Lifetime Isn't Lucky With THE LOTTERY

Article originally published as THE LOTTERY Review on Seat42F.

Lifetime ventures into the science fiction realm with their new drama THE LOTTERY, which premiered last night. Set roughly ten years in the future, mankind has inexplicably stopped having children. Scientists are clueless about both the cause and the solution of the problem. Then, Dr. Alison Lennon (Marley Shelton, Eleventh Hour) somehow fertilizes one hundred eggs which seem viable. Will she be able to save mankind, or will the intrusive government ruin her project?

THE LOTTERY boasts a really cool concept I’d expect to see on SyFy or FOX, rather than on Lifetime. I do wish the premise had gone further with the science part of the genre and given us some kind of excuse for the big event, but at least the ramifications for the human race and its struggle to overcome such a huge obstacle can be chronicled. This really would spell our end, and there is plenty to examine in this set up.

Unfortunately, right from the start, THE LOTTERY feels like typical Lifetime fare. It isn’t as over-the-top female-centric as some of the network’s other shows, such as The Ex List and Devious Maids, but it is very heavily headlined by women, and said gals are not nearly as likeable as those in, say, Witches of East End. Alison obviously is female, and while the President remains a white man, the series favors his chief of staff, Vanessa Keller (Athena Karkanis, Low Winter Sun) in assigning focus. And when it comes time to discuss parents’ rights over the ingredients in the fertilized product Alison creates, only the mother is considered.

There’s also very much a woman-as-a-victim viewpoint. Alison is singled out for firing because she’s a strong, brilliant person who would get in the way of the military guys that wants to control things, but because she’s whiny and demanding, she is hard to root for. Vanessa does bend the President’s (Yul Vazquez, Magic City) ear and actually seems heroic, but again, the military men have run roughshod over her already and she has to fight her way back into influence. She’s playing from the underdog position, even when she’s in a role that should allow her to call some of the shots.

Furthermore, the only man of any substance in the pilot, Kyle (Michael Graziadel, The Young and the Restless), is much more sensitive than the average joe. A single parent to one of the last kids born, he resists temptation and shows how caring he can be, giving the female viewers the idolized hero they’d like to see represented more than a layered, flawed individual. Given his token spot, I’d like to see more from him.

Now, I enjoy strong female characters, and most of my favorite shows are at least gender-balanced, so I’m not ripping on THE LOTTERY just because of the women who are at the center of it. But other networks, if they resisted the urge to make the show testosterone-heavy, would nurture other aspects of the tale. Instead, it’s these handful of hallmark Lifetime characteristics that override everything else, making the show feel anything but balanced. It may hit the station’s target audience, but it lacks broad appeal and ignores many fans of the genre it resides in. That’s a mistake.

The acting is also a bit hokey, playing up overly dramatic scenes, and with the type of moments when you want to yell at the screen because the protagonists make dumb, easily avoidable mistakes. The weak writing and character development waste the cred that could have been bought with a smart premise and makes THE LOTTERY less than the sum of its parts. I worry it will not go far enough in exploring the effects on the world, instead concerned with two-dimensional players in their flimsy environments.

Of course, this is just a pilot. THE LOTTERY could redeem itself by doubling down on the conspiracy and dangers, as well as social issues, and backing off on Alison’s self-righteousness. I just don’t have confidence that it will.

THE LOTTERY airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

The Good Wife Finds Out "What's in the Box?"

Article first published as The Good Wife Finds Out "What's in the Box?" on TheTVKing.

So much is happening in The Good Wife's season four finale, "What's in the Box?" which aired on CBS this week. Zach (Graham Phillips) thinks he spots voter fraud, sending Lockhardt Garner scrambling into multiple court battles to try to save the election for Peter (Chris Noth). Meanwhile, who will be splitting off to form a new firm is revealed, personal relationships are rocked, and the election results come in.

One of the things The Good Wife does well is build a stable of reliable, fantastic recurring players. Lots of them appear in "What's in the Box?" lending a bit of extra excitement and tension to the proceedings. Among those returning favorites in this episode are Patti Nyholm (Martha Plimpton), Colin Sweeney (Dylan Baker), Judge Arbernathy (Denis O'Hare), Judge Lessner (Ana Gasteyer), and Jordan Karahalios (T.R. Knight).

But while all of these familiar faces are wonderful to see, none are the focus of the episode, as The Good Wife does know how that their bread and butter is the core cast, nearly all of whom get development and plot in this finale.

Zach doesn't always have a lot to do, but he is instrumental in the various legal battles that play out throughout the installment. It's nice to see him have such a vital part, not only starting the trouble, unintentionally, but also getting to share credit for his dad's victory, sort of. It's a good use for the teen, who looks to possibly have an increased role moving forward if he stays involved, maybe working for his dad?

The brilliant maneuvering, as the characters zip from courtroom to courtroom, is highly entertaining and sharpy crafted. The Good Wife has presented many interesting cases in its day, but the ones in this episode are some of the most enjoyable, especially after the flip, when our heroes must argue the opposite side of the previous debate.

I'm not so thrilled with the election outcome. Yes, I'm happy that Peter wins, but at what cost? It seems pretty obvious that his team cheats, whether Eli (Alan Cumming) is involved or not, and he very well may be. It makes the win hollow. If only the 30,000 votes are rigged, it won't change the results, but since we know that some false counts got in there, it opens up the possibility for others. Is this the arc for next year, with the mystery slowly uncovered?

Despite this scandal, Peter's reputation is not damaged in my eyes. He may not tell Will to reveal the secret (who would?), but he doesn't ask him not to, either. It seems obvious that Peter has no knowledge of the rigging, so his hands are clean there.

Of course, that means Will (Josh Charles) does something shady, again. He's been a murky character at times, and the choice to tell the court about the false votes fall to him. I feel like his decision is not an easy one, as Alicia (Julianna Margulies) could be upset at him for exposing Peter, rather than running to him for comfort, so that would shoot himself in the foot with her. Yet, by protecting Peter, Will keeps Alicia's husband looking good to her. Neither choice will get him what he wants, so should he keep Alicia happy, or do what's right? He chooses Alicia's happiness, proving his feelings for her are real, even if he doesn't get her at this juncture.

Peter's other misstep, trying to intimidate and pay off Cristian (Yul Vazquez) to leave Jackie (Mary Beth Peil) alone, can be chalked up to a son protecting his mother. What's more, as funny as Cristian's handling of Peter is, it also hints that Peter's instincts about him could very well be correct.

Alicia is the titular character for good reason, and she has a couple of decisions to make in "What's in the Box?" First, should she renew her wedding vows to Peter, or try again with Will, who shows his continuing interest with a second kiss? Peter promises not to cheat on her again, and he seems sincere. They've spent a lot of time working on their marriage, and I don't think Alicia should throw that away for a guy she hasn't been able to make it work with twice in the past. Which is why I'm glad we don't see her go for Will this hour.

Second, should she stay at Lockhardt Gardner, or split off with Cary (Matt Czuchry) to form Florrick, Agos, and Associates? I think the episode does a great job with the fake out, making us think Alicia might be calling Will in the end, when really, she is telling Cary she is in. I'm glad that is revealed, rather than just showing the cryptic phone call. Alicia needs to do what's best, and that's get away from Will. I figure that's her deciding factor, though there's also the opportunity to begin something new here. I doubt Sweeney's opinion has much weight, even though we see him encourage the move.

With two firms next season, and Diane (Christine Baranski) presumably heading for the bench, the cast is likely to be split. For this reason, I'm glad that new investigator Robin (Jess Weixler) goes with Cary and Alicia, and Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) stay. I hate to see Will left by himself, and we're surely not done with stories set within Lockhardt Gardner. When Cary was by himself, he got far less screen time. I hope to not see that happen to a lead again.

The regrettable thing, though, is that Kalinda feels betrayed by Cary. Say what you want about Cary Agos, but he has handled this whole rebellion with grace and politeness, juggling others' various interests. He doesn't stab Alicia or Kalinda in the back. He does what he can to make everyone happy, while not allowing himself to be pushed around by a firm that hasn't been fair to him. I really hope Kalinda can be made to realize this, and since he won't be her boss, maybe they can even have a romantic relationship. That would be the best case scenario.

I can't help but anticipate next year, the momentum already set for a new and different season, full of surprises and ups and downs. The Good Wife will return to CBS next fall.

Magic City fails to spark

Starz's Magic City brought its first season to a close this weekend with "Time and Tide." Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is arrested for murder. Vera (Olga Kurylenko) has to try to save Ike's business deal, after he is escorted out of a meeting in handcuffs. Mob boss Ben Diamond (Danny Huston) catches Ike's son, Stevie (Steven Straight), having an affair with Ben's wife, Lily (Jessica Marais). Victor (Yul Vazquez) and Mercedes (Dominik Garcia-Lorido) deal with the death of a loved one. And none of this really excites.

There is something lacking about Magic City that is hard to pinpoint. It certainly isn't the sets or costumes, because the series presents a rich, vintage environment that looks stunning. It isn't the acting. Jeffrey Dean Morgan deserves the Emmys he won for Grey's Anatomy, and he is surrounded by a believable cast. And it's not lack of plot twists, because there is murder, intrigue, sex, and secrets aplenty. Then what exactly is it?

The simple truth is, even with all the right ingredients, television shows can still come out lackluster. As mentioned in my review of the first episode, there is just an utter lack of depth. Everything feels false, or slightly off. The tone and mood presented in each episode don't quite add up.

Take, for example, the Ben Diamond story in "Time and Tide." This is a truly murderous man, who thinks nothing of piling up the bodies in a quarry. There is some serious suspense when naked pictures of Lily and Stevie begin circulating. But there is little chance that Stevie will be killed off, at least not so early in Magic City's run, not the way the series sets itself up. Then, Ben actually does see the pictures! Instead of killing Lily and Stevie, though, he makes them have sex while he watches. Now, seeing as how he gets off on this, it's an interesting twist for a complex character, even though this is something Lily's character should have touched on before. But the Ben Diamond that has been presented would then kill these two afterwards, rather than risk his secret being exposed, or allowing them to get away with the betrayal. He doesn't.

Another thing that's odd is when Mercedes decides to quit her job as a maid and become a Pan Am stewardess. Besides feeling like she's about to spin-off into the canceled ABC series Pan Am, it's something not set up for her character. Then she sleeps with Danny (Christian Cooke), even though she's about to leave. And instead of leaving before the end of the hour, she stays and grieves her mother's death. So her entire store in "Time and Tide" is just convoluted and nonsensical.

The best representation of what I'm getting at is when Ike is arrested. Vera takes over the presentation, in a show of strength for her character. But then she is asked if she is seriously going to continue with this, after they all just watched Ike be led away. It's not like there's anything else she can or should be, but the entire thing is surreal, and just doesn't add up to a gripping, driven scene, as it should.

These false notes are what kills the series. It's still interesting and somewhat entertaining, despite an often slow pace. But it just doesn't quite resonate the way it should, or the way its peers on other networks do. Magic City could be something great, and because it's been given a second season, it may still be. Yet, the lack of risk taking and true authenticity are hurting it, and there needs to be some reworking if it is to be great.

Will I tune in next season? Yes. There is a slight draw here, and it's one that will hopefully be built upon.  And it's still better than a lot of what is on TV. It just hasn't met expectations yet.

Magic City will return next year to Starz. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published as Magic City fails to spark @TheTVKing.com