Skip to main content

PILOT REVIEW: Resurrection

RESURRECTION










Starring: Omar Epps, Frances Fisher, Matt Craven, Devin Kelley, Nicholas Gonzalez, Mark Hildreth, Samaire Armstrong, Sam Hazeldine, Landon Gimenez, and Kurtwood Smith

Based on the Novel The Returned by Jason Mott, Developed by Aaron Zelman
Written by Aaron Zelman, Directed by Charles McDougall

Resurrection is an eerie new drama based on a book by Jason Mott and set in the small town of Arcadia, Missouri. When a boy, Jacob (Landon Gimenez), is found in China he is returned to his parents Henry and Lucille (Kurtwood Smith and Frances Fisher) by immigration agent J. Martin Bellamy (Omar Epps). The catch is that Jacob was not missing, but has been dead for 32 years. Local law enforcement including the sheriff, Henry's brother Fred (Matt Craven), are suspicious but strange revelations start happening and other people start to "return" as the pilot comes to a close.

THE GOOD: Resurrection had an excellent start. The first part of the show before the first commercial break struck the exact right tone for a creepy series. The whole concept of the show is different than anything that's been on TV in recent years and that's always a good start. The performances were solid and it's interesting to see Kurtwood Smith in a different type of role than his gruff That 70s Show dad. The setting of Arcadia, Missouri is good because it brings in the element of a small town that adds to the overall story and feel.

THE BAD: I have two main gripes with the pilot: first of all, I just didn't believe all the reactions. I felt like the members of the town and Bellamy would be more confused by everything that happened. They just didn't seem quite as blown away by what was going on or as urgent about figuring it out as I would think they would be. Secondly, I felt like they didn't make the culture shock clear enough for Jacob. He hasn't been alive since the early 1980s yet he figures out a smart phone and how to write on it in a matter of seconds. The world around him should be extremely different, including how everyone he knows looks, yet he didn't seem that thrown by it. I just felt like the premise needed stronger reactions from Jacob and the town members. Because there wasn't enough of a reaction, there were times the pilot dragged.

BOTTOM LINE: I was hoping Resurrection was going to be better than it was. I certainly see a lot of potential for this show but I was hoping I'd see more of it in the pilot. My biggest concern was how it dragged. I'll be curious to see where this show goes because I don't feel like the Jacob storyline is going to be enough to carry it. I'm giving it another week with hopes that it will hook me a little bit more.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SEASON IN REVIEW: 2017-18 Miscellaneous Awards

As usual, I am ending the season with a few miscellaneous awards. The blog will be quiet this summer but I will continue to do the week ahead posts with broadcast TV news as it happens this summer. Then I'll be back for previews, pilot reviews, and more in the fall! BEST RETURNING COMEDY Superstore (NBC) - Superstore was awarded my "Best Returning Comedy" last year, but it only got better in season three. The funniest ensemble on TV took another step forward with some truly hilarious moments (the season premiere, the Golden Globes party, and the Christmas episode to name a few) and some major plot points moving forward. It also has the potential to be surprisingly sentimental at times. I think back to the first year of the show and how I felt like it had so many funny elements but didn't always bring it completely together. Well now it does on a weekly basis and it is one of those shows that just seems to be in the sweet spot of what will hopefully be a long run. ...

EPISODE GUIDES: Happy Days Season Five (Part 1)

On Thursdays, I take a detailed and critical look at a TV show by season. Today I am looking at Season 5 (Part 1) of  Happy Days ! HAPPY DAYS: SEASON FIVE 1977-1978 27 episodes Season Five is the year where Fonzie infamously jumps the shark. It happens at the beginning of the season and while  Happy Days  does eventually decline in quality, it is not this season. In fact, this season graded out slightly higher than the previous season even though it doesn't feel as strong. I think that's because there's not a lot of outright stinkers in this season. It's a very solid season with the show continuing to hum along. There are some signs of the troubles to come but it doesn't happen on a regular basis in the fifth season. Starring Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham  (27 episodes) Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli  (27 episodes) Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham  (27 episodes) Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham  (27 episodes) Anson Williams as Potsie Webber  ...

EPISODE GUIDES: That 70s Show Season Seven

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Seven of  That 70s Show ! THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON SEVEN 2004-2005 25 episodes The seventh season of  That 70s Show  is the final season with Topher Grace as a series regular and also the final full season for Ashton Kutcher. Despite still having both of those cast member, the show finds itself flailing especially with Topher Grace's Eric, who is stuck in a terrible arc for most of the season. The show also brings many characters back at one point or another but everything just feels tired. This season actually graded out the worst for me. Even worse than the often maligned final season (more on that next week). Every title this season is named for a Rolling Stones song. Starring Topher Grace as Eric Forman  (25 episodes) Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart  (25 episodes) Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso  (25 episodes) Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde  (25 e...