Seeking SALVATION

Article first published as TV Review: SALVATION on Seat42F.

CBS has a new summer drama premiering tonight, SALVATION. Humanity is only six months away from being wiped out by an asteroid impact, but almost nobody knows it. When MIT grad student Liam Cole brings the event to the attention of billionaire inventor Darius Tanz, Tanz rushes to the Pentagon to assist in a plan to stop it. Deputy Secretary of Defense, Harris Edwards, assures them that it’s already under control, but he’s definitely lying, even to his inappropriate sweetheart, an employee under him, Pentagon Press Secretary Grace Barrows. Can Tanz and Cole save mankind without the government’s help?

CBS likes to do light science fiction fare in the summer, and SALVATION is no different. Like The Dome or Zoo, it involves a disaster, though this one is a bit less mysterious, and a couple of heroes that must save everyone because, apparently, they are the only ones capable of doing so. It’s like a popcorn action movie spread out over ten to thirteen episodes, with only superficial or generic characters development amid the emergency that the focus is on. It would not be a bad concept to do in the 1990s. In the middle of Peak TV, shows like this are likely to be ignored, not enough quality present to compete with year-round great series.

The biggest thing the show has going for it at the outset is casting Jennifer Finnigan (Tyrant, Close to Home) as Grace. Finnigan is a fun actress who I have enjoyed in many projects previously, and was the biggest reason I had hope for this show. Her primary story is a predictable, though. She’s at the verge of changing careers so she can be with Edwards (Ian Anthony Dale, Hawaii Five-0), but then learns he is keeping secrets from her, casting her decisions in doubt. Another subplot involving her daughter works for the emotional heft needed in episode one, but doesn’t seem to have legs. I hope she is better used going forward, but there’s just not enough meat for Finnigan in the pilot.

The male leads, Santiago Cabrera (Heroes, The Musketeers) as Tanz and Charlie Rowe (Red Band Society) as Liam, aren’t bad, but neither are they magnetic. Instead, they seem to be relatively stock characters themselves, with their complexity coming straight out of a dozen other stories featuring leads that are strikingly similar.

Somewhat interestingly, Liam begins a romance with an aspiring science fiction author, Jillian (Jacqueline Byers, Roadies), just before things get started. If the relationship weren’t so rushed and stereotypical, I might be more interested in how fiction will clash with reality, which is an avenue worth exploring. Provided, of course, SALVATION doesn’t go the Castle route and just make it ridiculously unrealistic, ignoring the actual possibilities of such a plot. (I maintain Castle worked because of Nathan Fillion; anyone else would have struggled to make it watchable.)

I don’t dislike Salvation. As someone that enjoys the genre, I am tempted to watch. The problem is, there needs to be some hook besides the general premise. For instance, last year’s BrainDead was quirky and charming, with great musical recaps at the beginning of each episode, plenty to keep me hooked through the whole single-season run. SALVATION seems to lack that.

In short, there’s a compelling storyline in here somewhere, and there are even some intriguing elements to SALVATION that could make it must-see for sci-fi fans. However, it seems underdeveloped, its characters superficial, which is disappointingly as-predicted for broadcast network summer fare. If CBS would just take the season a little more seriously, get some heft behind a project like this, they would be back in competition with the superior cable networks. But it’s clear already that SALVATION is not going to be the vehicle to do that.

SALVATION premieres tonight at 9/8c.

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.