Journey to KRYPTON

Article first published as TV Review: KRYPTON on Seat42F.

Are you tired of all the superhero television shows out right now? If you aren’t, SyFy has a new entry in the genre called KRYPTON. And if you are tired of them, KRYPTON might be something a bit different, since it takes place on the alien world two centuries before the birth of Superman. Hence, it’s not a bunch of people with powers running around. If tonally it didn’t feel so similar to other SyFy programming, I would say this is a very unique take on what has become a saturated market, giving it a hook to allow it to break through. As it is, it’s still pretty good.

As only a casual Superman fan (with basic knowledge primarily from movies and TV, not the comics), KRYPTON is a completely new story, full of things I’d never heard of, so I don’t know if it follows established mythology or is something original. Either would be a valid choice for a show to make, but I don’t know if it’s a very loose reimagining, like Gotham, or if it sticks close to previously established backstory. A cursory internet search seems to indicate the latter, with some liberties taken.

KRYPTON begins with Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe, The Halcyon) watching his grandfather (Ian McElhinney, Game of Thrones) executed and his family stripped of their title. The House of El is no more, and Seg and his parents are forced to live with the un-titled down in the ghettos of the city. Years later, Seg is coming of age and, despite family grudges, saves the life of Daron-Vex (Elliot Cowan, Da Vinci’s Demons), the chief magistrate who executed Seg’s grandfather. Daron offers Seg the chance to join the House of Vex and bind with his daughter, Nyssa (Wallis Day, Hollyoaks), the youngest of five, who otherwise probably wouldn’t marry anyway. This might be an opportunity for Seg to climb back up the social ladder, or it could be Daron’s chance to fully conquer the Els once and for all.

If that doesn’t sound complicated enough, don’t worry, it gets even more twisty within the first hour. See, Seg may be making a child with Nyssa (which does not involve sex), but is sleeping with Lyta Zod (Georgina Campbell, Broadchurch), a soldier. And Seg’s parents, Ter (Rupert Graves, Sherlock) and Charys (Paula Malcomson, Caprica), are secretly continuing Seg’s grandfather’s work to try to save their race. Also, Adam Strange (Shaun Sipos, The Vampire Diaries) arrives from the future to warn of Brainiac’s (Blake Ritson, Da Vinci’s Demons) impending coming, the villain intending to destroy Krypton before Superman can even be born. So there’s a LOT packed into this series opener, and I haven’t even mentioned all the series leads.

It takes some time to get into KRYPTON. Not only is there a dense story, but the society is so much different than ours. The caste system feels very outdated, even while the planet is futuristic. Procreation without physical intercourse and babies raised in bubbles cared for by machines feel cold and impersonal, which matches much of the rest of the culture we’re seeing. Except in the lower class, which still parties and fights and loves at will. Is this a cautionary tale or a commentary? The refusal of some to listen to science and fact hits a little too close to home in the current political climate.

All of this is very interesting, and I found myself more and more drawn in as it played out. Where my hesitation lives is that most of the central characters are good looking, very young adults, an overdone television trope, and the tone of the program is not as weighty as it could be with the material. I hope it finds its legs, but I fear it will be a ‘typical’ Syfy show lost in the crowd.

KRYPTON airs Wednesdays on SyFy.

THE FAMILY Drama

Article first published as THE FAMILY Review on Seat42F.

God love the broadcast networks. Some of them are trying to step up their game in the face of rapidly declining ratings. While many of the programs coming down the pipeline on the Big Four are still crime procedurals and tame sitcoms, the things that are killing them, sometimes you get an attempt at a decent complex mystery drama.

The latest stab at quality is ABC’s THE FAMILY, which premiered last night. Told in two time periods, the present and ten years ago, this show is about a family rocked by the abduction of their son, Adam (Maxwell James), whom they assume to be dead, and rocked again when he seemingly shows back up a decade later (now played by Liam James, The Killing). What went wrong with the initial investigation? Or is the new boy not the son they believe him to be?

The unanswered questions are definitely the draw of THE FAMILY, and the reason to keep coming back. A show usually either thrives on story or on character, and this one has chosen the former. Packed with twists and clues, both real and false, to keep the viewer guessing, audiences will want to know what happens, and it does a decent job of hooking you in that manner.

The characters are a bit less compelling, though the actors are all pretty good. Matriarch Claire (Joan Allen, The Killing, Luck) is the mayor, and she actually uses her son returning as a way to help launch her campaign for governor. Father John (Rupter Graves, Sherlock) doesn’t seem much better, on tour with grief books he’s written and sleeping with the detective, Nina (Margot Bingham, Boardwalk Empire), who may or may not have screwed up his son’s case. Older son Danny (Friday Night Lights’ Zach Gilford in the present, Rarmian Newton in flashback) is a drunk, so of course no one believes his suspicions about ‘Adam.’ Daughter Willa (Alison Pill, The Newsroom and Madeleine Arthur, The Tomorrow People) embraces religion, but perhaps not as fully as people think, being calculating like her mother. Creepy neighbor Hank (Andrew McCarthy, Weekend at Bernie’s) is released from jail, but did he do what he was arrested for after all? And even if he didn’t, would he have, given the opportunity?

None of these are people you can get behind or want to support much, despite the terrible situation. It’s soapy, and that’s fine, but in the best soaps there are usually some redeemable qualities for the core cast. Instead, these are all players in a dangerous game, and one gets the impression they deserve whatever happens to them, at least in the later timeline.

That is probably why THE FAMILY doesn’t connect as well as cable entries in the genre do. Broadchurch is excellent because of its mystery, but also because of the fantastic characters, who struggle with real problems and are sympathetic as people. THE FAMILY is closer to Revenge, which limped along on ABC for a few years before cancellation, where you just want to see what happens to jerks, rather than rooting for a protagonist to win the day.

As such, THE FAMILY is good, but not as good as it could be. It is a great example of what is wrong with the Big Four networks, not willing to fully commit to something new, still mired in what has worked for them in the past. ‘Soapy drama for the sake of drama? Yeah, that’s been a hit before, so let’s add it to a currently winning formula from a cable channel to satisfy both our old audience and win new viewers.’ Unfortunately, that doesn’t work, ending up with a product unsatisfying to some from both camps, and not helping the viewer erosion at all.

However, if ABC and its kin would really give something like THE FAMILY a go, building a slower-paced show on the bedrock of strong characters, they might actually have something. They could even do it with these same actors if they wanted to.

THE FAMILY settles into its regular night and time this Sunday at 9/8c.

Blu-ray Review: ‘Sherlock – Season Three’

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Sherlock – Season Three’ on Blogcritics.

The BBC’s Sherlock has been off the air for far too long. Recently, it finally returned for third season, broadcast on PBS in the United States as part of Masterpiece Mystery. Having just completed its airing, the three ninety-minute episodes that make up this run, each feeling a bit like its own movie, have now been released on Blu-ray and DVD.

Season two ended with Sherlock Holmes’ (Benedict Cumberbatch) death. Obviously, the series cannot continue without its hero, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that he isn’t actually deceased, having faked the demise. But those who love Sherlock have lived under this false impression for two years, making for quite a startling turn when Sherlock comes back to town.

John Watson (Martin Freeman), in particular, is thrown for a loop. Having mourned his best friend, he’s moved on, preparing to propose to girlfriend Mary (Amanda Abbington, Mr. Selfridge). This news is enough to knock Sherlock back, too, so the partners have some obstacles to overcome before they might resume the work they are familiar for.

Sherlock does have a mission right out of the gate, though. He has been summoned to London by his brother, Mycroft (Mark Gatiss), who did know Sherlock lived all this time, but doesn’t exactly count as a loved one, unlike. say, Lestrade (Rupert Graves), Molly (Louise Brealey), and Mrs Hudson (Una Stubbs). Thus, Sherlock can’t spare too much time considering Watson, having a job to get on with.

This premiere, “The Empty Hearse,” brilliantly balances many elements. There are the character moments, especially between Sherlock and Watson and Sherlock and Mycroft. There’s an exciting mystery to solve. There’s the beginning of an arc with a man who may be Sherlock’s greatest foe yet. And there’s still time for some good gags as multiple scenarios revolving around Sherlock’s survival play out on screen, with none of them possibly being the correct one.

The excitement continues in “The Sign of Three,” which takes place on the occasion of Watson and Mary’s wedding. Sherlock has the challenging (for him) task of being best man and delivering a speech. Said speech may be the longest in history, as viewers are treated to flashbacks of the bachelor party, among other things, and Sherlock deduces a would-be crime right in the middle of it. That’s not the last surprise in the installment, one jam-packed with compelling story, even as it stands as the lightest and funniest of the trio.

I’m really glad Sherlock takes the time to do this. It’s a situation that finds our protagonist supremely out of his comfort zone, but the fact that he’s willing to go through with it anyway proves the level of his affection for Watson, something reiterated strongly in all three episodes. Plus, the wedding is just so much fun, a splendid affair with a great Sherlock twist.

The year’s Big Bad fully comes out in the season finale, “His Last Vow.” The man’s name is Charles Augustus Magnussen (Lars Mikkelsen, The Killing original version), and he is a self-described businessman who controls far more than he should, especially in the arena of politics. His vast library of dirt allows him to manipulate anyone he comes across, and he has some very startling secrets about someone close to Sherlock he isn’t afraid to use when Sherlock makes a move against him.

Magnussen, though important, is only part of the story, though. Midway through the episode, Sherlock is shot in a shocking sequence that reveals something major about a recurring player. Much of the back half deals with the ramifications and fall-out from this event, which is so much more than it seems at first. I can’t spoil anything about it, just saying that it’s a beautiful, near-perfect piece of storytelling, that ends in one hell of a climax, bringing it all back around to a very memorable stand off with Magnussen.

If that wasn’t enough, “His Last Vow” ends with a wallop of a cliffhanger, after fans will think the action is done, leaving the promise of a stellar fourth season to come.

Sherlock season three is different from the first two in that Sherlock and Watson aren’t doing their traditional work together, life interfering in major ways, and the cases come to them very naturally, through personal means. There is also not a lot of plot for supporting players like Lestrade and Molly. But the character development for Sherlock, Watson, Mary, and Mycroft is fantastic, and you likely won’t think about the little bits that are missing, given what’s there on the screen.

This release also contains a trio of special features, “The Fall,” “Shooting Sherlock,” and “Fans, Villains, & Speculation.” They are interesting enough, though don’t go as deep as one would like, leaving us wanting more. Which is about par for such a Blu-ray edition.

While not traditionally a big-budget show, I do recommend the Blu-ray version this time around. There is a lot of darkness in Sherlock, and HD will ensure the visual layering and stark colors needed to fully appreciate the scenes. There are also a couple of huge shots, such as those of the exterior of Magnussen’s home, that you’re going to want to see as much detail as possible from. The series contains a sweeping, crystal-clear score, well mixed with the dialogue.

Sherlock Season Three is available now.

SHERLOCK Lives

Article first published as SHERLOCK Review on Seat42F.

The BBC’s SHERLOCK begins its third outing on PBS tonight with“The Empty Hearse.” Picking up two years after Sherlock’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) death, everyone has accepted the detective’s fate and begun to move on with their lives. Which makes it especially messy when Mycroft (Mark Gatiss) summons his brother home to help out on a new assignment, disrupting the lives of the people who missed Sherlock.

It’s not a spoiler to reveal that Sherlock did not, in fact, die in the previous season finale because there would be no SHERLOCK with Sherlock. That’s just simple logic, easy enough for even the most amateur sleuth to deduct, and it has been pretty clear is press materials and such leading up to this run that Cumberbatch would return.

The questions are, though, how did Sherlock fake his death, why did he not tell his partner, Watson (Martin Freeman), the truth, and what has he been up to while away? Speaking of them in no particular order, as PBS has asked us not to give this stuff away, at least one of these is answered in the initial installments, one is sort of left up to the viewer to decide, and one is played with in spectacular fashion, proving Sherlock is as much as a legend as he is a person. The last I refer to may never satisfactorily be answered, but that only adds to the mystique of the character.

SHERLOCK is as much about the mystery as it is about the answers. Yes, the titular character thrives on putting together the clues, but he doesn’t have to disseminate the information to everyone. He plays his cards close to his chest, and if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be Sherlock.

Not that Watson doesn’t have a few surprises of his own. While missing his buddy, he has met and fallen in love with Mary (Amanda Abbington, Mr. Selfridge), whom he intends to marry. This throws Sherlock for a loop, with his partner’s loyalties now split. Can Watson balance a spouse and the demanding detective? Or will he have to choose? Will that decision even be hard?

Watson isn’t the only one who has a strong reaction to Sherlock’s return. Among the familiar characters featured in “The Empty Hearse” whose reactions to Sherlock’s resurrection are revealed are Lestrade (Rupert Graves), Molly (Louise Brealey), and Mrs Hudson (Una Stubbs). Sherlock does not live in a vacuum, and while he abhors a true community, he is not lonely as he accuses Mycroft of being. He has his friends, and they are happy to have him back, for the most part.

This episode is full of a number of hilarious, wonderful scenes. From Mrs. Hudson’s surprise at Watson’s heterosexuality, to a couple of outlandish theories played out, to an unexpected gay kiss that will make internet fan-fiction writers gasp, to multiple discussions of facial hair, to one-liners tossed into serious bits willy nilly, the writing is sharp and entertaining. Plus, the emotional stuff between Watson and Sherlock and Sherlock and Mycroft is very well done, deepening our understanding of these important bonds. There is a lot to appreciate and enjoy about the 90 minute installment.

There is also new danger afoot. Sherlock doesn’t re-emerge by chance, and what Mycroft wants him to do isn’t the only threat that London faces. Within the premiere, one of the main characters finds their life threatened in a very serious way. Then, Sherlock and Watson get right in the middle of a very large-scale plot that could result in hundreds of casualties, or more. As emotionally fulfilling as “The Empty Hearse” may be, it is also thrilling, too.

“The Empty Hearse” is a jolly good time, a return to form for the popular British programme. SHERLOCK premieres tonight at 9:58 p.m. ET on PBS as part of Masterpiece Mystery.

Doctor Who back for more

For those who missed the scant five episode of Doctor Who that aired this fall, you're in luck. The BBC has just been released on a two-disc Blu-ray and DVD set, Doctor Who Series Seven, Part One. And for those who didn't miss the season, you already know that these are five fantastic installments, so you might be interested as well. It will be something to tide fans over until the series returns for a longer run next year.

As series seven begins, Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) are getting a divorce. That's right; the man who waited two thousand years for his love has been tossed out of the house. The Doctor (Matt Smith) is concerned when he notices, but he has other concerns, as the three have been swept up by the Daleks, who are asking for the trio's help with their prison planet.

"Asylum of the Daleks," the season opener, is one of the best hours of Who ever made. Not only do we get to see the Doctor's archnemesis in a slightly different light, and get a glimpse of another aspect of their society, but we also have the Amy/Rory breakup mystery to sustain us. Toss in the introduction of Oswin (Jenna-Louise Coleman, Captain America: The First Avenger, Emmerdale), who will take over as the Doctor's companion beginning this Christmas, and some wonderful twists, progress on a major arc involving the Doctor's identity, and action sequences, and the season begins with a bang!

From there we move to "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship," which is a truly fun romp. There is some danger, with a space pirate (David Bradley, the Harry Potter films) having hijacked a ship full of dinosaurs, which a future version of UNIT is ready to blow out of the sky. But the meat of this episode lies in the humor created when the Doctor brings together not only Rory and Amy for the outing, but also Rory's father, Brian Williams (Mark Williams, also Harry Potter), Queen Nefertiti (Riann Steele, Holby City) from ancient Egypt, and John Riddell (Rupert Graves, borrowed from Steven Moffat's other series, Sherlock), a big game hunter from the early twentieth century. It's these clashing personalities set among such fantastical creatures that really make this episode memorable. Plus, the most adorable triceratops ever!

Then there's " A Town Called Mercy," an interesting little morality tale, that happens to be set in the Old West, and involves a cyborg. This one is arguably the least of the five episode in the set, and yet, the care with which the town is designed, and the Western genre influence, combine to make it worthy of the collection. As the Doctor would say, Stetsons are cool.

In "The Power of Three," Brian is back (yay!). Taking place over a very long span of time, the world is slowly invaded by cubes, while Amy and Rory try to build a more normal life on Earth, and the Doctor struggles with letting them go. The highlights of this episode include seeing how much the Doctor cares for his companions, and how well he does not adapt to the type of lifestyle that they the married couple are considering. It's a "take stock" episode, and it's narration makes it a departure from the norm, if Doctor Who has a norm.

Finally, in "The Angels Take Manhattan," the central trio is drawn to a noir version of New York City, and River Song (Alex Kingston) makes her, sadly, only appearance in this batch. The Angels, Doctor Who's scariest villains, have built themselves a farm in the middle of the metropolis, and catch Rory in their trap. Can the Doctor change time to save him, or will he lose both of his best friends in one swoop? It's a moving love story with high stakes danger and some huge developments.

Not only are these episode incredible, but the special features are pretty great, too. There's the hour-long special, "The Science of Doctor Who," which recently aired on BBC America. "Ayslum of the Daleks" gets a prequel, "A Town Called Mercy" has a bit of back story, and a series of minisodes called "Pond Life" seem to set up the series as a whole. Plus, there's a feature following the cast as they visit Comic Con earlier this year. It may fall slightly short of a "Making Of," but all the additional scenes included on this set, not appearing in the episodes, are very satisfying.

The Blu-ray itself is amazing. There are rich colors in every landscape, whether characters are on a dark spaceship, the dusty Old West, or the grey of the city. Each setting is vibrant and life-like. This isn't even including the special effects, which are often pretty darn neat, and showcased brilliantly in HD. Sound is high quality, with the base stepping in exactly where you want it to, and overall providing an immersive experience, without pops or static that will ruin the moment.

Fantastic episodes, great extras, and a stunning visual and auditory experience, I have no complaints at all about Doctor Who Season Seven, Part One other than that I wish it went on longer. The Blu-ray and DVD are available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Doctor Who Series Seven, Part One on Blogcritics.