AMERICAN GOTHIC Prime Example of Summer TV in America

Article first published by AMERICAN GOTHIC Review on Seat42F.

Next up in the crappy-summer-shows roster is CBS’ AMERICAN GOTHIC. A soapy murder mystery, I understand why this series was held for burn-off during the hot months because it feels a lot like several other shows that premiered earlier in the year, were soon canceled, and I’ve mostly forgotten about (like The Family). Will this show find an audience and fare better? Probably not, so I wouldn’t blame you if you stop reading now and ignore its existence.

If you’re still reading, let’s talk a little bit about AMERICAN GOTHIC, though. It has a pleasant enough cast, which makes for many suspects, each with their own dark secrets (because no one in a world like this is ever who everyone thinks they are). By making a lot of them related, it’s supposed to be more shocking when things come to light, or harder for the characters to distrust one another, but it’s not because of the very familiar tone. There is a serial killer, but don’t even bother trying to figure out who it is at this stage because there will be a million red herrings and twists.

It’s not very satisfying to watch a show like this because it doesn’t feel like there’s a plan from the start. I could be wrong, and there’s no way to know that until the end of the season, but unlike in the best mysteries, that drop important clues early on, shows like these tend to concentrate more on doing the unexpected than crafting an intricate story. They try to go for the plot that comes out of nowhere, rather than something that naturally flows or was previously hinted at. It makes theorizing with your friends just not that great since no one really has any insight into what’s going to happen. It’s an all-too-common style that we can use less of on television, and the way the pilot plays out all but confirms that’s what AMERICAN GOTHIC is.

I realize I haven’t given you a lot of specifics about why I think the show is bad, but I really don’t want to ruin anything for those who are genuinely interested. Let’s just say there are things involving a cat, a box, and a hospital room that smack as gratuitous and have helped forge the opinion above.

As I mentioned before, the cast is good. With so many quality programs on the small screen these days, it’s not a surprise that even the lesser fare can attract talent. After all, it’s often hard to tell from just a script whether the series will be great or not. AMERICAN GOTHIC does have a solid ensemble, and they sell the material pretty much as convincingly as possible.

The central figure seems to be Alison Hawthorne-Price (Juliet Rylance, The Knick), a wife and mother running for mayor of her city. As the campaign unfolds, we meet the rest of the clan, brought in to help her win. There’s matriarch Madeline (Virginia Madsen, Sideways), former drug-using brother Cam (Justin Chatwin, Shameless), Cam’s disturbed son Jack (Gabriel Bateman, Stalker), elementary school teacher sister Tessa (Megan Ketch, Jane the Virgin), Tessa’s detective husband Brady (Elliot Knight, Once Upon a Time), and long-missing brother Garrett (Antony Starr, Banshee). There’s also a father to the group, who is not in the official cast list, so presumably not a main character, and Cam’s still-addicted ex, Sophie (Stephanie Leonidas, Defiance), soon pops back up.

It is a relatively large family, but again, that’s needed so we have a lot of suspects and a dozen episodes of secrets can come out. After all, a lot of different boxes are checked with the grouping above, no one having a boring life that won’t affect the proceedings, and no two crossing orbits too much. It’s a familiar formula that probably won’t work any better than it usually does.

AMERICAN GOTHIC premieres Wednesday, June 22 at 10/9c.

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.

DEFIANCE Not "Broken"

Article first published as DEFIANCE Not "Broken" on TheTVKing.

At the start of the season finale of SyFy's Defiance, "Everything Is Broken," one assumes that the biggest threat facing the titular town is the presumably stolen election by Datak Tarr (Tony Curran). How strange, then, that by the end of the hour, Datak is an heroic protector of the settlement, and the threat they are facing is much, much greater.

The danger of the Earth Republic is not something introduced at the last minute, but is instead a shadowy entity oft mentioned, but rarely seen. It doesn't come out of nowhere, but when it makes its play here, it is unexpected so soon, since we do not yet know the players involved in that organization. Because of this, it is painted in a very black-and-white, stereotypical way in "Everything Is Broken," which hopefully with change in season two, once we learn more about the individuals who matter in the group.

Datak is someone viewers might think they know, but may be surprised to see the noble side of him. We know his race cares about money and manipulation, but while we are told pride is also paramount, it's not something really seen in a big way 'til now. Datak is content to work with the Earth Republic to seize the mayor's office and the mines, but they think they can buy him as their puppet, and that is where they are wrong. He is too proud to bow down, and assumes he is in control of Defiance, not them. When they try to pull a fast one on Datak, he strikes back violently.

It's hard to believe the Earth Republic won't just execute Datak on the spot, but that seems unlikely from a storytelling perspective because he is a rich character whose new side has just been exposed. He is also someone who wields a lot of control of the townsfolk, and his absence would create a large power vacuum. Instead, there will likely be a revolt against the Earth Republic, and whether Datak is instrumental in the cause, or a symbol to fight for, he will be involved.

If Datak were ever to go down, it would finally give the chance for his wife, Stahma (Jaime Murray) to flourish. She says that she is content standing behind him, and seems happy with her own earned power and games. However, she is also very clearly still subservient to her husband. Murray does a fantastic job of making Stahma complex and alien, interweaving themes of love and fear within the chemistry she has with Curran, so one is never quite sure when Stahma is posturing or when she truly believes what she claims to believe. One thing is certain, though, is that she could easily handle herself in a leadership position should the opportunity arise.

Murray is not the only one doing an amazing job of creating new perspectives. The writing and acting on Defiance make the alien characters seem far more exotic and foreign than in most science fiction enterprises. It's not just the prosthetics, but how these beings see the world that sets them apart. If there's one thing Defiance is doing right (and I would argue there is far more than one thing), it is creating the true tapestry of extraterrestrial races.

Stahma is devoted to Datak. She not only poisons Kenya (Mia Kirshner) to atone for her betrayal, but she stands by Datak's side as the Earth Republic soldiers move on. At both times, Stahma has the chance to escape Datak to her own benefit, but chooses him instead. No matter what we see between them, theirs is a real marriage.

I don't think Kenya is dead either, by the way, as we don't see the body post-poison. More likely, she is tied up somewhere and will be used as a bargaining chip if Defiance is wrestled back from the Earth Republic quickly. If not, she will probably be freed to fight alongside the others.

Of course, there may be no need for the citizens to rise up because Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) is in control of a very powerful weapon. It is a shocking payoff to her arc this year, and allows the character to step up in a big, impressive way. We don't know for sure what Irisa can do with her new power, but I'm excited to find out, and surely she will use it to protect those she cares about, and by extension, Defiance.

I'm torn on the decision to make Doc Yewll (Trenna Keating) a good guy. It's a little predictable that the gruff physician is kind at heart. But I really like the story of redemption, that she is once very, very bad, and now wants to change, something you don't expect from the type of character she is painted as. And others have already been revealed to be secretly evil, so we don't need her to be as well. Also, Keating somehow manages to get past the heavy makeup and deliver the kind of break out performance that deserves recognition, and by keeping her with the heroes, it allows the character to continue on the show. So the path she is on is an interesting one.

"Everything Is Broken" stops short of permanently killing any of the main players, including Nolan (Grant Bowler), even though we think he is dead at one point, and he gets a very moving death scene. On one hand, this feels like a cheat, as most shows will strive to keep the main cast intact, lowering the stakes of danger, even with the plot calls for death. On the other, Defiance has assembled a fantastic ensemble, and it's hard to imagine the character-driven series without any one of them. To truly be great, Defiance will have to sacrifice a main player or two in the near future. But for now, this can be excused, since the show works so well as is, and a number of important recurring parts have fallen prior to this finale.

The only real complaint I have about "Everything Is Broken" is the scene in which Nolan and Irisa are running out of the tent with guns, ducking behind vehicles. It feels designed solely to match up with the video game, increasing the cross marketing between the Defiance series and interactive experience. But it goes too far while doing so, feeling staged and forced, the direction and movements of the characters not seeming natural for the scene.

Other than that, I am extremely pleased with the first season of Defiance, a show that SyFy should be proud of, and look forward to its return next year, as it has been renewed.

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.