Last season CW paid tribute to the superhero revival with Arrow. While many thought this season would be all about Hunger Games spin-offs, more superheroes, and maybe a zombie effort, the network has surprisingly bucked expected trends, choosing to run with teen scifi instead.
I, for one, am celebrating, following the scifi fiasco that is Defiance. (Thank God for quality like Continuum). And yes, while CW shows are slightly "younger" in demographic, and occasionally less than challenging, in terms of narrative... it doesn't mean some standout writing won't slip into the mix. (Hey, I'm a mid-season optimist.) Scifi all the way x
The Tomorrow People
Have I seen This Before? Yes, it's a remake of a British show from way back when, aka the seventies. (Olden days for today's teens.)
Basically, it's a little bit Heroes/Alphas, a touch of Jumper, also that character from X-Men who teleports (can't remember his name), a dash of the movie Dakota Fanning was in which nobody liked but me (Push), and about a dozen other films/books/comic/television shows... Repetitive? Sure, but hello, mutants are a never-ending fount of fascinating possibilities.
Notable Cast Includes: Mark Pellegrino, who played Lucifer in Supernatural. Plus there's an Asian character in the teen super-talent cliche who hopefully will not die immediately. CW also keeps it in the family with lead Robbie Amell, cousin of Arrow's Stephen Amell.
So What's The Story? In the future (love typing that) one hundred juvenile delinquents have been sent back to a possibly-still-toxic-post-nuclear-conflict Earth. Personally, I find the juvenile delinquent sell quite tacky. Can't they just be teens sent back to Earth? Does it have to be emphasised they're Rebel Without A Cause types who have problems with cruel author-it-eys? Sigh.
Why The Premise Is Solid: Dystopian tales leave themselves open to a lot of survival/self-discovery arcs. The sets are also cheap, because mostly, you just need some fake ruins and a forest. This is the kind of show that relies on the narrative. (Fingers crossed.)
Not A Stellar Preview. This trailer involves a heap of kids in a large metal bin, that when opened, shows a forest. Totally lacking pizazz. Minimalist scifi scenarios need a combination of striking camerawork, lighting, editing, brilliant acting, stunning music, riveting dialogue... something to sell it. I'll watch the show despite the trailer, which is a bit of a marketing fail.
The 100 (Another Trailer Online and My Reactions)
Why Did I Watch That Other Trailer?? Or more importantly, what was the network thinking?! This trailer looks like it's for a different series. Starts with cool shots in space, has some scary Orwellian inferences, and gets all Survivor. We barely see the annoying actress who dominated screen time in the other trailer.
There's more of a sense of story here. I like the lead, she's convincingly emotive. Plus, this offering makes it more obvious the creepy kid who plays the young terrorist in Continuum also stars! And the dumped boyfriend from Suburbia's also in the mix.
Only Dodgy Moments: The obligatory ass-and-tits shots of a teen girl... yes, the nubile hottie gets her kit off, sigh. I also get kind of weird about dystopian prison environments where women somehow still manage to procure, and apply, impressive eyeliner (check the 30 second mark). But hey, I guess this is the survival of civilisation we're talking about, right? O_O
Star-Crossed
I'm Just Gonna Say It: Online this clip is garnering the most criticism because it's generally considered cool to sneer at teen romance. I'm happy to admit I'll be a sucker for this one, because I was a sucker for Roswell! Teen romance at it's sweetest, with the ultimate outsider (and no, I don't mean a vampire).
Unlike Roswell, in this aliens-at-a-high-school series, the aliens are out of the closet (so to speak), but alien-a-phobia seems to be running high. Basically, these kids from another planet are the ultimate refugees, having spent a decade interned in camps.
Why I Like The Idea: Alien tv storylines are out of this world (had to do it). I've enjoyed aspects of many, from childhood exposure to The Powers of Matthew Star and the original V, not to mention Alien Nation (best theme music ever), the slightly saccharine Roswell, and the darker Invasion. I think the idea of aliens appeals to my inner anthropologist.
Nice Production Values. In this clip, I like the way it's filmed, all sun soaked and kind of dusty (nice lens), I love the almost jagged camera work, the use of slow motion and some wide frames. I like the editing. Oh, and I love the aliens' tatts. I also respect that the actress made an impact with only one line to deliver, and there's no denying lead Matt Lanter's great onscreen.
SO, OKAY, THIS ONE ISN'T SCIFI, BUT STILL...
The Originals
"Welcome to the dark side of New Orleans, where the living are easily lost, and the dead stick around to play."
Why I'm Sneaking This In To A Scifi Story: Because it's also on the network's mid-season list and I'm going to watch it. Reason enough.
What's It About? CW keeps one foot in the (bloody) vampire pool with The Originals, a spin-off from The Vampire Diaries that looks like it might out-rate its predecessor. (That's awkward.)
Best Selling Point: The Originals isn't hampered by a high school link-up, because these vamps left teen angst behind long ago. Setting the series in New Orleans invariably makes me think of Anne Rice's iconic crew of glamorous undead, and I'm guessing I'm not the only one. The Originals should be interesting, partly because the writing can take a more adult direction, and partly because it's shot in New Orleans; the vibrant location is bound to become an extra character in and of itself.
Best Selling Point: The Originals isn't hampered by a high school link-up, because these vamps left teen angst behind long ago. Setting the series in New Orleans invariably makes me think of Anne Rice's iconic crew of glamorous undead, and I'm guessing I'm not the only one. The Originals should be interesting, partly because the writing can take a more adult direction, and partly because it's shot in New Orleans; the vibrant location is bound to become an extra character in and of itself.
Truth is, Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah are three fan favourites on The Vampire Diaries. The first of the vampires? The strongest? The original family with issues? How can teen storylines compete with that? I think The Originals is going to be kick-ass.
