BACKSTROM Has a "Dragon" On Its Back

Article first published as BACKSTROM Review on Seat42F.

FOX’s new series BACKSTROM is from the mind of Hart Hanson, creator of Bones and The Finder. Even if you did not know this going into the pilot, “Dragon Slayer,” it would be easy to see the similarities to those other shows because of a near-copy of tone and format. As a fan of Hanson, I’m interested to watch BACKSTROM. But as someone completely burned out with the formulaic police procedural, I’m sad he didn’t expand his premise a bit more from the beaten path.

Rainn Wilson (The Office) stars as Everett Backstrom, a colorful man in the vein of The Finder’s Walter Sherman. Rather than withdraw from society, though, Backstrom lives right in the middle of things, unfeeling towards those he offends. His attitude gets him demoted to traffic duty for five years, but as BACKSTROM begins, he is back in a position he likes, serving in Portland’s newly created Special Crimes Unit.

Backstrom is surrounded by a team of very capable professionals. There’s veteran detective John Almond (Dennis Haysbert, 24, The United), fresh-faced and eager Nicole Gravely (Genevieve Angelson, House of Lies), button-pushing consultant Peter Niedermayer (Kristoffer Polaha, Life Unexpected, Ringer), and muscle Frank Moto (Page Kennedy, Blue Mountain State, Weeds). Along with the attractive French civilian support officer, Nadia Paquet (Beatrice Rosen, Cuts, The Dark Knight), whom Backstrom “befriends” under his doctor’s (Rizwan Manji, Outsourced, The Wolf of Wall Street) orders, they make up his Bones-esque ensemble of colorful supporting players.

The reason I still watch Bones (though I’m quite behind on it) is because, despite how predictable and repetitive it is, there’s a very entertaining group who get excellent lines and entertaining subplots on a regular basis. BACKSTROM has a similar cast, many familiar faces oozing with talent and humor. The question is, how much of each hour will be spent on the boring old plot-of-the-week and how much will be fun? The balance is incredibly important to make the series worth watching, though it would certainly behoove Hanson to ditch the weekly-solve format as soon as possible, unlikely as it may seem that he would do so.

Because every modern cop drama must include the lead’s family, and Backstrom is not the type to have family and friends around (though we do get a forced-in story about his abusive father in “Dragon Slayer” to further shape the character), Backstrom regularly interacts with Valentine (Thomas Dekker, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). Valentine operates in the illegal underworld, son of a stripper, a transvestite in his own right. It takes a very strong personality to compete with Backstrom, and Valentine fits the bill. Plus, going by looks alone, I suspect he may secretly be Backstrom’s son, though one or both might not know it yet.

I probably don’t need to tell you about the main plot of “Dragon Slayer,” though doing so won’t spoil it for you. A body is discovered in an apparent suicide case, which is quickly ruled a homicide. The person you first suspect isn’t guilty, and through a serious of brilliant leaps by our above-average investigators, Backstrom is able to personally collar the culprit. This will likely be repeated in most episodes.

Overall, I like BACKSTROM; I really do. It has a terrific cast and is written by the man I believe is the current master of the genre. No one makes this type of show better than Hanson. But after a decade of watching his material, and seeing much of the same on the broadcast networks (most of which I don’t watch), I may finally be reaching my fill of it, as I noticed my attention drifting several times in the first episode alone. I’m hopeful the era of this type of show is near the end, ratings to the contrary, and the program can spin itself off into something better. Otherwise, BACKSTROM is yet another entry in an over- crowded field that feels wholly unoriginal.

BACKSTROM premieres Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

"Wake" The Secret Circle

     The CW's The Secret Circle meets its newest member this week in "Wake." The town mourns the death of Nick (Louis Hunter), especially Melissa (Jessica Parker Kennedy), who is in love with him. Nick's older brother Jake (Chris Zylka, 10 Things I Hate About You) arrives, and Faye (Phoebe Tonkin), whose heart Jake broke, and Adam (Thomas Dekker), whose family Jake stole from, are not happy to see him. But Cassie (Britt Robertson) sure is when an evil witch hunter shows up, and Jake saves her. The circle knows that Jake can take Nick's place in their group, but they are unaware that he has come to town for a darker reason.

      It's a bold move for a freshman series to kill off a central member of the cast in episode five, completely unexpected, even if he is quickly replaced. This alone buys The Secret Circle some respect. Too bad the actor coming in to replace the offed one seems stiff, more a pretty face than a good addition, acting-wise. Looks can be deceiving, and Jake has a fine story set up, having to choose between his destiny and the witch hunters he is working for. It will remain to be seen if Zylka is up to the challenge.

      Jake's arrival serves an important purpose in that it will remind Cassie, who is already beginning to act like a leader, that she doesn't know everything. The other characters have history in the town, and much happens prior to Cassie's arrival that they have trouble forgiving and forgetting. Even Jane (Ashley Crow) isn't all that happy to see Jake. Cassie is exuding the confidence that she's well-informed enough to make major decisions, but without being clued in on a lot of back story, she is in the dark more than the others, and more than she seems aware of being. Cassie doesn't realize this in "Wake," but her quick ability to trust Jake, whom the others are wary of, and whom they have good reason to be so, will likely come back to bite her.

     But will Jake ultimately prove to be an enemy? Despite Faye and Adam's reservations, it's clear that Jake is already growing a bit fond of Cassie. He comes to town with a purpose, but after seeing everyone, including his new neighbor, it may be that his purpose will change. After all, he kills the woman that attacks Cassie. This isn't presented as an accident, and while it may help him maintain cover, that probably isn't all that it does. How soon before Jake lets the others in on the threat that they face? The quicker, the better, as there is a whole group of baddies lurking nearby, led by Isaac (JR Bourne, Teen Wolf).

     Given that The Secret Circle is a CW series, Jake's presence in and after "Wake" will also serve to shake up the romantic chemistry, as that is as much a focus of shows on the network as the action plots. Obviously, Faye still harbors something for Jake, even if it has turned to hate. Also, as mentioned before, Jake is taking a shine to Cassie. This complicates matters, in that Diana (Shelley Hennig) breaks up with Adam so that he can fulfill his destiny and be with Cassie. So all of a sudden, the central character will have two guys who want to be with her, and are available to do so.

     The whole "destiny" thing between Cassie and Adam is weird. It's odd that Diana steps aside so readily, when Adam stays loyal, despite simmering feelings. Perhaps she is trying to be noble, but that isn't how it comes across. Also, considering that Adam's father, Ethan (Adam Harrington), harbors similar feelings for Cassie's departed mother, how is that right? Cassie and Adam would be siblings if the older pair worked out! Or is the blood fate just transferred to the next generation if the previous one doesn't fulfill it? How does one determine which generation the fate is supposed to happen in? Do different age groups have different attractions to different families? If this continues among the circle, wouldn't this lead to much inbreeding? After all, it's only six families involved. Luckily, they all seem to always have kids about the same age. How has this chain not been broken over time?

     It's great that The Secret Circle brings Cassie's grandma, Jane, in on the main action so soon, instead of leaving her in the dark for years, as so many similar series would do, and have done before. Jane is a great asset to the group, providing wisdom and power far beyond what the kids can muster at this time. Even though she doesn't have a circle to back her up, at least not one that seems to be around, she is a valuable asset. But she's also a protection for them, so it wouldn't be surprising if she doesn't live past the first season or two. They need to stand on their own, and can't always have grandma fighting their battles for them.

     What's the deal with the crystals? Apparently, they allow a witch to have power individually, instead of needing another member of their circle to be with them. Who created them, and how do they work? It's a convenience that pops up without a lot of explanation. So if each family has one, and Jake likely is holding onto his, given his knowledge of his power and how to use it, as well as the fact that he's been alone, where are the others? When the elders break up the previous circle, they must have confiscated some of them. Whose does Dawn (Natasha Henstridge) possess? Where did she get it? Does it need a circle to recharge, and that's why hers runs down? Lots of questions about this, that hopefully will get answered instead of glossed over.

     Does Dawn really have Jane fooled? Jane is pretty darn wise, and Dawn has been acting suspiciously, a fact that has not gone unnoticed. Dawn's plans to use the kids to get her own power back sort of her make her a villain, even if she does do things to protect them. Dawn's alliance with Jane is barely that, as the two women don't have any particularly warm connection with each other, and it's doubtful there is much trust between them. Jane may feel like she has no one else to ask for help, since the magic needs to stay a secret as much as possible. But Dawn won't be much help in any regard, unless their priorities happen to align in that moment. Or maybe she is just testing Dawn to see how Dawn reacts when she brings up the kids' magic.

     Nick's death affects the kids in different ways, but it really does a number on Charles (Gale Harold). Having to live with the guilt of murdering a teenager, even if it is done to kill a demon dwelling inside, haunts Charles. Unlike Dawn, who is able to bounce back just fine, keeping her focus on their mission, whatever it may be, Charles seems distant and out of it. He did not sign up for hurting anyone, especially not someone in town, and so young. Taking out Nick, no matter how good the reason, changes the way he thinks about the magic. He is probably a lot less likely to pursue getting his powers back now that he remembers what those powers can cost, a fact forgotten over the years since the last disaster. Jane may want to start looking for a new sidekick.


     The Secret Circle is just getting started. Watch it Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on the CW.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To buy books and streaming episodes of The Secret Circle, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: The Secret Circle - "Wake" on Blogcritics.

The Secret Circle - "Pilot"

     The CW presents The Secret Circle, a new drama about witches from some of the same creative force behind hit The Vampire Diaries. The story follows Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson, Swingtown), who is forced to move in with her grandmother, Jane (Ashley Crow, Heroes, who doesn't really look old enough to play a grandma) after the untimely death of her mother (Emily Holmes). Almost as soon as Cassie gets to town, she is inundated with strange happenings. Five other local teenagers tell Cassie she is a watch, and together, they can form a circle. Just like their parents did so many years ago. But unlike their parents, whom one of each died during a magical accident years ago, these kids are sure they have a handle on things. Cassie isn't so certain. It is clear, though, that Cassie's presence makes each kid far more powerful than they were before.

     Life Unexpected, The Secret Circle is not. They both air(ed) on the CW, and both star Britt Robertson, but the similarities end there. This new series is about magic and murder, not finding family happiness. Cassie settles right on in with her grandmother, so they must be close before the series begins. But the past is buried deep for the Blake, and other families in the area. The secrets Cassie will be digging up will not be about her biological life-givers, but rather, what those people did when they were foolish young adults.

     Because The Secret Circle is on the CW, the obligatory teenage angst is present in full force. Cassie quickly falls for kind Adam (Thomas Dekker, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). Sadly, Adam is already involved with someone, friendly Diana (Shelley Hennig, Days of Our Lives). Adam and Cassie are supposedly "written in the stars," so we'll see how that works it. It didn't for their parents.

     Rounding our the circle are bitchy Faye (Phoebe Tonkin, H2O: Just Add Water), Faye's sidekick Melissa (Jessica Parker Kennedy, Valemont), and the boy living next door to Cassie, Nick (Louis Hunter, Out of the Blue). Faye most wants to use the powers they all possess, calling a major storm to the town that Cassie must stop when Faye loses control. Nick also shows a wicked streak when he opens Cassie's bedroom curtains when she isn't decent. Is he playing a game, or is he malicious? Melissa really does nothing noteworthy in the "Pilot," so she remains a question mark.

     Despite Faye's bad deeds, Cassie's biggest threats will probably come from outside the group. The previous circle, or what's left of it, have their own dark secrets, and may not like the youngsters following in their footsteps. Diana's father, Charles (Gale Harold, Queer as Folk, Hellcats) is the one that actually murders Cassie's mother, tricking the girl into coming to town for unknown reasons, though Cassie doesn't know that. He is friendly with Faye's mother, Dawn (Natasha Henstridge, Eli Stone), though it is unclear, but likely, if Dawn knows Charles's methods. The third member of their former group in "Pilot" is Adam's father, Ethan (Adam Harrington, Dexter). Ethan is a drunk, but seemingly a nice guy. When Ethan tries to tell Cassie about her mother, Charles almost drowns him.

     There are enough unanswered questions and interesting possibilities to keep viewers intrigued for some time. If it unfolds as tantalizingly as The Vampire Diaries, it will have a lively, popular run. While the teen actors are mostly not ones I'm familiar with, Robertson handles herself well, and Dekker shows some real departure from his previous role. Plus, the adults cast are all wonderful, so the series should be able to grow some legs in short order.

     The Secret Circle airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on the CW.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Cinema Verite and the birth of reality TV

     HBO's latest TV movie is Cinema Verite. It's a look at the making of An American Family, which is widely considered to be the first reality television show. In An American Family, camera crews follow around the Louds of Santa Barbara, California in 1971, though it did not air until the beginning of 1973. The Louds went on to appear on the cover of Newsweek and on various talk shows as they combated the negative image the series showed of their family. In Cinema Verite, HBO attempts to recreate events going on behind the camera, not just those shown on PBS nearly three decades ago.

     This movie, in between scenes with the new actors, shows clips from the original series. Great care has been taken to match the current stars looks with the people they are playing, and visually, it seems like the two are extremely similar. Snippets of personality and voice from the past also make it look like the actors in HBO's film are doing a fantastic job. Without having see the old documentary though, it's hard to tell for sure if the Louds are being done justice.

     Diane Lane stars as Pat Loud, the matriarch and central character of this movie. Pat is shown to be open, and trapped in a bad marriage with Bill (Tim Robbins), who cheats on her constantly. Lane and Robbins have some very natural chemistry, so that even when they are fighting and their marriage is coming apart, they still appear to have the natural comfortableness that comes with shared history. Pat comes across as the victim in this movie, but she is also a strong woman that is willing to take charge of her life and improve things. Yet, she admits to have been aware of Bill's infidelities for a long time, and she spends an inordinate amount of time cozying up the producer of An American Family, Craig (James Gandolfini), so how much of a victim can she really be? Is is just an act for the cameras?

     The question of reality versus facade is the biggest issue raised by this fictional account of a pseudo documentary. Like much of today's reality television, it's difficult to say how much of the "documentary" is authentic and how much is somewhat scripted. The character of Craig stirs this pot when he purposely sets up scenes to force dramatic confrontation. Bill is seen saying a line several times to get the perfect visual. Son Lance (Thomas Dekker, brilliantly breaking any pigeonholing that may follow him from his days on Sarah Connor: The Terminator Chronicles) makes a show of not having noticed the camera, then "suddenly realizing" the crew is there. While some scenes may be completely real, others definitely are not.

     The climax occurs as Pat makes Bill move out, and the uncomfortable film crew follows the husband out into the driveway. As Bill struggles to react calmly and maturely to this unexpected (for him, not viewers) turn of events, a real man is revealed. Here, Bill is shown when he'd rather be hidden. Emotion blossoms in his eyes, but he can't react the way that he wants to without the risk of damaging his already-crippled image. So he does the best he can and gets away from the house quickly. Today, cameras would have caught his raw emotion from the backseat as he flees the confrontation. In this more primitive time, viewers must imagine how Bill will soon be emoting as his car fades from view.

     The Louds, especially Lance, who is credited with being the first openly homosexual character on TV, embrace the publicity that comes with the series, at least at first. Pat later has reservations when things go south. But they want the attention they will get from the show, and after it airs, their publicity tour cements their desire for fame. This makes them typical of modern day reality stars, who delight in strutting around for everyone else to see. They are exhibitionists, even if their skin is kept covered up. As such, these types of reality shows will only ever show a certain kind of person, rather than a "typical" American.

     The Loud family's story does have its share of tragedy. Long after the cameras left, Lance contracted HIV, and died at the age of 50 in 2001. His dying wish was that his parents reunite, and sure enough, Pat and Bill are currently back together. Yet, they remain mostly under the radar, as they have been for some time. Which shows that there are real emotions within the family, and everything that has been done is not just for show.

     The question remains whether Craig should be vilified for inventing the reality genre, or if its inception would have come about anyway. The real Craig seems to have been torn, and Gandolfini's version is shown to have true affection for Pat, but goes ahead an instigates ratings-bait drama anyway. The reality of a Craig / Pat pairing has been debated, but it makes sense, considering that after this project, Craig hung up his directing hat forever. If he did not feel guilt for what he did to the family, and possibly Pat in particular, it's hard to fathom why he would quit at the height of his success.

     It is too late to stuff reality television back in the bottle, though some critics, including this one, very much wish it was so. Something in human nature makes people crave this type of false authenticity. Mankind enjoys watching others make fools of themselves, and even watches while knowing what they are seeing isn't nearly as real as it pretends to be. For better or for worse, the Louds were the first in a long line of publicity hounds, who are famous just for the sake of fame, not because of their own accomplishments. And the practice they sparked shows no signs of abating.

     The characters that best capture this conflict are Alan (Patrick Fugit) and Susan Raymond (Shanna Collins), who are tasked with filming the project. While they do feel disdain for the part of their job that is exploitation, they continue the work. Is it for the money? To protect the family from camera crews with fewer scruples? To find a sense of completion? Or are they just, despite reservations, as fascinated as everyone else with what is happening? Draw your own conclusion.


     One benefit can be attributed to the reality genre: it inspired this HBO film, which is a fun, not not always light-hearted, delight. If you missed the premiere, it will be rerunning throughout this week. Be sure to catch it.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

Article first published as TV Review: Cinema Verite on Blogcritics.