Tonight's Point Pleasant - written by Ben Edlund and starring Adam Busch.
So in the barren post Buffy television landscape, will it be worth watching? And if you're interested, there's a great Marti Noxon interview at Fangoria where she talks about why James Marsters didn't want the Boyd role and how she'd love to bring Amber Benson onto the show.
Watched the first episode last night on E4, it was ho hum. There's is room for improvement but it does have potential.
January 27 2005
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Caroline | January 27, 04:29 CET
One thing struck me though was the scoring - there is a passage about halfway through that sounded almost the same as S7 scoring - I wasn't aware that Robert Duncan was 'on board' ,so to speak, until the credits rolled. I knew about others but not him. I also thought the church looked familiar but that could be just me. And does Marti have a thing about bees/wasps IOHEFY anyone??
I am going to watch it again - there is not much else at the moment to bother with.
The Do That Girl | January 27, 05:14 CET
I'll be watching tonight. I'm still going to give it a chance to surprise me. I think the plot is interesting and I like Omen-y stories. I always give new shows that im interested a chance to get on their feet. I can't say how many episodes I'll keep watching, but I might just watch the entire season and make a judgement then. I probably won't worry about missing an episode or anything (I know I can download it later), so it won't be appointment TV.
I'm intersted in what Adam Busch will bring to the show. I also have to admit that there is just something about Elisabeth Harnois that intrigues me. Can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's because she looks so angelic (very beautiful, imo) and wears mostly white all the time (and she wears Buffy's cross necklace), yet she's EVIL! Or half evil anyway.
Another reason why I'll keep watching is because there's nothing else worth watching that night anyway.
[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-27 13:52 ]
electricspacegirl | January 27, 06:52 CET
Sounds like a pretty fair assessment to me.
I thought the premise was good but the execution was mediocre. Has the potential to get better and I will carry on watching for a few more episodes. I agree, it's not appointment TV, but fits in nicely before Desparate Housewives at 10pm.
The young actors mostly are a bit like cardboard cut-outs, I wish they were quirkier and more distinctive. Can’t remember many names, not a good sign. It pains me having to echo what people have said about the score – too much, too loud, too obvious. Subtle it ain’t. Clever it ain’t. Bit like this particular episode.
In all fairness we are probably way the wrong demographic, but my husband did enjoy looking at the ladies. Bless.
miranda | January 27, 07:19 CET
The thing for me is that if the pilot doesn't grab me then i tend to let that influence my opinion of future episodes, rightly or wrongly. Buffy, Angel, Stargate, Alias, 24 and most of my other favourite series over the years had me hooked by the end of the first 45 minutes. That is definately not the case with Point Pleasant.
I think the "teen drama" feel of the show isn't helping me get into it. I absolutely cannot stand shows like The OC, One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek. In fact i'd rather watch a Charmed marathon then sit through a single episode of any of those series so that should tell you all you need to know! :)
To be fair not all series that i ended up adoring have hooked me straight away. Farscape was a very slow grower for me for example and it became my second favourite series of all time by the end. I'll give Point Pleasant a few more episodes, or at least until i hear that it has been cancelled in the US, but i'm not convinced that it will ever be among my favourites.
The Arcane | January 27, 07:51 CET
mai | January 27, 08:47 CET
Sorry but it really isn't my idea of worthwhile television at all.
The Arcane | January 27, 09:02 CET
Then I sort of perked up when Dana the Vampire Slayer showed up with a make-over and I got interested again. Then she went away and I kind of lost interest in the whole thing. It's a hit or miss show for me.
But Adam Brody is the reason why I still check in sometimes. I love that guy. And Peter Gallagher is yummy and always a pleasure. Seriously, the adult relationships are way more interesting than the teen ones. It's not as bad a show as it seems it would be. But, you kind of have to enjoy soapy dramas. And not take it too seriously. Again, not appointment TV for me.
I do think The O.C. and Point Pleasant seem to be a good fit though. Hey, if I have nothing else going on, maybe I'll check in on The O.C. tonight and drool over Sandy's eyebrows. Er...not literally though.
[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-27 16:47 ]
electricspacegirl | January 27, 09:42 CET
Simon | January 27, 10:30 CET
jabby | January 27, 10:37 CET
And since I never pass up the chance to talk about The O.C., I'm definitely of the "it's a lot of fun, has great dialogue and is really not the show that the Fox promo department makes it out to be (and that's a good thing)" camp. And I love that they're not pushing the Ryan and Marissa thing this season
(it even makes it a bit easier to care about Marissa this way), though I fear that relationship will be back by season's end. Oh, and Ryan's awesome now.
Also, I wasn't going to give it its own thread since it's a little to late, but Drew Goddard's episode of Alias was on last night. In case you're wondering, it was a very different, funny and cool episode, with a creative mission for Sydney and an "Aw" moment at the end.
VampiresSuckLOLOLGetIt | January 27, 10:38 CET
looking | January 27, 10:38 CET
Firefly Flanatic | January 27, 11:12 CET
But I'll give it a chance. Once it ratchets up the wit and darkness and tones down the tans and collagen, I'm sure I'll like it more. And with Adam Busch on board, it's already looking more entertaining.
GrrrAargh | January 27, 11:18 CET
This does not bode well. But I have to agree with VampiresSuckLOLOLGetIt
Lioness | January 27, 11:18 CET
Even for Adam Busch I can't be bothered to watch it again. It was just so bleedin' boring!
Rogue Slayer | January 27, 11:43 CET
And to be fair to Marti - she sounds like she wanted James from the beginning and isn't trying to get him now to save the show. It sounds like he turned down that particular role because it was too similar to Spike's description.
Firefly Flanatic | January 27, 12:00 CET
looking | January 27, 12:21 CET
twiggy | January 27, 12:41 CET
Back on topic, I am totally on the same page with VampiresSuck. I have a hard time believing a ME writer could create something so bad. I have a lot of faith in these guys, and a lot of patience. I really don't watch very much broadcast TV, so I have a lot of room for a test show.
ETA: The Fangoria link is down.
[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-27 20:55 ]
electricspacegirl | January 27, 13:00 CET
phlebotinin | January 27, 13:35 CET
Simon | January 27, 13:39 CET
Pilots are tricky. I wasn't big on the one for Jake 2.0, thought it had way too much in common with Spider-Man, particularly his origin story (even if it was intended as a respectful homage, still didn't like it). However, I thought the second episode was pretty damn good and the show improved dramatically as the season went on to the point where I considered it one of my favorite shows that season (it was all about the cast more than the fun, if sometimes paint-by-numbers plots. The small, close-knit cast of characters was great). Definitely had David Greenwalt's touch. UPN had to cancel the shit out of it though due to low ratings (hmm, up against The West Wing, Angel, and The Bachelor when it was still a ratings-winner. Yeah, nice going execs in charge of scheduling). I don't expect such improvement with PP...but maybe enough to keep me around as a casual viewer? I mean, the second episode was slightly better than the first last week...the only direction they can really go is up...
Kris | January 27, 13:43 CET
But even so, I just have a bad feeling about PP. The key to the series is the fight for Christina's soul. She seems to be a pretty nice kid, her heritage notwithstanding, so how is she going to be turned to the dark side? The only answer the show is giving me right now is the teen romance angle with Jesse. My heart sinks. I've had more excitement shovelling snow than I've had watching the teenagers of Point Pleasant.
cjl | January 27, 14:00 CET
I love PP so far! The lead actress is very charismatic and interesting and Grant Show plays evil in that sly way that I always get a kick out of. Plus, it is always great to see Dina Meyer on the tube. Her and Mia Sara were the only things that kept me into Birds of Prey when it was on.
What I can't understand is why so many people are embracing The OC and Desparate Housewives. Neither show holds one iota of interest for me. I say here here to any new genre show that tries to make it in these days of reality television and soap opera-like serials.
I will keep watching the 2 Stargate shows, Lost, CSI:New York, and now, Point Pleasant. I tried to get into Alias, but it is another show that doesn't hold my interest. Here's to Whedon, Chris Carter or JM Straczynski getting something new to the tube!
xanderheartwillow | January 27, 15:19 CET
Firefly Flanatic | January 27, 16:39 CET
I think I'll give the show another chance tonight. Even though the over-wrought teen soapiness is a turn-off, and Grant Show's villain has, so far, been too disappointingly predictable, I like the ideas Marti discusses for where it's going. However, part of me just can't believe Fox will let it air long enough for her to have the chance to develop them.
And since when isn't a show about the Devil's daughter a "cult or niche"-type project? Huh?
Wiseblood | January 27, 16:39 CET
Simon | January 27, 17:02 CET
Gunn 2 N's | January 27, 21:38 CET
But I was again much disappointed by the show. I am having great problems with the music, the worst when Christina was praying with the priest and his eyes turned white and then there was this heavenly choir with ascending voices. That was just cheesy. I find the Grant Show character comic-book evil; they may as well have him twirl his moustache. Everyone is completely one sided, even though we have read they are not. I am not impressed by anyone's acting save for Dina Meyer, and this is dearly in need of both humor and and ensemble (such as Buffy had with the Scoobies), since I can't even begin to keep the characters all straight. I fear that this will sink, but then I may not be the demographic they are looking for, being an old man of 51. I just find that the story lines don't seem to make much sense, and I have no patience to wait around to see if it gets better. Sad to say, I am gone on this program.
Dana5140 | January 27, 22:16 CET
Firefly Flanatic | January 27, 22:25 CET
Well, at 17, I probably am the target demographic, but I completely agree with your comments on the show. I definitely won't be tuning into it next Thursday.
obsessed | January 27, 22:36 CET
Linda | January 27, 23:15 CET
Linda | January 27, 23:15 CET
The omens were still Obvious with a capital O, but hey--if it makes Fox happy ;-)
Maeve | January 27, 23:52 CET
Gunn 2 N's | January 28, 00:10 CET
All I kept thinking as I was watching was, "why don't they pull the blasted camera back once in a while during the emotional scenes?" The two-shots are so tight I don't feel like I can breathe, much less see the actors' reactions to one another. Oh yeah, and the bit where the drop of water falls on the priest's book and it shapes itself into 666 -- I mean, the hell? Where did the water come from? Leaky roof? No indication. Then I thought for a split second it might be a tear, but that would mean the guy was actually feeling something as he went through the scene. Hmmm ... might be pushing it.
Have to admit, though, I really, really like the opening credits. The shatter-into-birds effect is pretty neat.
Wiseblood | January 28, 01:25 CET
But then I watched the rest of the episode.
Most of the characters are too one-dimensional. They need to really tone down the soap opera crap, because I don't want to be watching North Shore here. Some of the scenes make me think I accidentaly changed the channel to a "Mountain" field trip to the beach. It's distracting to go from quirky, funny scenes to boring beach scenes.
The exposition is way too heavy-handed. My biggest complaint is that this show would work so much better if it stopped piling all the scary stuff on the viewer so fast. Slow it the hell down.
This episode would have worked so much better if it had aired 10 or 12 episodes in. All the stuff that's happened so far in the story should have been told over a progression of a few weeks at least. Draw out the story of finding out what Christina is. Give it a slow build-up to set the mood of the show. It would give us more time to get to know the characters and care about them when these bad things happen to them.
The only characters I care about are Christina (she still fascinates me) and Judy. I do like Grant Show's character, and Amber is interesting. I don't believe the Christina and what's-his-name's love story.
I do have to say, I was moved by the scene with Christina and her "father" in the limo. I think Elisabeth Harnois is a good actress. In fact, the only scenes that I find compelling are the ones with Christina and the father she's living with, Christina and the priest, and Christina and Grant Show. Actually, pretty much every emotional scene that girl is in. She's good.
I'm a bit frustrated with tonight's episode, but I'm still curious so I'll keep watching for now. I did like the scene at the end, and the previews for next week. Is this show going to get even darker? Because that would be cool. I'd be really surprised if a show about Satan's daughter can last on network TV though. I bet the PTC would have a field day with this one.
electricspacegirl | January 28, 02:48 CET
Wiseblood, I feel the kind of the same way. Even though I know it's kind of bad, It's still kind of fun. And I'm with you, those opening credits are wicked.
I have a question for those of you who are watching. When I first read that Christina was going to be the daughter of Satan, I thought I had actually come across a spoiler. I assumed that would be a plot twist somewhere half-way through the season, or even at the end. Do you think that the learning that Christina is Satan's spawn came too quickly and there should have been a long, slow build-up to that plot twist? I realize we still don't know what Marti has planned for how this show will evolve, but tonight I just kept feeling like I was coming in at the middle of a really scary movie when I was watching this episode.
Oh, BTW, where was Adam Busch? I didn't see him in this ep.
[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-01-28 14:31 ]
electricspacegirl | January 28, 03:01 CET
TV Tome now credits Adam Busch as appearing in next week's episode. They had credited him as being in last night's playing a character named Wes.
Ruadh | January 28, 09:18 CET
I really like Elisabeth Harnois though, maybe we can get her a guest spot on VM.
I think Marti Noxon is dead wrong about the comedy in Buffy detracting from the drama. On the contrary, it eliminated the soapy tinges and the melodrama. Maybe Marti Noxon thought Bad Cordy in Angel S4 was one of the best characters in the 'verse!!?? Certainly Point Pleasant needs a strong dose of Buffy quips.
WWBD | January 28, 10:27 CET
GrrrAargh | January 28, 10:51 CET
Coll | January 28, 12:30 CET
I also thought MN's comment about the humor of BTVS making the show not feel as real was totally off base. I do not know much about MN, but liked what I have seen of her work on Buffy and have nothing against her. However, I always thought that the humor on Buffy was one of the things that made it feel real. (And yes, BTVS feels much more real to me than PP. I think that is because there is a core of truth about the human experience in BTVS even though it is presented through metaphore.) Humor is something that happens all the time in the worst of circumstances. People use it to keep from spiraling down into total self-indulgent, self pity, among other things. As someone here said, humor keeps things from turning into melodrama. They were talking about fiction and I agree, but I would add that it does the same thing in real life. PP is bad melodrama at this point. I'll try to watch again next week for Adam Bush, but I don't know if I can take it.
BTW which character is Loyd? I did not see the 2nd episode and I don't remember their names. I think I figured it out, but they did not say the character's name when he was on screen for any of this episode that I saw. (I missed most of the teaser and a minute or two during the show while I was juggling trying to see it with the rest of my obligations.)
It is really hard for me to watch prime time TV. To make as much of an effort as I have in the last couple weeks, and for it to be...well...it is really disappointing. I was really hoping for something good for MN and the fans.
newcj | January 28, 12:40 CET
It’s cool that Marti is looking to bring on some Buffy actors, I just hope James (as much as I adore him) isn’t one of them. I think he was smart to turn down the Boyd role and I think he should stay away from anything supernatural (typecasting)or soap opera-y (a waste of his realism and energy).
bloodflowers | January 28, 13:18 CET
Grant Show's character Lucas is stealing this show. For real. Think about it: He reads minds. He telepathically makes things happen. And he's the devil's assistant, the watcher anti-Christina never wanted. It's kinda brilliant. In tonight's episode he dropped a few choice words and got the town tour guide to hilariously tell Point Pleasant's dirty little secrets. Next he pushed a glass off his café table, and just as it hit the ground — crash! — Judy had a car accident. "Check, please," he said as Christina eyeballed revenge on the other driver. Ah, it was juicy! Then there's the whole thing of him telling Amber to "get all her emotional ducks in a row" so she can help him buy the town. "How can you have that face and those eyes and still make me sick to my stomach?" she asks. My answer: It's an evil gift.
Wow, I guess he/she liked it! I think last week's the Watercooler also had a response similar to this. I'm a little stunned. I did think the episode was better this week but considering how bad I thought it was the two episodes previously any improvement was a big step up. Still has quite a way to go before I'd consider it "must see tv".
Firefly Flanatic | January 28, 14:46 CET
CJ, you're spot on here. This is my biggest criticism of the show - the lack of wit combined with a stunning lack of smarts. Yawn.
GrrrAargh | January 28, 15:56 CET
Dana5140 | January 28, 16:43 CET
supersymetry | January 28, 19:30 CET