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The inside review
Summertime and TV watching is not so bad actually. |
 "The Inside"
Remember when networks used to hibernate during the summer leaving us with nothing but "if you haven't seen it, it's new to you" repeats? Thanks to cable TV and the success of the first seasons of "Survivor" and a little show called "American Idol" that's a thing of the past. And, added bonus, not every new show is a reality show.
"The Inside" (Wednesday, FOX, 9 p.m.) is a show with a lot going for it both in front and behind the camera. Put Adam Baldwin (Jayne on "Firefly") in anything and I'm pretty much there. Add in Tim Minear (the man behind "Firefly" and "Wonderfalls" and producer and writer on "Angel") as creator and executive producer and how can you go wrong?
Well, alas, it's my job to tell you how. "The Inside" follows the Los Angeles Violent Crime Unit of the FBI. Agent Rebecca Locke (Rachel Nichols and a dead ringer for Bridget Fonda if you ask me) has special insight into the criminal mind (reminiscent of NBC's "The Profiler") because she was abducted a child. Peter Coyote is her boss. Jay Harrington (last seen being dumped on "Summerland") is the agent who wants to protect her. It's an intriguing premise but here are the three ways the show must improve:
1. The crimes are horrifically violent and heinous. We're never going to have a show about the Shoplifting Unit of the FBI or "Law & Order: Parking Tickets." But I wonder if the show would be stronger if more was left to the imagination. Because let me tell you right now, finish your dinner long before you sit down to watch the pilot episode. The opening scene is stomach churning.
2. In the three episodes available for review, most of the victims were women and perpetrators were men. And sometimes I'm simply tired of watching women being victimized on television. This is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the series lead is female. But in each episode, Rebecca ended up in peril and being held hostage in some way or another by the male criminal. The series can't sustain itself if she is placed in danger every single week. Not to mention that she would be due for a nervous breakdown by episode four.
3. The show is dark and moody and seems to cast everything in a shade of gray. Sure that sets the tone but a tone that murky and depressing can quickly turn numbing and boring. The series needs to be careful.
I'm not giving up on the show yet but I will need to see some improvement before I recommend it. After you watch "The Inside" talk about it on the TV Gal message board.
| | [by jademaliburoad (Zap2it) ] [0 comments]
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