INHUMANeS

Article first published as TV Review: INHUMANS on Seat42F.

MARVEL’s newest show, premiering tonight on ABC, is INHUMANS. The eight-episode miniseries presents the first two installments this evening. The show finds the Royal Family of the Inhuman moon settlement the victims of a coup. Fleeing, they must find one another again, then figure out how to wrest control of their home and their people back from the traitorous relation that took it over.

If you’re a fan of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which also airs on ABC, you are already familiar with what Inhumans are – people that have some alien DNA mixed into their genetics, which gives them power when exposed to Terrigen Mist. The compound was released across the planet in S.H.I.E.L.D., and now there are Inhumans everywhere.

INHUMANS is not about those Inhumans, though. The city of Attilan, where the story begins, is actually above the Earth, on the moon, hidden for many years. (The show doesn’t say how long they’ve lived there.) These Inhumans go through a gentler process of transformation than their counterparts on Earth, as they’ve been doing for generations, and the Mist isn’t harmful to those even who don’t have latent powers. Instead, the Inhumans without abilities form a lower caste to support the hierarchy of the city.

It is convenient to make these Inhumans distinctly different. For one thing, it allows INHUMANS to use the familiar characters made famous in the Marvel comic books, which were never mentioned on S.H.I.E.L.D., so could not realistically exist on the planet in the form we’re used to seeing them. Instead, we get to see a fully-formed society headed by Black Bolt (Anson Mount, Hell On Wheels), Medusa (Serinda Swan, Graceland), and the rest without interferences from other Marvel properties.

Unfortunately, INHUMANS begs to be tied in. It’s such a sweeping, important, powerful group, that one really wonders why they haven’t been involved yet. Yes, I buy their isolation. Yet, at the same time, it feels like they should have made some efforts to contact the Earth Inhumans before Triton’s (Mike Moh, Empire) tentative attempts in the pilot.

Mount is a terrific Black Bolt, even with the sign language added in, which feels unnecessary and trite for the character, he conveys the power of the man that doesn’t dare speak for fear of destroying everything. Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones) also makes a stupendous Maximus, the conflicted brother of Black Bolt who feels he must rule the people to save them. Maximus doesn’t see himself as evil, and Rheon captures that nuance. I also like Isabelle Cornish (Puberty Blues) as Crystal and the way the show has CGI-ed giant dog Lockjaw.

But the rest of the production just feels relatively thin I don’t see Swan as Medusa, and Ken Leung (Lost) feels a bit, well, lost as Karnak, while Eme Ikwuakor (Extant) is one-note as Gorgon. Lockjaw’s efforts to save the royals feels weird and inefficient. A plot that leaves most of the characters stranded in Hawaii seems like a network television stunt, rather than a well-considered story. The pacing is sluggish and the script plods. I was frequently bored, and INHUMANS failed to spark the same wonder and excitement that Marvel routinely does in their feature films (and occasionally does in their other small screen projects).

Admittedly, there are worse things on TV, and because it’s Marvel, I’ll probably still watch it. By keeping INHUMANS to eight hours, it won’t be allowed to meander too much before it wraps up the central storylines. A second season might even produce something more entertaining and interesting. But as a first effort, this is a disappointment, not among the best Marvel has to offer, and misses the mark greatly on what should have been a really awesome group of characters. These should go back to the drawing board.

INHUMANS premieres tonight at 8 on ABC.

GRACELAND Toes "The Line"

Article first published as GRACELAND Review Season 2 on Seat42F.

USA’s GRACELAND is back for a second season this week. The show that does for law enforcement what Suits does for lawyers, it’s one of USA’s best efforts, and it’s gratifying to have it back on the air after a very long hiatus. What’s more, while things have changed, all the familiar faces are back, and GRACELAND hits the ground running, kicking off some new, very interesting arcs.

As season one closes out, Mike (Aaron Tveit) accepts a job in D.C., his dream posting as he seeks to work his way up to a top position with the F.B.I. The season two premiere, “The Line,” picks up months later, with Mike settled into his new life, complete with a love interest. But Mike is not as happy as he first appears, and it takes no time at all before the plot forces him to return to the titular house.

Viewers always knew that Mike would have to be at Graceland again, a necessity for the premise of the show to continue, so it will be no surprise that the premiere lands him back there. What I didn’t expect it just how natural the writers would make it feel for Mike to return. He is not forced to do so against his will, nor does he go back because of a single reason. Instead, the complexity of life suggests a return as an opportunity he needs, and it fits seamlessly into the larger story.

Which is not to say that GRACELAND goes right back to a case-of-the-week procedural. Elements of that genre sprinkle the first season, and some stand-alone missions do pop up from time to time. However, GRACELAND is not a formulaic, stale series, and each installment does not exist apart from the others. Mike coming home is a much larger thread, one that has both solid reasoning behind it and implications for the future. It’s the start of something new, not just a reset.

In season two, the house has a new leader, and the entire team will be working together more. We have already been introduced to the characters, and while they do tend to help each other out, the fact that they represent different branches, such as F.B.I., ICE, and DEA, has necessitated separate stories from time to time. GRACELAND’s second season has a huge project that needs all of their attention, and Briggs (Daniel Sunjata) is not the one put in charge of this operation.

It will be interesting to see how Briggs handles taking orders. Very clearly, given his illegal activities, this senior agent is not used to playing by the rules or just falling in line. The current boss, who takes over in “The Line,” is not a new character, and knows Briggs well enough to come up with a plan for how to handle him. But can Briggs be tamed, even temporarily?

The dynamic is further shifted now that two of the housemates are hooking up. It is unclear in “The Line” if a real relationship exists or if two friends are just releasing pent-up sexual longings, but I would definitely lean towards the former. It seems unlikely that this couple is destined to stay together long-term, at least not without working through some major obstacles, but the development shakes things up in the house, even if it isn’t an obvious big change at first.

Of course, Mike does not return to all cheery smiles. He has earned the affection of his co-workers, which include Johnny (Manny Montana), Paige (Serinda Swan), Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito), Jakes (Brandon Jay McLaren), and Briggs, but that doesn’t mean history doesn’t influence how they react to him rejoining, especially as his room has already been given away to a new team member. Will Mike only stick around long enough complete the assignment laid out in “The Line,” or can he truly earn a spot among these people, one that will last?

I kind of hope it takes Mike a few years to really feel like a full-fledged member of the group. He has connections, to be sure, and he isn’t a newbie, but there’s still a feeling of outsider status clinging to Mike. This may have dissipated by now had he not moved to D.C., but he did, keeping him at arm’s length from the others. This is actually a good thing for the story, as it adds a layer of tension that would otherwise not exist. Conflict is what keeps shows interesting, and GRACELAND has plenty of it among its central cast.

As if all of this is not enough, one of the group has undergone a serious personality change. It is not explained yet, but it is commented on, definitely a purposeful choice with more to it, rather than an inconsistency. The characters are too well-defined for such a slip, and instead, it could be another new arc just getting started.

GRACELAND is a great series and “The Line” is not only true to form, but a heck of an interesting way to start the season. Fresh episodes air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET beginning this week.

DVD Review: ‘Graceland – The Complete First Season’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘Graceland – The Complete First Season’ on Blogcritics.

The caliber of USA’s dramas has been steadily getting better over the past few years, and last summer’s Graceland continues that trend. A gritty crime drama, it has intriguing, layered characters operating in gray areas with long arcs, no goofy case-of-the-week stuff that used to be the network’s hallmark. Created by White Collar brain Jeff Eastin, and based on a true story, this show follows FBI, DEA, and Customs agents living together in a government-seized beach house that shares the moniker of the series.

The setting is very pretty. The house is impressive, with great views, and letting the characters spend time in the sand and waves is fun for the viewer, too. But there’s a dark edge to this location, too, knowing that it was once the site of some bad dealings, and this tone lives on today, underneath the surface of the friendly banter. While the housemates seem to get along well enough, there are some secrets that could unravel the whole thing. Perhaps keeping the name Graceland, which came about because of the previous owner’s Elvis obsession, is an intentional, constant reminder that everything is not as peaceful as it seems.

 

Our protagonist is Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit, Gossip Girl), a recent Quantico grad who requests an assignment in D.C., but is ordered to GRACELAND instead. The reason for this is that Mike’s bosses suspect grizzled veteran Paul Briggs (Daniel Sunjata, Rescue Me, Grey’s Anatomy), Mike’s new immediate superior, of illicit activity, and want Mike to find out definitively. We soon see that there may be some truth to the charges, and much of this first season is not only about the internal investigation, but also the shifting dynamic between the two men. What Mike will file in his report is not cut and dry, and he has to decide if Paul deserves to be put away.

 

Mike’s and Paul’s roommates include: Johnny (Manny Montana, East L.A.), the class clown and friend to everyone, who puts Mike through some affectionate hazing; Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito, CSI: NY), who has been undercover as a junkie, and is good with the makeup and mothering; DEA operative Paige (Serinda Swan, Breakout Kings), who does not appear in the pilot, but comes back in and befriends Mike; and Dale (Brandon Jay McLaren, Falling Skies, The Killing), the territorial customs agent.

 

If I have one complaint about Graceland‘s first year is that Charlie, Johnny, Paige, and Dale aren’t nearly as well developed as Mike and Paul. They all have their moments, of course, but this isn’t a true ensemble piece, with character development taking a much heavier focus on the leads. There is some tension between Mike and others, one of whom finds out what’s going on, but I look forward to an expansion of the supporting players in season two this summer, similar to how Suits began and then grew.

 

Story-wise, the pacing is a bit slow in some places, with twists coming pretty spaced out and the tension being more of a slow-burn than constant action. There is a romantic thread which is pretty cool because of the complications it causes. Smaller cases, tossed in from time to time in a Burn Notice-esque fashion where the characters sometimes shouldn’t help but can’t stop themselves from doing so,  keep it from being boring. Overall, it’s a pretty engrossing story, several notches above most USA fare, and has shown clear signs of not sticking to a status quo in the long-term, a promising sign.

 

This three-disc DVD release has all twelve episodes of the first season, as well as deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a ten-minute featurette on “The Real Graceland.” The latter is interesting, talking about the process of making the show and how the actors relate to the true source material. Ten minutes does seem quite short and the extra doesn’t go very deep, but its the only bonus of note included.

 

Graceland – The Complete First Season is available now.

Welcome to GRACELAND

Article first published as GRACELAND Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 94%

In keeping with the trend begun by Suits and Political Animals, USA’s latest drama, GRACELAND, features fully-fleshed out characters in complex, compelling situations. Created by White Collar brain Jeff Eastin, and based on a true story, this show follows FBI, DEA, and Customs agents living together in a government-seized beach house.

The setting is very pretty. The house is impressive, with great views, and letting the characters spend time in the sand and waves is fun for the viewer, too. It’s a good time based solely on this, even if the series didn’t have much else going for it. But it has plenty more.

There’s a dark edge to this location, knowing that it was once the site of some bad dealings, and this tone lives on today, underneath the surface of the friendly banter. While the housemates seem to get along well enough, there are some secrets that could unravel the whole thing. Perhaps keeping the name GRACELAND, which came about because of the previous owner’s Elvis obsession, is an intentional, constant reminder that everything is not as peaceful as it seems.

The lead is Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit, Gossip Girl), a recent graduate from Quantico who requested an assignment in D.C., but was ordered to GRACELAND instead. The reason for this is not immediately obvious, but is revealed by the end of the “Pilot,” and should prove a driving force of the freshman year. Whatever ulterior motives his bosses might have, though, it takes Mike no time at all to prove he can hold his own against the veterans that he is now living among.

Mike’s roommates include: Paul Briggs (Daniel Sunjata, Rescue Me, Grey’s Anatomy), the leader of the dwelling and grizzled FBI veteran, who is highly intelligent like Mike, but for some unknown reason has been skewing outside the lines of late; Johnny (Manny Montana, East L.A.), the class clown and friend to everyone, who puts Mike through some affectionate hazing; Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito, CSI: NY), who has been undercover as a junkie, and is good with the makeup; and Dale (Brandon Jay McLaren, Falling Skies, The Killing), the territorial customs agent.

This cast makes for quite a strong ensemble. Dale isn’t really a part of the group, since he is the lone person in the list that isn’t with the F.B.I., but the at-home scenes are as entertaining as the crime fighting, providing a light-hearted comic relief in between activities, much as a real home does, and he is invaluable in that section. GRACELAND is where the characters can mostly relax, and it’s refreshing for us and them to take a break from being heroes from time to time.

In the “Pilot,” the plot involves Donnie (Clayne Crawford, Rectify), a DEA agent who makes a mistake and blows his cover, and his partner, Lauren (Scottie Thompson, NCIS). Mike takes Donnie’s room, and Laura isn’t happy about it. But then Lauren’s quest for revenge against the bad guys that shot Donnie ends up providing the fodder for the FBI’s mission, tying the two organizations together.

It’s a shame that Donnie and Lauren aren’t sticking around. Unlike Dale, they are central to this opening story, and provide an example of how the different agencies work together in GRACELAND. They have good chemistry with the others, and it would be funny to see Mike have to find someplace else to sleep if Donnie reclaims his room.

Instead, they will be replaced by DEA operative Paige (Serinda Swan, Breakout Kings), whom we have not yet been introduced to, and so it’s hard to know what she’ll bring to the dynamic. Swan also replaced a lead from the “Pilot” in her previous serious engagement, and so seems to be carving out her niche in the genre.

Also of note are Gerry Silvo (Jay Karnes, The Shield), the FBI agent in charge on the ground, though he doesn’t live in the house, and Sam Campbell (Courtney B. Vance, Law & Order: Criminal Intent), Mike’s boss from the East. These guys aren’t as involved as the others, but will be pulling their strings, and because they are played by fantastic actors who should be sticking around for at least a bit, are worth noting.

But all of these people aside, and as much as I like a terrific ensemble, GRACELAND’s success and draw lies mainly in the relationship between Paul and Mike. There are lots of layers to the interactions, and they are the two given the most backstory. They both keep this first hour very interesting, and I’m curious to see how this latest starring duo grows, which seems likely have a similar vibe to Mike and Harvey on Suits.

The main action does feel a lot like other USA shows, especially in the vein of Burn Notice. The main players encounter someone they can’t help but feel sorry for, Felix (Mark Adair-Rios, Love That Girl!), even though their job would be easier if they didn’t assist him, and they probably aren’t strictly under an obligation to do so. It’s the kind of thing designed to instantly endear characters to viewers, and even though the attempt is transparent, it’s done well and tied into larger arcs, and so works. The show also boasts a more serious version of Psych’s humor, especially when a movie cover story comes up.

GRACELAND has a lot going for it, from sharp writing to terrific acting to an impressive production. It is the total package, combining the best elements of other shows on the network, so it still feels like a USA series, but also providing its own spices to make it unique. I can tell after only a single hour that this is a series to set a season pass for.

GRACELAND airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

Breakout Kings delivers respectable "Pilot"

     After an extremely disappointing first foray into scripted television with The Glades, A&E is trying its hand again with a rejected FOX pilot, Breakout Kings. The differences between the two are enormous. Breakout Kings would be better compared to Leverage, except the pilot has me thinking Kings will be a darker, edgier, better developed version. Which is good, because I got bored with Leverage and stopped watching awhile ago. Unlike Leverage, the main characters are immediately given some real depth. Plus the cast is just plain better.

     The concept is that several cons will work with the U.S. Marshals to catch fugitives in exchange for reductions to their sentences. Four are chosen, but one is quickly kicked off the team, so we are left with three. Lloyd (the fantastic Jimmi Simpson, Psych, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) is super smart, especially at reading people, which probably contributed to whatever gambling-connected illegal activity got him into trouble. Shea (Malcolm Goodwin, American Gangster) can pick a lock or drive in a high speed chase equally well. Philly (Nicole Steinwedell, The Unit) is a sexy con woman, who regrettably will be replaced in episode two by Erica (Serinda Swan, Smallville, Percy Jackson).

     They are joined by Ray (Domenick Lombardozzi, The Wire) a loose-with-the-rules cop that once caught them, now secretly also a con, and Charlie (Laz Alonso, Southland, Avatar), the boss. The two struggle for leadership for much of the pilot, though Ray eventually defers to Charlie. This seems strange, given his personality, until the ending twist that Ray is no longer a cop, and is as much making a deal as the other cons. Also present at their office is Julianne (Brooke Nevin, The 4400, Call Me Fitz), a woman with social anxiety problems whom Ray is protective of for reasons still unknown.

     The con the group goes after in the pilot is interesting, as he is extremely smart and keeps them scrambling. However, my main interest in the case of the week is how he tests the central cast. Lloyd, Shea, Philly, Ray, Julianne, and Charlie all have to contribute to his take down, so we get an immediate look at each character's specialty, and how they will contribute to the whole. I can't imagine how effective the booted con would have been, as he appeared to be there for muscle, not exactly a need for this task force. I think his presence in the beginning of the episode is merely to show that Charlie means business and will not hesitate to remove anyone who will not cooperate.

     My main worry going forward is that Breakout Kings will devolve into a procedural. There is certainly the potential for that, but I feel the series will be stronger if it focuses on each of the central group. What is Ray's connection to Julianne? Why is Lloyd in jail? Is there a bit of a romance brewing between Julianne and Lloyd, or is he just there to help her with her issues? Why has Charlie agreed to this task force? What is the motive for participating for Ray, other than that he can be a cop again, and this was his idea? We get a little less background on Shea at this point, and I will withhold my questions about Philly, since they likely won't be answered, sadly. Erica better be as good, and that's a tall order.

     Despite my gut distaste for procedurals, a balance would work okay. There are a number of great shows that blend the serial and the procedural elements together to form a satisfying mixture. As long as there is continuous character development and unfolding background, the show can bring in a new bad guy to catch every week without being a total waste of time. Even cooler would be a bad guy who eludes them for numerous episodes, which just may be on the horizon.

     I'm very much looking forward to Robert Knepper reprising his disgustingly sleazy T-Bag on the show for four episodes. T-Bag was a main character in Prison Break, a former favorite show of mine, and Knepper was one of the best parts. It has been announced that T-Bag will be in Breakout Kings. When he last saw the one-handed molester, he was back in prison, after a couple of break outs, so I'm assuming he will escape again. This time without Michael's help. I will likely refresh my memory with some PB DVD re-watching, and I recommend you do the same. That goes double if you have never seen the show.

     Breakout Kings airs on A&E Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET, and reruns throughout the week, so there is still time for you to watch the pilot before episode two premieres next weekend.

Article first published as TV Review: Breakout Kings - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.

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