Extant - The Ratings Were Wrong...and Here's Why!

OK Mystery solved! I know why the numbers for Extant were low and it’s not what you think.   

I set up my PVR for the series premiere of Extant and was insanely excited for this new Steven Spielberg/Hale Berry work of genius.  The trailers were exciting and intriguing and based on those I can’t believe that it was not at the very top of the ratings chart this week.  However, it became clearer when I set up the PVR and the description for Extant said the following:

2 words come to mind after reading that description: Seriously Boring.

It looks as though this synopsis was stolen ALMOST word for word from the CBS page. The deletion of the word "thrilling" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thrilling) and the addition of the last sentence would have drastically altered who (and how many people) turned into this show.

CBS:  “In a thrilling drama, Berry will play an astronaut who returns home from a year-long solo mission in space and tries to reconnect with her husband and son in their everyday life. Her experiences in space and home lead to events that ultimately will change the course of human history.”

What potential viewers need to know is that Extant:

• …is not a female "reconnecting" drama
• …is a sci-fi masterpiece like only Spielberg can achieve
• …has a cast of brilliant actors
• ....is reminiscent of “Encounters of the Third Kind”

Extant boasts a huge cast of mega stars:  HalleBerry, Goran Visnjic, Camryn Manheim and one of the most talented young actors currently on the TV screen Pierce Gagnon.  I urge you to share this review and undo the misconception the PVR guide may have created!

I was expecting Extant to be awesome …and it Extraordinary!

Justified – Season 1 – Episode 1 - My first requested review!

 Justified is a crime drama set in rural Kentucky. It stars Timothy Olyphant (still not completely clear on how to pronounce that but since I am writing, you can pronounce it any way you like!)

Having entered into its fifth season in January of 2014 on FX, the Network CEO John Landgraf has now confirmed that there will be a sixth and final season. 

Given the amount of time that someone just starting this show will have to invest, it’s wise to get a review first!  It’s what I am here for; and given that you will probably want to watch this show, I will make the review short – you have 13 episodes a season to watch (times 4.5 seasons), so you are already short on time!

Acting – Timothy Olyphant – he has been in everything - and is great in everything.  With over 50 credits to his name on IMDB, he even made “I Am Number Four” bearable. I loved him in The Crazies!

Story – to be honest, this is a bit been-there-done-that for me; small town guy returning to his old haunts and dealing with all his old buddies... but now as a US Marshall – we all know this has been done to death.  I think the redeeming thing here is the quality of the series, Justified is really well done and authentic.

My only complaint?  (you knew I would have one) is Walton Goggins – who plays Boyd Crowder – has a full set of gorgeous veneers when he flashes his evil grin.  In backwoods Kentucky where they all still use rotary phones he has managed to find a fantastic dentist? Really?

Overall – great show, great cast and worth investing the time.

Bloodlines – the Backdoor Spinoff Holds Its Own

I skipped ahead this week in Supernatural (I am only about half way through this season) to watch the new “backdoor spinoff” Bloodlines.  This new possible series stars Nathaniel Buzolic – who is no stranger to the small screen.  You may remember him from Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars with smaller roles in the new CW series The Originals as well as his 2008 TV role in Out of the Blue.

The supporting cast all have similar backgrounds and you will recognize most of the faces from CW-ish shows. My main reason for tuning in was Sean Faris.  Although you may not be familiar with his name, you will know his face and he holds his own as a main character.  Faris would be my first choice for a replacement for Jared Padelecki should the Winchesters ever suffer a casualty.  Boyish and charming with an easy evil smile which makes him a likeable character no matter which side he falls on. Think Damon from Vampire Diaries.

The overall feel of Bloodlines was very much in line with its parent show Supernatural right down to the kickass soundtrack.  Bloodlines was full of action, characters that drew me in and a storyline that is strangely fresh in this day of overdone vampire/warewolf shows.

The show had one drawback and to be honest if it’s not fixed, it will be the death of this bloodline; Lucien Laviscount. This character is breathy, fake and unsympathetic.  Laviscount will need to bring his acting level up to meet the rest of the cast or ideally his character will die a overly poised, overly dramatic and well deserved death. I would have liked to have seen it happen right after he delivered his cheesy last line this episode “I only see one monster here”.

Overall Bloodlines did not disappoint.

Bad teacher…Is just plain bad

Cast: Ari Graynor plays the Cameron Diaz role, other top billed actors include: Sara Gilbert, Ryan Hansen, David Alan Grier, Kristin Davis and Sara Rodier

The cast was full of well known, somewhat respected actors.  I recognised Ari Graynor from her role on Fringe – she played the role of Olivia’s sister (10 episodes) at least she can be happy she hasn't been type-casted!  Sadly, Sarah Gilbert played her usual mousy/nerdy role that I have seen way too many times to be impressed and Kristen Davis played an uptight bitchy girl –“quelle surprise!”

The stereotypes throughout are so obvious that they are uncomfortable - including painting men as sex-hungry-anything-for-some-cleavage idiots - which I find insulting on their behalf.  I hope there are no Principals in North America that hire based on bust size and blonde hair while never glancing at a resume.

If you enjoyed the original Cameron Diaz movie from 2011 then you may also enjoy this show. The movie was never set in any kind of reality and neither is this TV spin off. The premise is the same, but unfortunately so are the jokes. There is little to laugh at, other than the ending where they try desperately to salvage some respect by throwing in a Hail Mary warm moment. Saw it coming from a mile away. Didn’t buy it, didn’t care. Won’t tune in again.