Zombieland: The Series

Article first published as Zombieland: The Series on TheTVKing.

Amazon has recently released a bunch of pilots they are considering picking up for series, depending on the public's reaction to them. One such entry is Zombieland: The Series. Based on the hit movie Zombieland, different actors play the four roles from the film, and the action continues not long after the events from that endeavor.

I loved Zombieland: The Series's opening. It's two people sitting in an office. One of them, Ainsley (Tim Bagley, Web Therapy, Monk), thinks he is having a very bad day, and his sympathetic co-worker, Sheila (Rachel Cannon, Underemployed), is listening with a kind ear. But his issues involving someone mispronouncing his name and getting his sandwich wrong pale in comparison to the apocalypse taking place behind them, clearly visible through the window, as zombies attack and eat people.

It's a fantastic comedy bit, showing the contrast between the problems before the disaster and after. The two actors, sadly short-lived, play the scene with such earnestness, my attention is not completely pulled away by the action outside. Their last few moments of blissful ignorance of the crisis is amusing, and because the scene is so extended, thankfully, making for a memorable hook.

I'm not sure it's necessary to use the end of the Ainsley / Sheila scene to introduce one of the show's leads, Tallahassee (Kirk Ward, Forrest Gump), but it doesn't really hurt anything either, so I won't complain about that.

From there, the story follows the film, picking up after the central foursome have been together for some time. They decide that it's time to expand their group, but every person they find to try to join them soon dies, usually from a zombie attack. They just can't catch a break!

Zombieland: The Series retains much of the same comedic elements from the film, as well as the structure. We hear about Columbus's (Tyler Ross, Boss) rules for surviving the apocalypse. There is a count of how many times Tallahassee references female anatomy. They hang out in an IKEA. I even like their On-Star pal, Detriot (Kendra Fountain), whom they frequently talk to, but have not met.

But there is also some things that seem more irreverent. The way they don't bat an eyelash when witnessing a gruesome muder-by-zombie could be a sign that they have hardened themselves, but it's played for laughs, and since they are actively looking for new friends doesn't quite gel. They don't seem at all concerned about the danger around them, whereas the movie built up some suspense. Yes, we know that these four aren't in any real peril, but Zombieland: The Series doesn't even try to pretend otherwise. What the show does well is deliver a punchline. What it doesn't really do is make us care about the characters.

The only real attempt at pathos in the "Pilot" is when we learn that Columbus and Wichita (Maiara Walsh, Desperate Housewives) have broken up. It's unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected, based on their varying personalities. Once the immediate danger has passed, and life has returned to what now passes for normal, Columbus is just too eager. It is doubtful the couple is finished, but rather, the writers are just trying to add some tension to the story, and it will be an ongoing romantic arc for the characters.

The biggest problem with Zombieland: The Series, though, is that they have recast the four lead roles. I'm sorry, but these four performers, who are fine for a standard sitcom, pale in comparison to the amazing actors in the movie. Drawing parallels is inevitable, and the show loses across the board. The smarter move would be to keep the same universe and tone, but make the cast play different people, rather than the same ones film-goers are already familiar with. This form of goofiness certainly has a place, but the elements aren't quite combining right yet.

Zombieland: The Series also stars Izabela Vidovic (Help for the Holidays) as Little Rock, and the "Pilot" is available now on Amazon.com

Things looking Grimm

     Last night, NBC's Grimm premiered. In "Pilot," Detective Nick Burckhardt (David Giuntoli, Priveleged) begins seeing people morph into strange creatures. His dying Aunt Marie (Kate Burton, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order), who raised him, warns that he is the next in a long line of Grimms, tasked with hunting down the supernatural. Since she will be gone soon, he is inheriting her powers. This comes in handy, as Nick is soon investigating a serial killer who goes after girls in red hoodies. Luckily, he meets Eddie Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell, My Name is Earl, Prison Break), a reformed big bad wolf, who reluctantly tells him about the supernatural world, and helps him track down the killer, a postman (Tim Bagley, Monk, Web Therapy), who happens to be another Big Bad Wolf with a Red Riding Hood complex.

     Basically, Grimm is a crime procedural with a heavy supernatural twist. This makes it hard to figure out, exactly. With David Greenwalt, a creative force for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel on board, Grimm could start off with cases of the week, and grow into something truly special. Or it could continue this format for years to come and grow boring. Or it could pull off the rare feat of a procedural, making enough character development merge with whatever the crime is, and end up being successful because of the people in the series being extremely interesting. A cynic would think the middle choice is most likely, and looking at the fare on television, that is probably true. However, with a wonderful cast and cool mythology, Grimm certainly has the chance to be neat if the network lets it, and the writers and producers are so inclined.

     Poor Burton takes on another character that won't be long for the series. She does a similar thing in the first season of Grey's Anatomy, setting up the central character, before bowing out and letting them stand on their own. She surely won't be alive by season one's end, at the latest. It's too bad, because she makes Marie creepy and mysterious, loving and dangerous. It's a really complicated character, and Burton is up to the task. Thank goodness, even though the part may be temporary, an actress with skill is cast.

     How long will Nick stay with Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch, Quarterlife, Lonelygirl15)? She is someone that can go a number of ways, thus making her character a good one to put in the mix. Nick and Juliette are living together, and he wants to propose to her. But as Nick's Grimm destiny manifests, Marie warns him to dump Juliette, as being the spouse of a Grimm is far too dangerous. So in Grimm, Juliette, who is currently a main character, will have to go one of two ways. Either Nick is done with her, after much agonizing, and likely some serious threat to her life, which may or may not result in her death, or she bucks up and becomes a talented hunter alongside him. The latter option is the more unexpected one, and the more people helping Nick, the better his mission will go. That would be a step towards Buffy, and a sign that the series is on the right track. But maybe she'll just die, which would be boring.

     Nick and Eddie's partnership, while not at all original, has pretty good chemistry. Like so many other team ups that both characters are not equally as enthused about at first (see: White Collar, Bones, Castle, etc.), they will become fast friends very soon. Which is fine, because both have back stories that will serve to enhance the show's mysteries. Neither performer has had real starring, meaty roles before, and it's time to give them the chance, especially Mitchell, who has shone is recurring roles on popular series. In "Pilot," they seem capable. They relationship will be the heart of the series.

     On the other side of things, in what will surely clash with Nick's new career, he already has a partner in Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby, Lincoln Heights). Hank knows nothing about Nick's new abilities, but does seem to notice that Nick is now getting "instincts," which lead them to the bad guys. So Nick keeping the two sides of himself a secret is out. Hank's direction is nearly the same as Juliette's, though he probably won't just get reassigned and disappear. Either he becomes a valued ally, or he dies. Again, if the show is going for a strong ensemble with some serious serial staying power, he needs to step up. It would be a shame if Nick loses all of his connection to the human world, so minimally, either Juliette or Hank should stick. Both would be preferable.

     Lastly, Nick's boss, Captain Renard (Sasha Roiz, Caprica, Warehouse 13) is working with some of the creatures that Nick must hunt. Is he a baddie, too? What are his motives? First glance makes him see evil, but that is not necessarily the case. It's nice to see the great Roiz isn't regulated to toothless, bit part boss, but is instead an integral part of the larger story. The questions I have about Renard top all others to date, so he really makes Grimm worth looking forward to.

     Watch Grimm Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. The series also stars Reggie Lee (No Ordinary Family, Prison Break).

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

Login to Web Therapy

     Now on Showtime is Web Therapy. Web Therapy began life as a series of short webisodes available online. Now Showtime has ordered it to series, so what is airing on television is a compilation of the shorter bits, edited together with connecting scenes. In the first two episodes, we meet Fiona Wallace (Lisa Kudrow, Friends), who is starting a new "modality" for therapy - offering three minute sessions via web cam. This works for her, as she is lazy, and would rather avoid the human contact that comes with fifty minute meetings in person. To begin, Fiona calls upon some people she already knows in the "real world," hoping to establish a brand, then franchise it and become rich. Ideally, this will happen within a couple of months. The series is made up completely of web cam shots.

     Two episodes in, Kudrow has banished Phoebe from the minds of viewers. A different voice and mannerisms assure virtually no connection between the character Kudrow is most famous for, and the one she now inhabits. Fiona herself is odd, with an annoyingly lilting tone, and her own, distinct pattern of dialogue. One episode in, she is easy to despise. Two half hours, and suddenly she is incredibly enjoyable, even though it is still apparent she is a horrible human being. For instance, she tries to exploit a patient named Jerome (executive producer Dan Bucatinsky), who thinks he was unknowingly sleeping with his half sister (Rashida Jones, Parks and Recreation). Fiona takes the role of victim when it turns out the woman is not related to him. After all, she intends to use his story to get investors! How dare he be boring!

     Part of the reason Fiona may be the way she is could be the lack of affection she gets from her husband, Kip (the great Victor Garber, Eli Stone, Alias). Kips is, to keep with the show's format, only seen via web cam, too, whether he is on Fiona's computer, sitting next to her, or being called while in the bedroom on his own laptop. It makes for an odd communication style between the two, and most moments of their lives are missed by the viewers. However, there is enough insinuation to figure out that Kip wants to stay in the marriage, cares about Fiona, but avoids her sexual advances. Could he be gay?

     To compensate, Fiona acts inappropriately towards other men, but can't bring herself to go through with anything. One in particular, Richard (Tim Bagley, Monk, Will & Grace), she now counsels, and tries to interfere in his new relationship. You see, her departure from her previous job came after she made many advances, but she rejected Richard when he tried to act on them. Now she doesn't want him to be with anyone else, and he is confused. Wholly unethical, it's still a pretty funny situation, and actually exposes a vulnerable side of Fiona. Which is when she begins to be a character fans can get behind, if only slightly. What is shown most of the time is a persona, and this situation peels down into a deeper layer.

     High quality guest stars abound in the first season, including Jane Lynch (Glee), Lily Tomlin (Damages, The West Wing), Alan Cumming (The Good Wife), Courteney Cox (Cougar Town), Jennifer Elise Cox (The Brady Bunch Movie), Maulik Pancholy (30 Rock, Weeds), Julie Claire (24, Dirt), and more. It should be an exciting bunch of whackos, perfectly complimenting Fiona's insanity.

     Web Therapy is nowhere close to realistic, but it is pretty funny. Check it out Tuesdays at 11 p.m. EST on Showtime.


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Article first published as TV Review: Web Therapy on Blogcritics.