My two favorite TV shows are LOST and 24. I love these shows for so many reasons, not the least of which is their constant ability to keep me hooked through their best and worst moments. Each show had episodes that made me cry, that made me think, that kept me up, and that had me entertained above all else.
So when I heard NBC picked up a new show called "The Event" that many likened to LOST and 24 (or as one critic said, it's what would be the result of LOST and 24 having a baby) I had to check it out. Flashforward was the rightful heir to the LOST throne but unfortunately was cut short by short sighted ABC execs who didn't give it a fair shot and had no long term idea in mind. The trailer for "The Event" was mysterious, compelling, and and convincing. In need of a new drama, I decided to try the show out.
It's hard to judge based off one episode, but LOST and 24 had the two best pilot episodes I have ever seen. "The Event" was a tale of two halves, as the first 30 minutes fell well flat of what made love my two favorite show (the action, the character connections, the truly compelling drama) while the last half accomplished the main goal of any pilot: to get viewers to tune in next week.
To begin, the show was all over the place and many times I didn't have a clue where it wanted to go (again, hard to tell after one episode). This accusation seems hypocritical since LOST is built on flashbacks and flashforwards intertwined within the actual narrative, but that show did it tastefully and related it in a fashion that made sense when each episode/season/the show itself ended because of the characters. "The Event" was sloppy and at such an early stage in the show built a confusing narrative will take considerable patience from viewers to follow. We caught sight of so many characters but had no idea why we should care about them as their personal lives were strung together in and out of a major event that we are never made aware of (until the end... I think). The show built little connection and many of the storylines felt contrived and forced.
The show features a Cuban President (Elias Martinez) who follows a lot of the same ideologies as President Obama. He is trying to pass a new clinic bill (health care bill anyone?) and is trying to release some prisoners (Guatanamo?) The plot felt way too close to 24. This man bears an even more striking resemblance to President Palmer, ideologically speaking. Although, as a 24 fan, it was nice to see the son of Victor Drazen (Andre Drazen) from Season 1, as well as Juliet Burke's ex husband who gets run over by a bus (LOST) on the show as the Director of National Intelligence, as we see the beginning of unrest in the President's party among his closest allies (again, shocking).
With that said, the show picked up in the second half by moving past the seemingly misplaced flashbacks.We see a clearer image of the show's plot and hints of the conspiracy leaking all over. Jason Ritter's acting was one of the the highlight of the show, and hopefully we grow to care about the characters, something Flashforward severely failed in. The cliffhanger was as crazy as many that happened on LOST, and will have many tuning in.
Hopefully it was just the premiere that jumped around to establish a narrative that will be followed, because I can see some potential in this show. The show seems to be based on government conspiracies and stuff of that nature so it's trying to build itself as a 24 type show with the general mysteriousness of a show like LOST. The problem is, people might not be as patient with this show, so if their goal is to be LOST and confuse the fan-base week after week, this show will be joining the scrap heap soon. Epic shows like 24 and LOST are a dying breed, as people cannot be relied on to follow a show with such a commitment. Ratings for shows like V and Flashforward were extremely low. It's hard to invest so much of your time into a show that requires the big picture to understand week after week, so clarity will need to be a big part of this show. With Flashforward getting the quick boot after one compelling season, The Event might be digging its own grave. I guess we'll have to see next week.
Also, a warning for future TV shows: STOP REFERRING TO YOURSELVES AS THE NEXT "LOST" OR "24". Same goes for reviewers. Those two shows were epic and groundbreaking, shows that imprinted themselves in TV and will stay there forever. They changed the rules on what television could be and how it could operate. Trying to write the next LOST or 24 is a death sentence, because the comparisons will never live up to the hype. Try something original, and let LOST and 24 live on in history
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