Frequency: Season 1, Episode 3 “The Near Far Problem” (B-)
As I sat down to watch this episode, I had just counted how many shows I’m currently watching, and I wanted this episode to really wow me to convince me to keep it on my list. Unfortunately, I don’t think it did that, and though I want to be loyal to a series that has to do with alternate realities and changing timelines, I just don’t think I can right now. Part of the problem is that Peyton List’s Raimy is becoming so immensely unlikeable because she refuses to adjust to the way that things have become, confident that she can direct events in the past to the way that they were supposed to be and save everyone. Not expressing an interest at all in attending her mother’s memorial service isn’t going to win her any points, and going after suspected criminals with absolutely no proof of their guilt – all the more astonishing when they disappear while she’s beating the crap out of them – is probably going to get her into serious trouble with the law that her father twenty years earlier won’t be able to assist her with at all. Her attitude contrasts very much with the way that she talks to Daniel when she sees him, romanticizing a relationship that he doesn’t remember and making herself seem like a stalker. I’d like to stick around and see where this show goes, but at this point it hasn’t proven itself worthwhile and likely to head in a rewarding direction.
Showing posts with label Frequency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frequency. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Round Two: Frequency
Frequency: Season 1, Episode 2 “Signal and Noise” (B)
I want to like this show a lot, but I’m still not sold on the concept working in a regular weekly format. Raimy is realizing that every little thing she does have a serious effect on things in the past, no matter how small. It’s going to get increasingly difficult to keep track of what actually happened and what has now transpired in the new timeline, with only the 2016 version of Raimy there to remember more than one version of things. Raimy could have scored a solid win and ensured that her mother’s life was saved by acknowledging that what seemed like craziness that Frank was spewing to his wife in 1996, but I guess the relationship needs to be purely between the two of them at this point. Frank is being celebrated as a hero in 1996, and he would do well not to try to push back and get himself put in the crosshairs again. Serving on the Nightingale task force might be helpful, but obviously that’s already changing things, namely getting the number one suspect who is definitely guilty of kidnapping and probably other things to move from his home years earlier. I just worry that we’re going to lose sight of the case in this whole process, too, but I’m willing to give this show at least another chance or two before abandoning it altogether. The police investigations happening in both time periods should prove more engaging, at least, and so I’m optimistic that it could be interesting.
I want to like this show a lot, but I’m still not sold on the concept working in a regular weekly format. Raimy is realizing that every little thing she does have a serious effect on things in the past, no matter how small. It’s going to get increasingly difficult to keep track of what actually happened and what has now transpired in the new timeline, with only the 2016 version of Raimy there to remember more than one version of things. Raimy could have scored a solid win and ensured that her mother’s life was saved by acknowledging that what seemed like craziness that Frank was spewing to his wife in 1996, but I guess the relationship needs to be purely between the two of them at this point. Frank is being celebrated as a hero in 1996, and he would do well not to try to push back and get himself put in the crosshairs again. Serving on the Nightingale task force might be helpful, but obviously that’s already changing things, namely getting the number one suspect who is definitely guilty of kidnapping and probably other things to move from his home years earlier. I just worry that we’re going to lose sight of the case in this whole process, too, but I’m willing to give this show at least another chance or two before abandoning it altogether. The police investigations happening in both time periods should prove more engaging, at least, and so I’m optimistic that it could be interesting.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Pilot Review: Frequency
Frequency (CW)
Premiered October 5 at 9pm
I don’t remember all that much about the specific plot of the film “Frequency,” which I saw around the time of its release sixteen years ago, but I do remember that I really liked it. I’m very particular about how time travel is supposed to work in film and on television, and this concept doesn’t actually fit that since it has two different timelines proceeding along at the same rate two decades apart. The fact that it’s justified as such, however, does improve it in my mind, and I’m definitely willing to accept it as plausible given the film’s premise. Turning into a TV show is an interesting idea, one that seems especially popular in this season of remakes and reboots, and I am genuinely curious to see how it will work. What this episode did is created a universe of people with lives based on certain events from their pasts and then completely retool that when Raimy’s actions served to warn her father Frank of his fate and cause him to change what he did, sparing his life but leading to her mother being killed and her fiancé never meeting her. Those consequences make this harmless ham radio seem incredibly dangerous, and this being a weekly show rather than a movie might mean that Raimy’s present can change regularly, since she’ll likely be in contact with her father on an episodic basis. I’m not sure exactly how that will work, or how strong these characters are, but I’m a sucker for alternate realities so I’m willing to give this show a chance to see how it works. Peyton List is a decent choice to headline this show, and I think that Riley Smith will help Frank become more sympathetic as it goes on. Let’s see how episode two is.
How will it work as a series? Now that Raimy has completely disrupted and overridden her reality, is each episode going to find her modifying a single event in history so that she can change or save one thing? That could become tiring and hard to follow, but I’d assume that this first season was mapped out and probably better planned than that, so I’m intrigued enough to see what’s immediately next.
How long will it last? Reviews were pretty good, but this show opened pretty poorly even by the CW’s standards, which is troubling. If enough people come back for episode two, then it could do okay, but at this point, things aren’t looking promising for this show to continue too long.
Pilot grade: B
Premiered October 5 at 9pm
I don’t remember all that much about the specific plot of the film “Frequency,” which I saw around the time of its release sixteen years ago, but I do remember that I really liked it. I’m very particular about how time travel is supposed to work in film and on television, and this concept doesn’t actually fit that since it has two different timelines proceeding along at the same rate two decades apart. The fact that it’s justified as such, however, does improve it in my mind, and I’m definitely willing to accept it as plausible given the film’s premise. Turning into a TV show is an interesting idea, one that seems especially popular in this season of remakes and reboots, and I am genuinely curious to see how it will work. What this episode did is created a universe of people with lives based on certain events from their pasts and then completely retool that when Raimy’s actions served to warn her father Frank of his fate and cause him to change what he did, sparing his life but leading to her mother being killed and her fiancé never meeting her. Those consequences make this harmless ham radio seem incredibly dangerous, and this being a weekly show rather than a movie might mean that Raimy’s present can change regularly, since she’ll likely be in contact with her father on an episodic basis. I’m not sure exactly how that will work, or how strong these characters are, but I’m a sucker for alternate realities so I’m willing to give this show a chance to see how it works. Peyton List is a decent choice to headline this show, and I think that Riley Smith will help Frank become more sympathetic as it goes on. Let’s see how episode two is.
How will it work as a series? Now that Raimy has completely disrupted and overridden her reality, is each episode going to find her modifying a single event in history so that she can change or save one thing? That could become tiring and hard to follow, but I’d assume that this first season was mapped out and probably better planned than that, so I’m intrigued enough to see what’s immediately next.
How long will it last? Reviews were pretty good, but this show opened pretty poorly even by the CW’s standards, which is troubling. If enough people come back for episode two, then it could do okay, but at this point, things aren’t looking promising for this show to continue too long.
Pilot grade: B
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