling her attention, too. Her boss, Dr. Oliver Stanton (Joe Morton, Scandal, Eureka), doesn’t know about her extra-curricular activity, nor does Carolyn want him to, though I doubt she’ll be able to hide it since she’s doing her research at the hospital. At home, she has a daughter, Sophie (Annie Thurman, Dark Skies), and spanning the two worlds, an ex-husband, Dr. Len Barliss (David Sutcliffe, Gilmore Girls). There’s also a man who claims to be in touch with the other side, Peter Van Owen (Callum Blue, Dead Like Me, Smallville), whom Carolyn (no surprise!) distrusts.

PROOF is an odd bird. It starts off with a very serial concept, the main character being tasked to find proof of life after death. The characters are decently well developed with some driving forces that would lend themselves well to an ongoing story. Yet, the way the first hour deals with a single patient indicates that it will be a repetitive procedural, Carolyn finding one person each week through which to continue her research, and the whole set up is rote. Doing this makes the program far less compelling.

If Carolyn ever solves the essential question at the heart of the series, it would be over. But I don’t think she will, which is disappointing, PROOF setting itself up for failure right from the beginning. No one knows what comes after death, and it’s unlikely that anyone ever will. Those who are spiritual enough to believe there is something don’t have a way to test that theory and report back on it, and anyone who thinks they do is considered to be on the fringe, possessing no concrete evidence. Yet, the pilot of PROOF, from the start, tells us there is more than life. So how can Carolyn’s project possibly end?

The idea at the heart of PROOF is an intriguing one and I like the pilot OK, I just have little confidence in this series going forward. The central premise is too flimsy and closed-ended, the procedural element is heavy, and the cast is just a bit too much structured like practically every other show in the genre, with no real surprises in the makeup. As such, I just don’t see this as a series to get excited about

PROOF premieres Tuesday, June 16^th at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

Smallville "Masquerade": Clark, Chloe, Villains, and Weddings

     This being Smallville's final season, after ten long years, I am paying a bit more attention to it than I usually do, and than I do to other shows. As the series ramps up to the two-hour May finale, important pieces of the Superman puzzle keep falling into place. At first, I considered not covering this week's episode, "Masquerade", because overall it was just another run-in with one of Darkseid's minions, Desaad (Steve Byers). Sure, a good chapter in the season-long villain arc, but not particularly noteworthy. However, interspersed within that main story, there was a lot of interesting and important milestones in the Superman saga, and so I feel compelled to address them.

     First of all, Clark Kent is the disguise. Lois (Erica Durance) tried to make The Blur's outfit more costume-y, adding dark sunglasses and a hood. Clark (Tom Welling) didn't really go for that. However, his monologue near the end about how The Blur is who he really is, and that he needs to stay true to himself, was perfect. It really encapsulated who Superman is, and revealed a deep understanding of the character that hasn't always been immediately evident in Smallville. Of course, now that can be excused, as it was all part of the journey of Superman's origin, building to the hero he will become.

     Never has an origin story been told over ten years before, at least not one that I can remember. Usually, the origin is a quick beginning, maybe thirty minutes or less at the start of a movie. At most, a pilot episode of a series. What is so interesting about Smallville is that we finally saw Superman's entire climb to who he is. I've thought for awhile that Clark was getting too old to still be learning about himself, he should be defined by now, but looking back, the progression has been mostly natural and thrilling. Anticipating seeing a true Superman come out in the show in the next few months is incredibly exciting!
 
     I really enjoyed the modern spin as to why The Blur / Superman / Clark needs a disguise. When the character of Superman was first introduced, many decades ago, the glasses and hair costume was plenty. In the age of internet and cell phone cameras, it is a miracle that the Clark / Blur connection hasn't been solidly broken yet. One can only assume that it is because of the great care Clark takes to protect his secret, as well as Clark's relative mid-Western obscurity, that he has managed. Lois is right. It's time to make a change.

     In that same vein, it may seem odd that glasses and a hair style, the latter of which he hasn't even adapted yet, will be enough to disguise Clark in the 21st century. Thus, Clark and Lois rightly agreed that attitude makes all the difference. Perception is reality. Clark Kent's mild mannered-ness is as much a part of the costume as the glasses are. The immediate effect of the new Clark was stunning, but not totally out of left field. Act like a mouse, and thou shall be treated as one. Brilliant handling of a tricky subject!

     Chloe (Allison Mack) has some soul searching to do. No one has undergone more change than her in the course of the show. There have been times when Chloe's story has been far more interesting than Clark's, and as the only other original cast member left, I was sad that she signed for a reduced number of episodes this year. I worry when her latest arc is up that she won't return for the end. That would be highly unacceptable.

     But Chloe was right when she admitted to always defining herself by who or whatever was around her. She was the friend that Clark needed in high school, as well as the different friend that he needed after. Her part in Watchtower was more about him and Oliver (Justin Hartley) than about herself. She was drawn into their world and has embraced it, but almost always in a supporting role. Even her brief stint with powers was used not for herself, but for others. Yeah, that's what heroes typically use them for... most of the time. But usually they get a little help for themselves, too.

     Which is why I understand her hesitancy to commit to Oliver. She doesn't want to fall into the same traps that she always has. She wants to have her own identity. She already achieved that, though, whether she realizes it or not. Fans of the series could tell her so, and so should her friends on the show. Oliver offers support, but his protecting her from battle with Desaad this week shows that he still thinks of her as a less capable combatant than himself.

     This is simply not the case. Chloe is a hero in her own right, for oh so many reasons. Her brain allows her to do many things none of the others can. Plus, she can hold her own in combat, as we saw this week before he benched her. Why did she let herself be benched? Why didn't she leap up after him? Once she gains the confidence to do that, she will no longer need to worry about losing herself. And that is at the top of my list of things I want to see before the series goes off the air for good. This week's episode, at the end, was a decent start.

     What a huge twist at the very end, was it not? If you haven't watched the episode, go watch it before you read further. I am, of course, referring to the revelation that Oliver has been marked with the Omega symbol. The set up was perfect. Of course Oliver would give into base emotions right after being told that Chloe was dead. Despite how far Oliver has come in improving himself, he can be forgiven for the lapse because of the circumstances. Anyone would have done the same thing.

     The question is, what will that mean for the show? Will he soon be joining forces with Darkseid's minions? Will Clark have to battle him? Considering that the Green Arrow has his own comic series, and his own great adventure outside of Smallville (though not shown as a televised show for this incarnation), I find it hard to believe that Oliver Queen is at risk of being killed off. That seems highly disrespectful to the character, and as a fan, I would be pretty upset with the show. The gigantic mythology for these heroes shown in Smallville should make them safer than main characters in other series. But after losing Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore) a few years ago, explanations to the contrary, I worry that no one is safe. Except for Clark, of course.

     As it is the final season, I do love that the show has chosen to go not with one villain, but several. It can be argued that Darkseid is the driving force behind the season, and he is, to some extent. But between the VRA supporters, the alternate Lionel Luthor (John Glover), Alexander (various actors), and Darkseid's minions, as well as the announced upcoming returns of Zod (Callum Blue) and Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), Darkseid is not the be all, end all of season ten. Given this is the last chance to see the show, I highly support that decision.

     A last bit: I very much enjoyed the scene where Lois worried about the wedding seating. I didn't think of it before, but of course Lois's father's military buddies would recognize some of Clark's more super power-endowed friends! Even with the Vigilante Registration Act dead, many military personnel spent a great deal of time and effort looking into the vigilantes. My mind spins with the possible ways Lois will solve this problem. Elaborate disguises? Two weddings? Make the heroes sit in the church loft?

     Also, a brief complaint. Part of tonight's episode was ripped straight from the feature film Date Night starring Tina Fey and Steve Carrel. Really, Smallville? You chose to rip off that movie? Really?


     Smallville's final season continues Friday nights at 8 p.m. on the CW.

Article first published as TV Review: Smallville - "Masquerade" on Blogcritics.

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Smallville kneels before Zod

    This past Friday, Smallville ended it's ninth season with "Salvation", an epic battle between beings with more powers than the average person.  Clark (Tom Welling) made the choice to leave earth, despite what he believed about destiny, in order to save the world.  Turns out, though, that he managed to make all the Kandorians leave, but stayed himself.  How?  That's still fuzzy.  Zod (Callum Blue) apparently stayed initially because of his blue kryptonite, which he stabbed Clark with, and then dissolved.   Ok, so the blue kryptonite makes you stay.  Noted.  Then why did Clark not disappear before he was stabbed with it?  However, I won't miss that particular plot, and it was my least favorite role for actor Blue, who has been wonderful in other shows.

     More disturbing is the apparent death of Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman).  After two seasons of filling in for Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), she died in a hospital bed after being burned by Zod.  However, despite her being listed as confirmed dead on Ausiello's blog, I don't buy it.  My evidence is the mysterious knitter in the hall, who I would not be surprised at all to learn was Lex.  Or someone associated with Checkmate, though that seems less likely.  Lex himself appeared to die several times, but the awesome glimpse of Smallville circa 2013 at the beginning of the episode revealed that he is alive and kicking.  And so is Jimmy Olsen, who was played by Aaron Ashmore before his surprise death last year, but I assume this is a different Olsen, which may be may not be explained in the series.  Anyway, does this mean that Rosenbaum may be returning, and that's why Tess was expendable?  Because I don't consider her so, but I would love to see Lex return.

     This also gives the show some kind of timeline.  Many thought season 9 would be it's last (and that was also thought of previous seasons).  With the surprise negotiation of season 10, which would end in spring 2011, that puts us only two years away from Lex running for president.  So if the show would conceivably get more seasons, as the tenth has not been officially revealed as the last, Lex would have to return by the 12th, much to fans' delight.  I don't see twelve seasons as likely, but I also didn't think that of ten.

     The big question is who will be returning next year?  I would be highly disappointed if Oliver (Justin Hartley) is dead, though what was attacking him will hopefully lead into next year's mystery.  Chloe (Allison Mack) is indispensable, but at the time I am writing this article, she has not been signed for next year.  With those two up in the air, that leaves only Clark and Lois (Erica Durance) confirmed.  Though, there are plenty of recurring characters to choose from to bolster the roster.  Even better, are the right to the actual character of Superman at hand?  We got a glimpse of the famous suit.  It would be awesome if the Man of Steel finally joined the show.

   ARTICLE UPDATE: The tenth season will be Smallville's last, and while Allison Mack will appear in multiple episodes, she will not be returning full time.  Also, Tess is listed as full-time for next year on the Season Ten cast roster.

The Tudors fourth season begins with LOTS of steam, and more than a bit of mean

     Showtime premiered the fourth and final season of The Tudors last night.  The drama centers on King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and his six wives, of which he is on his fifth, Katherine Howard (Tamzin Merchant), as this year begins.  But though his wife is 17, and they are having plenty of intercourse, they were far from the only ones.  Seymour's (Max Brown) wife has taken up with a new consort, and cast newcomer Thomas Culpeper (Torrance Coombs) tries to work out his feelings for the new queen by raping a peasant woman.  Yes, The Tudors went there.

     Speaking of Culpeper, The Tudors every years seems to drop a few characters who previously appeared in the theme song, and then add a few more, without warning.  This is jarring if you are new to the show, as you may wonder what happened to Sir Francis Bryan (Alan van Sprang), who, according to Wikipedia, was around throughout all of Henry's reign.  However, longtime fans may remember Sir Anthony Knivert (Callum Blue), who disappeared after season one, and may not be surprised.  I realize there are only a certain number of characters that the drama can accommodate in its limited time frame, but it's still a disappointment.

     However, it is one of the few disappointments of a very exciting, sexy series.  Among the good news this year is that Princess Mary (Sarah Bolger) is now full-time, and so will be seen much more often, including her instant clash with the new queen.  There also seems to be a war brewing, promising more action than usual for the series.  Add to that news that all six queens will appear in a dream sequence sometime this season, presumably as King Henry goes mad, and there is much to look forward to.

     In the meantime, the show continues the political backstabbing and frivolous sex that it is famous for.  Last night's episode did not disappoint, and it seems the show will go out the same way it came in: steamy and evil.

     The Tudors airs Sundays at 9pm on Showtime.

Smallville: Absolute Justice an absolute joy

     Long anticipated, Friday night's two hour television movie Smallville: Absolute Justice was more than just two episodes of the CW's popular Smallville series.  It mapped out the direction the show is heading towards.  The story centered on the discovery of an old group of super heroes known as the Justice Society of America.  DC Comics readers will know that this group was the original grouping of heroes.  However, besides adding new, possibly recurring characters such as Hawkman (Michael Shanks, Stargate SG-1) and Stargirl (Brittney Irvin), it also gave us large clues into what Clark's (Tom Welling) fate on the series will be, as per the visions of Dr. Fate (Brent Stait).

     By the end of the tv movie, it was clear that Clark would be forming his own society soon.  Currently, that consists of Chloe a.k.a. Watchtower (Allison Mack) and Oliver a.k.a. Green Arrow (Justin Hartley), as well as the newly reinvigorated John Jones a.k.a. Martian Manhunter (Phil Morris).  While we have seen Clark and company working with other superheroes in the show, they were all strangely absent, as were almost all the rest of Hawkman's team.  This was presumably due to budget and time constraints, though it gives hope that many or all will return soon.  The question is, will it just be another chapter in Clark's life?  Or will that be the new direction the show makes, as the network has no desire to end Smallville, but Welling seems ready to go?  Would a bigger ensemble series where his role is much more limited appeal to him?  It is an intriguing concept for a show that has often reinvented itself.

     For now, though, it seems Clark and his group will soon be facing a large army of super villians, and he is being manipulated into getting heroes together by Checkmate and Agent Waller (Pam Grier, The L Word), who clearly are far from moralistic.  This will be an interesting plot, and will it be connected or seperate from this season's big bad, Zod (Callum Blue, Dead Like Me, The Tudors)?  Other tidbits found out in the two hour special were that Tess (Cassidy Freeman) is a part of Checkmate, and to no one's surprise, Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) is still alive, and will be Clark's archnemesis.  Fans have long anticipated Lex's return, and the reveal will only fuel calls to get Rosenbaum back on the show.  Ultimately, for the series finale to be truly satisfying, whenever that ends up being, Lex will have to play a part.

     Smallville continues to air Friday nights at 8pm on the CW.

Smallville gets nineteenth wind

     My first article for examiner.com, back in mid-October, complained that the CW's Smallville had lost it's super.  It began the season with a few lame episodes and some less than interesting plots.  But once again, the show is turning itself around.  The last few episodes before the winter break show that the series does still have good storytelling left, and that it can once again become a must-record for your DVR, as it has been many times during it's nine season run.

     The primary plot this season concerns Major Zod (Callum Blue, The Tudors) and his band of Kryptonians.  For long time viewers, you will remember that Clark (Tom Welling) already fought and dispatched the character of General Zod after he escaped from the Phantom Zone, the same character made famous in the movie Superman II.  This, however, turns out to be a clone of Zod and his soldiers made years before the destruction of Krypton.  Not only that, but Jor-El, Clark's Kryptonian father, was among the gang, though he appeared in one short episode before he was taken out.  Lois (Erica Durance) is plagued by dreams of a future that she visited where Zod has turned the sun red and taken Earth from the humans.  Can Clark and the others stop that from happening?  You'll have to wait to find out.

     Meanwhile, the super heroes are coming more and more out of the woodwork.  Adding Oliver Queen, a.k.a. The Green Arrow, (Justin Hartley) to the cast was a good move, and now Chloe (Allison Mack), the only other original cast member left besides Clark, has stepped it up as Watchtower.  Even Tess (Cassidy Freeman), who was Lex Luthor's (Michael Rosenbaum) replacement, has become a gray-area persona, who may be working for either side.  Not to mention, in a recent episode the usually lame Wonder Twins made an appearance, and they were fun and cool this time around!  While Smallville doesn't always stick to the official comic book story, it has found it's own path that is working more often than not, and that's a good thing.  As Clark gets closer and closer to becoming Superman, one can feel the series beginning to wind towards a close, even if it is not currently clear when that close may be.  But when it happens, you can say that's it's been a hell of a ride.

     Smallville will return with new episodes on Friday, January 22nd, and don't miss the two hour TV movie Smallville: Absolute Justice set to air on February 5th.