Author: Ross Ruediger (Page 14 of 16)

Journeyman 1.11: “Home by Another Way”

December 11, 2007 /

Christmas episodes of most any series seem required to deliver a case of the warm fuzzy-wuzzies, and “Home by Another Way” was no exception. It also covered the loss of employment at the most critical time of the year, and by doing it through the newspaper business – a notorious high wire act as of late – it managed to make something of a statement. A third, almost minor storyline involved Livia being dragged away from a date back in the year 1948. Probably the episode’s greatest achievement is how it effortlessly strings together all of these elements as if they were lights on a tidy little tree.

Early on, Hugh informs Dan that the publisher of the paper is cutting 25% of the writing staff before the end of the fiscal year. Turns out Dan’s a casualty (seemingly due in part to the publisher’s awareness that his work hasn’t been up to snuff as of late). Before he knows it, the flash occurs and he’s back in 1979 – Christmas Eve, at the paper and a party is in full swing. He isn’t sure why he’s there though. Two events are going to occur within the next 24 hours: the paper’s publisher (the father of the guy in the present) will die before the night’s over under mysterious circumstances and also Dan’s father will leave his family on Christmas Day. Both men are of course at the party and Dan isn’t sure which is his mission. Enter Livia, looking stunning in a long, red dress.

Back in the present, Katie – with some help from Jack – is trying desperately to prepare a nice Christmas evening for family and friends while battling the ghost of Aeden Bennett, as well as Dan and Jack’s mother. Mom puts a pretty fine point on it when she tells Katie that no matter what her current marriage and child may mean, she hurt Jack once upon a time and she’s not about to forget that. Of all the elements in this episode, Grandma was probably the least effective and most clichéd.

Dan shows up briefly in the present – just long enough to enlist Jack’s help in discovering the details of the publisher’s death back in ’79. When he returns to the swingin’ party, he gets into a tiff with the son who will someday be his publisher, only for dad to dress down son in front of the entire gathering. And of course there was also the B-plot of Dan dealing with his father and trying to convince him that maybe he shouldn’t leave his wife and kids the next morning. And in the present Jack has found out his girlfriend in preggers, and in the past Dan discovers Livia’s got a guy back in the ‘40s.

Writing about “Journeyman” has become quite the task. Every time I sit down to recap, it becomes all the more apparent how well done the show is, given how many elements there are in every episode, and how they typically gel into something fairly easy to follow. In the end, Dan managed to save everyone’s jobs at the paper and also to convince his Dad to at least tell his sons that his leaving isn’t their fault. It’s great how the show manages to allow Dan to retain the knowledge of the timelines he alters; in the “new” present, Jack has a vivid memory of their father saying goodbye and telling them he felt like a freak in his own household. “Home by Another Way” was something of a calm before what will likely be next week’s two-part storm.

Here we are – two episodes away from what may be the end of “Journeyman”…or a pretty strong beginning.

Journeyman, TV, TV Dramas, TV Sci-Fi

“Tin Man”: Part Three

December 5, 2007 /

Anybody who made it all the way through to the third night of “Tin Man” was likely most intrigued by a certain moment that occurred about half way through the installment. It was the moment when the entire affair took on a new meaning, not as a remake or a reimagining – but as a sequel of sorts to any previous “Oz” saga. DG discovers the Gray Gale that she’s been searching for – which hold the coveted Emerald of the Eclipse – is some sort of spirit manifestation of Dorothy Gale, the first traveler to make it from our side to the O.Z. She’s also DG’s ancestor and the person after whom she was named. To be sure, this was a polarizing moment where I suspect viewers were either riveted to finish the piece, or it was the final straw where they turned it off in a fit of disgust. DG even says, “Of course – the Gray Gale!” — the audience probably mouthed the words along with her.

DG also met her father (unfortunately, I cannot locate the actor’s or character’s instantly forgettable name), a guy who also came to the O.Z. from Nebraska – via an air balloon. Glitch’s real name is Ambrose and the guy was clearly a freakin’ genius when he had all his faculties. (Was I the only person waiting for a scene where his brain was placed back into his head?) And the show went through the motions by proving Raw was courageous and that Cain had a heart — which was demonstrated by his attitude toward Zero (Callum Keith Rennie at his most Daniel Craigish). The Mystic Man (Richard Dreyfuss) did not come back, so I guess he’s dead. I was also wrong in my prediction that Cain and DG would hook up. A big part of my reasoning for that was that there needed to be a more concrete reason behind calling the series “Tin Man.” Cain was certainly the most engaging of DG’s companions, but why name the show after him? In the end, he didn’t seem to be any more important than the other two guys. I guess it just sounded cool.

The big finale was not so much a letdown, but really just a mixture of people chasing after a Macguffin and doing away with the witch was massive style over substance. It’s not that it didn’t work, it’s just that I was expecting a little more after all the buildup.

So was “Tin Man” worth its weight in emeralds or not? After three nights of gobsmacking effects & production design (by TV standards anyway), pretty good acting, and a script that was all over the place, my verdict is that it was certainly worth viewing. Will Sci Fi get a series out of it? Given their new scripted series track record as of late (“Painkiller Jane” and “Flash Gordon”), it would indeed behoove the network to greenlight a series based on the further adventures of DG in the O.Z. And the ratings were off the charts for Sci Fi; they’ve declared it the “Most-Watched Event in Sci Fi History” and the “Top Cable Miniseries of 2007.”

Here are some stats from a Sci Fi press release sent out today:

During its three-night primetime run (December 2-4 @ 9-11pm), “Tin Man” averaged a 3.6 HH rating/3.4 million HHs, delivering 5.3 million total viewers (P2+), more than 2.9 million viewers P25-54 and 2.7 million viewers P18-49.

In total viewers (P2+), “Tin Man” sailed past Sci Fi’s previous records – “TAKEN” (5.0 million) and “Dune” (4.6 million).

The six-hour, three-night event drew an even 50-50 split among male and female viewers.

“Tin Man” made Sci Fi #1 in primetime (8-11pm) among all entertainment cable networks for all three nights of its broadcast – averaging more than 2.3 million P25-54s and more than 2.1 million P18-49s. This beats the #2 network across the same three-day span by +77% and +40%, respectively.

In other words, expect to see more stories set in the O.Z. And if it isn’t too comical a move, they might want to consider naming the show “The O.Z.” – unless, of course, Zooey doesn’t sign on for the series and McDonough’s Cain becomes the main character. If you didn’t get to see it, Sci Fi will be rerunning the entire mini on Sunday, Dec. 9th starting at 5 PM (EST).

Movies, News, TV, TV Action, TV Dramas, TV Sci-Fi

“Tin Man”: Part Two

December 4, 2007 /

Part Two of “Tin Man” slowed down the pace a little bit and had that definite “we’re in the middle of this thing” sort of feel to it – until near the end, in which the entire thing spun around with a pretty clever plot twist.

After the seeming destruction of Cain (Neil McDonough), the capture of DG (Zooey Deschanel) and Raw (Raul Trujillo) by Azkedellia, and the battering of Glitch (Alan Cumming), the proceedings winded down for about the first hour. But once the team reformed (with some help from the duplicitous Toto), the group set off their journey to find the Emerald. Boy, the whole thing sure sounds cheesy as hell when it’s typed out, doesn’t it?

Another thing really noticeable in Part Two was a definite upswing in the humor department, thanks to Alan Cumming especially, who shone here. In fact, the whole thing became very character driven with each of the principals finding out more about themselves and what they’re capable of. Cain’s discovery that his wife was indeed dead was heartbreaking, yet it left the door open for a romance between him and DG, which I think is most sure to happen. Glitch’s finding out about his past – that he was an aid to the Queen – was another great moment. And what about the death of the Mystic Man (Richard Dreyfuss)? Surely the great and powerful cannot be toast?

Speaking of “the great and powerful”, this episode seemed to cram in more homages to the original “Oz.” For instance, the scene where Raw was being attacked and chased by the winged monkeys was so reminiscent of the scene from the Garland film where the Lion runs from Oz, down the hallway, that I couldn’t help but smile. Even the way they’ve got Raw dressed is a clear spin on Bert Lahr’s costume. Later in a flashback, when DG and Azkedellia are children, they speak of the time DG tricked a tree into throwing apples at them and then, as they continue their walk through the forest, they worry about lions, tigers and bears.

But everything came to a head when it was revealed to DG that Azkedellia is not who she says she is. Instead, she’s possessed by a witch whom the two girls accidentally freed – and it’s a situation for which DG blames herself.

I’ve no idea where this is all going to end up, but let’s hope it’s somewhere magical.

“Tin Man”: Part One

December 3, 2007 /

Like most anyone over the age of 30, I grew up on a yearly diet of network showings of “The Wizard of Oz.” Loved the movie so much as a child that I read the book by L. Frank Baum when I was 11 or so. Someone who fits into such a category should instantly be wary of SciFi’s new miniseries “Tin Man,” right? Yet I’ve never viewed “Oz” as such a sacred cow that reworkings of the material are considered an outrage. If anything there’s a wealth of fantastic material that Baum created that hasn’t been adequately adapted into live action movies and/or TV. Yet as far back as the ‘70s musical “The Wiz,” the original story has been blatantly reworked into new forms. Even David Lynch took a bold, peculiar stab at it in 1990 with “Wild at Heart.” And “Tin Man” wants to have another go at it? Great, go for it – but count me as someone who’d still like to see a series of straightforward movie adaptations ala “Harry Potter” or “Narnia.” Indeed, 1985’s “Return to Oz” is probably more faithful to Baum’s vision than the classic Judy Garland film.

The producers of “Tin Man” certainly want to get on my good side by casting Zooey Deschanel (Trillian from “The Hitchhiker’s Guide” movie, amongst many other credits) as the lead character, DG. And bringing guys like Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough and Richard Dreyfuss onboard certainly doesn’t hurt. But casting aside, the story needed to be a good one.

Having only seen Part One of Three thus far, the results were mostly engaging. It’d be easy to write off “Tin Man” right away as having strayed too far from the source material, but as I viewed the first installment, it slowly seduced and pulled me in. It seems that one of its biggest strengths, in fact, is exactly how far it’s strayed from the original work. “Tin Man” seems to be less fantasy and more sci-fi. Rather than being an adaptation of Baum’s novel, it’s instead a piece that takes cues and iconography from the source material to set up its own brand new universe, referred to here as the O.Z. (the Outer Zone). Turns out that DG (Dorothy Gale) is actually the sister of Azkadellia (Kathleen Robertson), the O.Z.’s version of the Wicked Witch (although she seems to owe even more to “Narnia’s” White Witch). To protect DG from her sister, she was sent to live in our world under the care of a couple who were actually robots from the O.Z. As if her heritage isn’t enough of a departure, each other classic icon has been given a spin as well. McDonough’s Tin Man is actually a cop out for revenge for the killing of his family. The sequence where he’s released from an iron maiden of sorts – after having to endure years of viewing a repeated holographic depiction of the murder of his family – is chilling and effective. Cumming’s Glitch has a zipper on his head to mark the spot where valuable info was taken out (brains). Raw, the lion figure, is of a race that’s telepathic (this old school “Doctor Who” fan was reminded of the time sensitive Tharils from “Warriors’ Gate”). Dreyfuss’ drug-addled Mystic Man seemed even more of a clueless charlatan than anything out of the movies or books. The Munchkin city smacked of Endor and Ewoks. Yeah, “Tin Man” is getting its influence from material far outside of the work of L. Frank Baum.

The final half hour devolved into a lot of action and I’d need to give that section another once over before commenting. Truth be told, the first installment covered so much ground, that I can’t even begin to imagine where it’s all going if it keeps up at this pace. You know what “Tin Man’s” biggest disappointment thus far is? The winged monkeys, which just go to show that CGI can never replace little people in creepy makeup and costumes.

Movie Dramas, Movies, Pilots, TV, TV Action, TV Sci-Fi

Journeyman 1.10: “Blowback”

November 27, 2007 /

For anyone who’s been following the past week’s off-screen “Journeyman” drama – much of which was inspired by our own Will Harris’ interview with creator Kevin Falls – this week’s episode probably packed an even bigger punch than usual. It was written by Falls himself, which alone seemed to rack the tension up above the norm. I wondered how many people may have tuned in for the first time last night after possibly hearing about the show this week? Or how many newbies may have tuned in because a friend made them watch it?

Even being the second half of a two-parter, the action felt fairly standalone once you realized the danger present in the form of Aeden Bennett, who shows up and promptly shoots Dan in the kitchen. But then Dan disappears…

He finds himself in 1980 at the house of a child. The promos pretty much gave away the identity of the child (a young Bennett) and while Dan wrestles with what he assumes is an abuse situation, back in the present, Bennett concocts a scheme to get Katie to the house.

Again, the show skillfully weaved back and forth between past and present and I think this is an episode that would come across even stronger on a repeat viewing. Back in ’80, Dan (still bleeding) makes it to a hospital and Livia appears to get him through that hurdle. There’s a tender scene between the pair in which she asserts that without her initial presence in his life, he and Katie would not be together, therefore, they’re “meant to be.” I’m wondering if Livia wasn’t jumping the gun a little there, because without Katie, the current Dan/Livia dynamic might not be as tight either. To quote Doctor Who’s “Blink” episode, “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey…”

Another great moment – Jack finally saw Livia! So no more can Jack be in the dark as to what’s going on. He’s in the time travel loop, so to speak. And what of Agent Garrity (Paul Schulze), who was also shot and seemingly killed by Bennett? Was that swept under the carpet or what? Is the guy still alive somewhere? I’m sticking with “if there wasn’t a dead body at the end, then he isn’t dead,” until I see differently. And is/was he indeed operating as a rogue FBI agent as Dan’s boss, Hugh (Brian Howe) seemed to discover? And isn’t a pizza sandwich about the nastiest thing you’ve ever heard of?

“Journeyman’s” taking next week off (I’ll still be here though, blogging Sci Fi’s “Tin Man” miniseries), but it will be back on Dec. 10th with Episode 11, “Home by Another Way.” Will that be all we’re going to get if NBC can’t find a place for 12 on the schedule? Hopefully, with all the commotion this week, NBC will figure out a way to play fair for all the fans. At this point they’d be silly not to. And who knows – we may even get a back 9 order within the next few weeks.

Journeyman, TV Action, TV Dramas, TV Sci-Fi

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