Review: MISSING, 1.1 – "Pilot"

Liam Neeson Ashley Judd plays a retired CIA agent whose teenage daughter son is abducted while on a backpacking holiday summer internship in Paris Rome. Yes, it's patently obvious that ABC's mid-season spy drama Missing owes a huge debt to 2008's sleeper hit Taken, with the similarities being so stark I'm wondering if a lawsuit's being prepared. This show will probably only escape court action because, well, Taken itself wasn't the first movie to put a former spook's family in jeopardy.

Choosing to ignore the rip-off that's taken place, whether creator Gregory Poirier will ever admit to it or not, Missing's pilot is one of those fast-paced and competent experiences that doesn't totally dazzle or get your blood pumping. It goes through the motions well enough, and Judd makes for an effective ass-kicker in the Jason Bourne mould (she even uses domestic weapons, like a coat hanger, to disarm baddies). Indeed, when it's not copying Taken this show's other inspiration is the estimable Bourne movies—as there's also a crack team of CIA agents trying to stop Rebecca Winstone (Judd) from continuing her one-woman search/rampage across Europe, led by quietly sympathetic Deputy Chief Dax Miller (Cliff Curtis). The reason she doesn't seek their help finding Michael (Nick Eversman) is that Rebecca's husband Paul (Sean Bean) was killed in a car-bombing 10 years ago, and since then she's learned to "trust no one".

This pilot certainly has a sense of urgency and is competently directed by Stephen Shill (Dexter), Judd feels like a good female action lead. (It's about time she left the dying embers of her film career to cool and move into TV, too.) The production also doesn't cheat viewers through bluescreen, with genuine location work taking place in both Rome and Paris. The mystery about why Rebecca's 18-year-old son has been taken, a decade after her husband was murdered, is also fairly intriguing... but is it captivating enough to sustain viewers over a whole season, and perhaps even longer? We'll have to see how things develop, although it doesn't help that Michael gets kidnapped before you've formed any connection with his character.

While I have doubts over Missing's longevity, an initial half-season commitment feels very wise on ABC's part. I personally hope the story is concluded this series and, if the show has proven to be a hit, returns with a different ten-part abduction case next year.

written by Gregory Poirier / directed by Stephen Shill / 15 March 2012 / ABC

TRAILER: Prometheus (2012)

There's very little I can say without reducing myself to fanboy jibbering, but obviously this is the official trailer for this summer's biggest sci-fi ticket: Prometheus. It's from director Ridley Scott, back playing in the Alien universe he created in 1979 (this being a prequel without the famous xenomorphs, we've been led to believe), and it looks absolutely stunning.

Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron all star in this. Not excited about their presences? Just look at that phenomenal Giger-y production design, hear the pulse-quickening music, imagine how this story might knit itself into the mysteries of Alien that have gone unexplained for over 30 years (like the identity of that elephant-like "Space Jockey", or the origin of the horseshoe-shaped spaceship the Nostromo crew investigated).

If you're into sci-fi and still not excited, check your pulse.

PROMETHEUS premieres 1 June (UK), 7 June (AUS) & 8 June (US)

Channel 4 not taking Ricky Gervais sitcom DEREK to series

Ricky Gervais' latest sitcom Derek, his first for Channel 4, hasn't been picked up for a full series by the broadcaster. Instead, the already-filmed pilot (which stars Gervais as an "outsider" called Derek Noakes who works in a retirement home) will be shown as a "one-off comedy drama" by BAFTA on 27 March. Tickets cost £7.50 and the screening will be followed by a Q&A with Gervais himself.

The decision not to turn Derek into a fully-fledged sitcom doesn't surprise me. I was astonished even a pilot was filmed, because the character of Derek (who appeared in one of Gervais' sketches in his pre-Office days) felt like a lazy and uncomfortable imitation of mentally/physically-handicapped people. Apparently the character was softened for the purposes of this pilot, but Channel 4 perhaps didn't want to deal with the likely controversy and claims of bad taste—particularly so soon after Gervais' self-made PR nightmare over his inappropriate use of the word "mong" on Twitter.

It hasn't been a good year for Gervais so far, beyond his hosting of the Golden Globes (and even that was a paler shadow of the previous year.) There are currently strong rumours the BBC are about to axe his sitcom Life's Too Short, following similarly bad reviews from US critics during its run on HBO.

Maybe Derek will be shown as part of Channel 4's Comedy Showcase season later this year, then we can judge for ourselves...

Update: Channel have announced they'll show Derek in April, and perhaps rethink their decision based on audience/critical response.

TRAILER: Dark Shadows (2012)

The first trailer for Tim Burton's Dark Shadows has been released, and it looks wonderful. I've been a fan of Burton's since Beetlejuice, but his recent output has been too mainstream and oafish for me (with the exception of Sweeney Todd), so I'm glad he's back on that familiar, dark, gothic turf. Even better, this is an all-out supernatural screwball comedy! When was the last time we had a Burton comedy? Planet Of The Apes? Low blow, sorry. It must be 1996's Mars Attacks!, of course.

Dark Shadows is based on a cult TV soap (1966-71) that aired in the UK on The Sci-Fi Channel in the early-'90s. I didn't see it, so have no clear idea how faithful this adaptation is. But the answer appears to be "not very" according to various grumbles from Dark Shadows fans. Maybe Burton's simply taking inspiration from the spooky soap's ideas and concept, but doing his own thing. I don't care either way; I just know that this looks like a huge amount of fun to me.

And look at its amazing cast. Johnny Depp, Jonny Lee Miller, the lovely Michelle Pfeiffer (reunited with Burton after Batman Returns), Helena Bonham Carter (no surprise), Jackie Earle Haley (awe-some), Christopher Lee (horror legend), Eva Green (perfect) and Chloe Grace Moretz (only a matter of time before she worked with Burton). Those actors alone deserve my ticket money at the box office.

I also like the timeslip idea here, with Barnabus (Depp) transformed into a vampire by a witch (Green) and buried alive, only to awaken in 1972. (From our 2012 perspective, this remains a period piece.) It's like someone merged The Addams Family with the '90s Brady Bunch parody movies, then threw in vampires and monsters. I hope the movie's as entertaining as this trailer.

DARK SHADOWS premieres 11 May 2012 (US/UK)

BBC developing sci-fi comedy V SIGN

The BBC have a brand new sci-fi comedy on the way, written by Steve Turner (Tracy Beaker). V Sign concerns a group of humans fighting the universe's most inept extra-terrestrial invaders. The pilot, to be filmed in Northern Ireland by production companies Retort and Green Inc, will be directed by Ed Tracy (Fonejacker).

Jon Rolph, Retort's Managing Director:

"I'm delighted that we're getting a chance to show the class of Northern Ireland talent on screen and off. A global alien invasion isn't usually the best way to start a collaboration, but we hope that V Sign's hapless visitors will spearhead many more projects to come from Green Inc and Retort."

Stephen Stewart, Green Inc representative:

"We have several projects in development with Retort, and are very excited that our first successful project is V Sign. Steve Turner's script and the world he has created excited us the first time we read it."

Obviously it's far too early to make any sensible judgement about V Sign, but the premise sounds like it could be funny. I hope this attracts a good cast, and it will certainly be nice to have a sci-fi comedy back on the BBC--a sub-genre that rarely gets a chance on television. It's strange, because The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and Red Dwarf were two of BBC2's biggest hits in the '80s and '90s, respectively.

COMMUNITY, 3.11 – "Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts"

After an unfortunate and unwelcome mid-season hiatus, Community is back with the second-half of it third season. "Urban Matrimony And The Sandwich Arts" was an intentionally "normal" episode of the comedy, which reminded me of its first season—back when the show was at least trying to draw that big mainstream audience, instead of tailor itself to the whims and desires of the hardcore geek crowd. I enjoy both sides of Community's psyche, but appreciate it when the show takes a step back from gimmickry and focuses on more everyday stories.

This episode's focus on Shirley's (Yvette Nicole Brown) wedding was a nice idea, and gave the often underused Brown some lovely moments. It was particularly amusing to discover that Britta (Gillian Jacobs) is a natural born wedding planner and flower arranger; to see another example of Jeff's (Joel McHale) fear of commitment rear its ugly head; and to watch Pierce (Chevy Chase) turn himself into a serious entrepreneur (with dyed hair), to help Shirley promote her sandwich business to the Dean (Jim Rash). Pierce's "trouser bench" sequence was possibly the highlight of the show ("will someone please call all the ambulances?")

Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi) also took a break from their crazy lives, typified with an unseen trip to their homemade "Dreamatorium" (i.e. their Star Trek-style holodeck for the imagination), and spent a large chunk of their day trying to be normal. Interesting that being "normal" was leading to Abed scoring a date with a hot blonde at Shirley's wedding party, until Troy lured him back with Inspector SpaceTime quotes. Are we supposed to be happy or sad that Troy/Abed are almost certainly sheltering themselves from a more "normal" existence that includes dating girls?

A good episode, if not quite as laugh-out-loud hilarious or inventive as Community can be. But this was probably a good episode for the show to come back with, as it may have felt more welcoming to any newcomers who decided to give Community a try—if only to get their badgering friends/family to stop singing the show's praises. I hope those people decide to come back, if only to give Community a much-needed bump in the ratings to secure a fourth season. Or will next week's episode be another wild and crazy extravaganza of in-jokes and nerdy references only a small minority of the audience will appreciate? At this stage in the show's life, does that even matter? Maybe it's for the best if Community simply plays to its strengths and speaks to its core fanbase, until whenever the curtain has to fall.

Who wants to be normal?

written by Vera Santamaria / directed by Kyle Newacheck / 15 March 2012 / NBC

State of the Blog: live-tweeting TWILIGHT

Hi, everyone! Just checking in with another State of the Blog post. Sorry there's still less content around here than usual, but I think the blog's in the process of restructuring. I'm not sure what it's turning into, but hopefully something you all still want to visit and get involved with.

I'm still intending to be ruthless about what I choose to review every week, which is why I recently cut Walking Dead and Spartacus loose. (Both are shows I'm watching, but find myself struggling to offer new opinions on.) The good news is I'll probably dip into these shows occasionally, and offer more cumulative thoughts on a half-dozen or so episodes. So stay tuned for some overall thoughts on Walking Dead after this Sunday's finale in the US. I know some people will be happy about that, given the shocking events that have happened recently.

TV shows that fewer critics are reviewing online will probably get preferential treatment, too. This is one reason why I'm covering Dirk Gently and, to a lesser extent, Being Human. I'm not sure what's happening with Fringe, but reviews will probably continue every week... but in the shorter form I started awhile ago.

This may free up time for box-set reviews, reviews of non-scripted TV shows, and a greater variety of posts. We'll have to see. (I have a vague plan to review the remastered Star Trek's first season on Blu-ray, for example. Anyone up for that?) I'm never very good at predicting the future of my own blog, as I'm sure you've guessed by now!

Just know this: for various reasons, I no longer have the time to crank out as many episodic reviews as I used to. This will probably be a good thing in the long run, because the TV I am reviewing will be content I'm truly passionate about.

However, you can read my 140-character missives on various shows via Twitter, if you're so inclined. That's generally the place I'll comment on stuff like Alcatraz and Being Human USA, which would otherwise go ignored here. I also live-tweet bad movies from time to time, such as the recent Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1, which inspired the following tweets:

Bella could name her baby Jacob and that soft-touch Edward would probably go along with it. #twilight

In this movie it's the white men who CAN jump. Tough luck, Native American wolf pack. #twilight

The ironic thing about the safe-sex moral is knowing this is directed by a man whose last name's nearly "condom". #twilight (Bill Condon)

How did this not win an Oscar for best special effects? They made Kristen Stewart look THINNER. Kristen. Stewart. #twilight

CGI werewolves talking telepathically. Its like Narnia, only made by animators who don't like doing mouth movements. #twilight

How and why is a dead man still producing semen? #twilight (There's a sentence I didn't think I'd ever write.)

I bet some animators had a great week doing that "Jacob-werewolf attacks Edward" fantasy shot. #twilight

Did they just forget vampires are supposed to sparkle in the sunlight? The guy's in South America and not a shimmer. #twilight

Bella Cullen is a horrible name. I'd have suggested double-barrelling, but Swan-Cullen sounds like the brutal slaughter of birds. #twilight

The two most miserable people in the history of cinema are partying in Rio. #twilight

It's still raining. Taylor Lautner's taken his shirt off. 55 seconds in. #twilight

So yes, follow me if you found that entertaining. In the meantime, feel free to leave your comments about anything relating to the current state of DMD and my plans for the future. I'll try to answer what I can.

LUCK cancelled over animal deaths

In an extraordinary move, HBO has cancelled their horse-racing drama Luck, despite ordering a second season after the pilot premiered to 3.3 million subscribers.

The cable network issued this statement about their decision:

"It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series Luck. Safety is always of paramount concern. We maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horseracing anywhere with many fewer incidents than occur in racing or than befall horses normally in barns at night or pastures. While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won't in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision. We are immensely proud of this series, the writing, the acting, the filmmaking, the celebration of the culture of horses, and everyone involved in its creation."

Michael Mann & David Milch, executive producers:

"The two of us loved this series, loved the cast, crew and writers. This has been a tremendous collaboration and one that we plan to continue in the future."

Three horses have died on Luck's southern Californian set since production began in 2010. The latest incident happened while filming season 2's second episode, when an injured horse had to be euthanized after rearing up and falling backwards while being led to its stable. HBO were already tense about the previous deaths, and were reportedly considering making Luck without any horse scenes (possibly relying on archive footage from actual horse races?), but have now chosen to simply end the series.

I can't remember the last time a TV show was shutdown over something like this, so it's an intriguing and unusual situation. For fans of Luck, it must be disappointing the production can't guarantee the safety of the horses they use, resulting in the premature demise of the show, but I can't blame HBO for making this tough decision. It's not good publicity if innocent horses are dying to create a drama only a minority of people actually watch.

Speaking as someone who's only just started watching Luck, maybe I'll now wait until someone tells me if season 1 wraps things up half-decently...

Any thoughts on this?

DIRK GENTLY, 1.2 - episode two

It pleases me how Dirk Gently appears to be at the centre of a Venn diagram, sandwiched between Doctor Who and Sherlock. There's just so much crossover in terms of ideas, tone and talent. This episode's written by Matt Jones (who wrote Who's "The Impossible Planet" two-parter), and guest-stars Bill Paterson (who played a scientist in Who's "Victory Of The Daleks"). It was also more obviously geared towards science-fiction than last week's premiere, and that suits the show better than when it plays things too Agatha Christie.

This week, Dirk (Stephen Mangan) returned to the Cambridge alma mater he first learned about the theory of holism, St. Cedd's, before he was unfortunately expelled. There, he was reacquainted with mentor Professor Jericho (Paterson), shortly before his ex-teacher was murdered following the theft of a pioneering automaton called Jane. Could the killing be connected to an artificial intelligence called Max, and the Professor's comatose daughter? Of course it could. The one frustration with this episode is how obviously it dangled the beginnings of every thread in front of our eyes, before slowly connecting the dots.

I thought it was fairly obvious what had happened to Professor Jericho, although this episode managed to remain entertaining because it contained some of the show's funniest moments, and a sense that Mangan's beginning to deeply enjoy being Dirk There was also an excellent performance from Lydia Wilson as a chip-loving machine inhabiting a human brain. Her odd mannerisms and unusual choice of a Scandinavian accent raised the character beyond its basic clichés. Her love story with Dirk was surprisingly touching, and it was also interesting to see a softer side to Dirk come out here—especially after my complaint last week that Dirk and Macduff don't always feel like three-dimensional people.

Helen Baxendale returned as Susan from the 2010 pilot, but I'm so keen on her character because she's mostly a buzz kill. I guess she gives Macduff something to do (i.e. a person to talk to who isn't Dirk, often about Dirk), but she's another character who needs some colouring. At least there was a sign she's capable of changing her bad opinion of Dirk, however short-lived, and this is a counterpoint to Macduff's growing belief that Dirk's a bonafide unconventional genius.

This was a really entertaining and deft hour, although a 20-minute trim would have really helped matters once again... but you can't really hate a story that weaves together AI, robotics, and online gaming. Good guest-stars and growing confidence helped make this feel like a possible turning point for the series. It may have a low budget, but that needn't be a barrier to imagination. If the rest of Dirk Gently can tap into this story's sense of brisk creativity, I'll be very happy. I just hope more skill can be employed with the week's mysteries, because the problem with the show's "interconnectedness" gimmick is how it can be used as a crutch for a writer when stretching plausibility to bringing disparate ideas together.

Asides

• You may recognise Lydia Wilson from the recent Channel 4 drama Black Mirror. She played the kidnapped Princess Susannah in the Charlie Brooker-penned "The National Anthem". She also appeared in South Riding, where she played Muriel Carne, and the movie Never Let Me Go.

written by Matt Jones / directed by Tom Shankland / 12 March 2012 / BBC Four

SHERLOCK series 3 filming 2013

Executive-producer Beryl Virtue has confirmed to the BBC's in-house magazine Ariel that Sherlock won't start filming its third series until "early 2013". Given the turnaround we've experienced with the previous two series, I predict this means Sherlock will be back in autumn 2013 (or perhaps late-summer, echoing series 1).

Sherlock unfortunately has a very long development process; mainly because co-creator Steven Moffat is so busy most of the year running Doctor Who, Martin Freeman has resumed shooting The Hobbit in New Zealand, and Benedict Cumberbatch's film career is about to skyrocket (he's currently playing the villain in JJ Abrams' Star Trek 2, for instance).

Thankfully, everyone involved is very keen to make more Sherlock, so this show isn't going away anytime soon. Fans will just have a probable 18-month wait for further adventures.