Yes to NO TOMORROW

Article first published as NO TOMORROW Review on Seat42F.

The CW is going the romantic comedy route with a slight fantasy bend in NO TOMORROW, premiering next week. A straight-laced, professionally stunted girl meets a free-spirited guy who thinks the world will end in a little over eight months. He plans to enjoy it by working on a bucket list and invites her to join him. She does, with reservations, and what remains to be seen is how long they can keep it up.

At the center of NO TOMORROW is our heroine, Evie (Tori Anderson, Open Heart), a brilliant girl who can be a little passive at times. Who doesn’t understand that, especially women who enter the workplace and want to get ahead, but worry about how they’ll be seen? She’s sympathetic, loveable, and at a very transitional phase of her life, which is the perfect time to build a TV show around her.

Evie is already showing signs of bucking her status quo as the series begins. She isn’t sure she wants to marry her soft-spoken boyfriend, Timothy (Jesse Rath, Defiance), and she’s working on impressing her boss, Diedre (Amy Pietz, Caroline in the City). I love that NO TOMORROW lets us see these things because it means that Evie’s growth arc is driven largely by internal feelings, not just because she met some guy that got her to loosen up. He helps, but he isn’t the whole reason for her change.

Speaking of the guy, Xavier (Joshua Sasse, Galavant) has quit his job when we are introduced to him. He doesn’t mind running up debt and racking up parking tickets he never intends to pay because he truly does believe the world is about to be wiped out by an object from space. He is sincere in this, and while he has tried to warn the public, no one listens to him. So instead of carrying around a sign proclaiming the end is nigh, he has dedicated himself to having the best time possible with the time left.

NO TOMORROW addresses the crackpot elements of the character, and then dismisses them. He isn’t a caricature; he is a caring individual with layers and backstory. He is surely wrong because his timeline would probably only get the show to the end of season one. But that only makes for additional ripe plot possibilities down the road as he deals with the emotional fallout of what he’s done. Or fails to deal with it.

Xavier and Evie are a good pairing. They aren’t a perfect couple, thank goodness, but they have characteristics that push the right buttons in one another. They complement each other on their current trajectories, and while it may seem crazy for Evie to give into him, if you take a step back and really look at it, it’s obvious she’ll be helping him as much as he helps her. They both have flaws that need worked on.

The format of this show is one that slides easily into the half hour sitcom format, but instead, NO TOMORROW is an hour-long drama. Of course, the comedy / drama line has become so blurred these days to be nearly meaningless; this is simply classified as drama because of its running time. But I like that it takes a goofy concept and a fun cast of at-times-cartoonish personalities, and puts them into a framework that allows for greater development.

The pacing flies by, and the series is well put together. It has a terrific, if mostly little-known, cast that goes well with the CW brand, while also being something new for the network. It’s a premise that has been done before, but not quite in this way, and I really enjoyed the first hour.

NO TOMORROW also stars Sarayu Blue (Monday Mornings), and it premieres Tuesday, October 4^th at 9/8c on the CW.

DEFIANCE Is Back, "Hallelujah!"

Article first published as DEFIANCE Review Season 2 on Seat42F.

Warning: This review does contain some spoilers from the premiere episode, including how much time has passed, but does not spoil any big twists, nor reveal the fates of those whose continued survival is left up in the air.

SyFy’s DEFIANCE starts its second season this week with “The Opposite of Hallelujah.” It’s been nine months since the events of last spring’s finale, and everyone has settled into a new normal. The city is being ruled by an outside force and most of the residents that are still in the town seem to have accepted that, finding ways to change and continue their daily routine. But rebellion seems to be brewing just under the surface. Will those rumblings soon erupt into full-scale insurgency?

Last season’s cliffhanger is a big one, so many viewers might assume that DEFIANCE won’t make a significant time jump. They would be wrong, but I think the writers are right to skip over what they did. The ramifications of what occurs are far from over; there just hasn’t been much action in the meantime. Instead, there’s a sense of uneasy calm, where our heroes have had a chance to get used to the changes. Viewers are dropped into a different world, which right away infuses the proceedings with a sense of freshness and movement.

“The Opposite of Hallelujah” is an interesting study of various characters. Much of DEFIANCE is action-based, with plenty of fights and special effects. But this year’s premiere is quieter, instead giving us some really cool ways for the characters to grow and develop, which happens in season one, but is more prevalent now. Rather than providing a bunch of OMG moments, though the episode sure does end with one, DEFIANCE focuses on setting individuals up in situations that will challenge them. I definitely dig this direction.

Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) is no longer the mayor, but her primary concern is still with the town and its people. Amanda is given an opportunity in the premiere that might allow her to effect positive changes in the community, but it would mean not only swallowing her pride, but also partnering with a man she does not trust in the slightest. Should she do it?

There is a justifiable debate here as to whether a broken system can be affected from the inside, or if it’s better to attack from the outside. Amanda is in a rare position to pick which she’d like to do, something most will not be afforded. One can see how some followers could see her as a traitor for working with the enemy, but at the same, it might be her best chance to make their lives better. We know Amanda can put the townsfolk first, but is that the best option here, even if she’s willing to let others hate her while she works for the good of the many?

Another person pondering power is Alak Tarr (Jesse Rath). With his father no longer operating the family business (don’t worry, I won’t reveal what’s happening with Datak (Tony Curran) here), Alak is the male heir. His mother, Stahma (Jaime Murray), has no official say in things, being a woman, though viewers will know that rules are merely speed bumps for Stahma, not roadblocks. Alak now has a choice on whether to listen to someone who might be wiser than himself, or go in his own direction, fighting for his reputation and seat along the way. Is this young man ready to step up as an adult?

I am still fascinated by the Tarr family. Datak does a very unexpected thing in season one when he murders a general, and while parts of what we learn about his situation in this premiere are the weakest points in the episode, there’s also some meaty stuff there. Stahma has a disposition that seems wholly alien, often moved by motivations and loyalties that are far apart from those most humans would have. And now Alak, who seems like a typical teenager in the freshman year, is asked to take a bigger part in his father’s dealings, so it’s intriguing to see whether culture or heritage will win out within him.

If you’ve seen the five webisodes posted on DEFIANCE’s official website, you will already know that Nolan (Grant Bowler) is traveling around the country, searching for signs of his missing daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas). This means Nolan is in other settings, providing glimpses of what other areas of the former United States look like. I don’t want to give away anything about his story in “The Opposite of Hallelujah,” but it is cool to expand what we get to see of the world, and how others outside of Defiance are handling things.

This season premiere is pretty well done overall. Aside from what appears to be an inexplicable element of the Datak plot, the rest of the cast is allowed to be dynamic, and the story has departed from any type of formula, providing an engaging, serialized tale. This is a strong start to year two.

DEFIANCE airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on SyFy.

Defiant Defiance

Article first published as Defiant Defiance on TheTVKing.

There's a lot that is familiar in SyFy's new drama Defiance. A loner hero blows into town just to get a bit of money, and then intends to leave. Instead, he is sucked into the plight of the rebels, and ends up risking his life for them. A small frontier town stands up against an army they couldn't possibly hope to beat, and wins. A leader who doesn't feel up to the challenge finds her way. Generational divides between parents and children tear families apart.

But those small elements, used many times over in fiction before, don't seem all that familiar when watching the "Pilot." Instead, Defiance feels fresh and inspiring. The effects are great and the acting is terrific. The story is interesting, and the way it is presented to excellent. Overall, I am very impressed with the first two hours, and could see this as a show to watch, should the quality be maintained.

Defiance is set in our not-so-distant future. Aliens, seven species that together are called the Votan, come to Earth, accidentally terraform it, and go to war on its surface, wiping out much of the native population. We don't yet know the details of why this happens, but I assume that will be revealed over time, based on the tidbits the "Pilot" gives us, and probably has to do with resources. At least, that's the explanation that makes sense, given those are still being fought over in the first episode. More info can actually by found on the Wikipedia page for the show, which likely makes use of press materials and the tie-in video game to explain the story.

I do hope that Defiance gives us this back story. It's true that the tale being told here is primarily about characters, and not about the political maneuvers that led to the current reality. I don't disagree with the decision to skip over a lot of it in the first episode, as the initial two hours are well structured to draw viewers in. But it would be nice if the history is established as cannon on screen and known to all viewers, not just those that read online or play a game.

As the story begins, it's been years since the war ended, and Earth is a vastly different place. One town, Defiance, is a beacon of hope for those who wish to get along and live together, as the war ended when many refused to fight. There are plenty of others that live outside of its walls, including some kind of central authority. But Defiance, standing on the site of what was once St. Louis, attempts to carve its own path.

At the center of the series are Jeb Nolan (Grant Bowler, True Blood, Ugly Betty) and his adopted  Irathient daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas, MirrorMask). They tend to keep to themselves, and hope to find a paradise to settle down in, possibly in Antarctica. At first, they are resistant to Defiance, but realizing their dreams are just dreams, they decide to stay and forge an actual life.

The dynamic between the two is wonderful, and equal parts familiar and foreign. Irisa doesn't quite act like a human teenager would, but then again, she does. Perhaps her emotions are just stronger and control her a little more, taking her to the extreme. But she also has great affection for Jeb, which says something about his personality that isn't immediately apparent, having spent the effort raising and caring for a girl that he has no familiar connection to.

In Defiance itself, various factions struggle for power, though not in a way that obviously tears the town apart. Wealthy Castithan couple Datak (Tony Curran, The Pillars of the Earth, Gladiator) and Stahma Tarr (Jaime Murray, Warehouse 13, Hustle) don't get along well with human miner Rafe McCawley (Graham Greene, The Green Mile). But when their children, Alak (Jesse Rath, 18 to Life) and Christie (Nicole Munoz, Defying Gravity) bond in a Romeo and Juliet-esque fashion, the Tarrs come up with a very sinister plan to take over the mines and the fortune that comes with it.

I can't fully decide if the Tarrs are villains or not. They are certainly shrewd and cold and not above killing, yet they also seem to care about Defiance. Perhaps their ways are just very alien, and they are hard to understand. They may yet have some sort of honor code, but they aren't very likeable at the onset. Maybe they can find some way to peacefully co-exist with the McCawleys?

There are also several other colorful characters in town including: Kenya (Mia Kirshner, The L Word), madam of the local brothel; Tommy (Dewshane Williams, Being Erica), the lawman's earnest apprentice who takes a shine to Irisa; and Doc Yewll (Trenna Keating, Combat Hospital), the sharp-tongued Indogene doctor, who seems perfectly at home in the Old West tone of Defiance, despite her strange appearance.

Holding this ragtag band together is Mayor Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz, Dexter, Angel). Benz is playing against type here, and doing it well, Amanda being a departure from previous roles. This is someone who isn't a natural leader, but can rise to the occasion, filling in the shoes of her beloved predecessor, Nicky Riordon (Fionnula Flanagan, Lost, The Other), but also forging her own path. She is very much a diplomat, which helps her hugely in her current position. She's tough, but fair; guarded, but trusts those who have earned that trust. Amanda also has an unexpected, but sweet, connection to one of the town's other residents that grounds her and adds a nice layer to the character.

By the end of the first installment, the citizens of Defiance must band together to face a common enemy, but this is only the beginning of their struggle. There is a major villain making a move against the town, and while there is definitely some mystery as to the motivation and purpose, the bad guy is revealed at the end of the "Pilot." This keeps us from being in suspense, but also provides tantalizing crumbs as to what will occur.

"Pilot" is a well-crafted and intelligent story set in a rich, detailed world. Obviously, much care has been gone into developing this universe (at least five years, actually), so it feels more authentic than most sci-fi settings. Defiance manages to deftly balance large arcs with character tales, contributing to a really neat presentation. This show could definitely go somewhere.

Defiance airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on SyFy.

18 to Life hits the U.S.

    18 to Life is a charming Canadian sitcom about two best friends and neighbors who get married shortly after turning eighteen.  Originally developed with ABC, the CW now has the American rights to it, and began by airing the first two episodes last night.  All twelve first season installments have already run in Canada, and a second season is in production, to air next winter.  Because the show has already been released, you can find it online if you're slightly creative (or in the Canadian iTunes store), but no DVD set has yet gone on sale.

     The show stars Stacey Farber and Michael Seater as Jessie and Tom, the central couple, and both young actors are a delight.  They have great chemistry.  Her family is New Age, his is business anal.  Yet the actors playing the parents manage to rise above the stereotypes.  The groom also has two sisters, and there's an Iraqi refugee living with the bride's family, so the cast is pretty full for a sitcom.  Add to Tom's best friend, Carter (Jesse Rath), who was Jessie's first sexual partner, and you have quite a bit going on.  And yet, at least in the first two episodes, it was well balanced, and didn't seem too busy at all.  Perhaps as the show continues, the writers may want to give the parents more than a scene or two per episode to steal, but for now, the formula is working nicely.

     In the pilot, "A Modest Proposal", Tom proposes to girlfriend Jessie on a dare.  Both families are against the idea, but pretend to put their full weight behind it in an effort to drive them apart.  The couple, mostly undeterred, go to City Hall and make their engagement a very short one indeed.  In the second episode, "No Strings Attached", the couple tries to find a place to live, made complicated by the fact that neither work, and Tom will soon be starting college.  The parents are starting to embrace the nuptials, but in stages.  I don't think they will let it go to quickly, and it should make a good season one plot arc.  Not having seen the entire season, I don't know what will be in store for season two.

     It's a comedy with good heart, appropriate for families, and feels fresh.  I recommend checking it out.  And finding the first two episodes online, if you can, since they are not currently schedule to rerun.  18 to Life will be presented on the CW Tuesdays at 9 and 9:30pm.