Miniseries: Meteor (Part 2)

The second part of this space-related natural disaster miniseries event is just as fun as the first, and also equally terrible. The entirety of Imogene’s slow-paced journey to the right side of the border is equally enthralling and laughable, highlighted by her shooting of some vicious Mexicans and her attempts to plead with a border control officer to help save the world. The big revelation that only half of the meteor actually hit made for a nice bit of suspense as Imogene struggled to make contact, and Jason Alexander’s Dr. Chetwyn bumbled about trying to foresee what was happening for himself. And then we have the presentation’s most entertaining thread, which would be rogue cop Stark, portrayed by Michael Rooker, insanely intent on wreaking havoc for Billy Campbell’s Jack by trying to murder his father and his daughter. He’s a great Terminator-scale villain, who just keeps coming back every time you think he’s dead. His own excitement at his trick of wearing a vest was worth the price of admission. Jack’s own pursuit of justice, stopping along the way while his daughter was in mortal danger to help some random woman being threatened by two menacing men, was an interesting show of his character. When the end of the world looms near, how will people act? “Meteor” answers that question by assuming everyone will panic and become terrible human beings, with the exception of its core cast members. This is a hardly a worthwhile and legitimate pondering on the subject, but it’s an entirely entertaining piece of garbage that actually serves suspense at times over its two parts. Most of the suspense isn’t related to the meteor, sure, but I never thought that inanimate objects, however large and looming, made for great villains.

Part 2 Grade: F
Entertainment Value: B+

Miniseries: Meteor (Part 1)

After the unbearable, preposterous boredom that was “Impact” a few weeks ago on ABC, “Meteor” is a fun return to the world of impending space-related disasters which is just as ridiculous, if not more, but infinitely more fun. Casting Christopher Lloyd as the crack scientist is the first step in the right direction. Marla Sokoloff has the appropriate amount of obnoxious feistiness to get things done. Their racing to get the information to the right people is quite entertaining, augmented by the completely random death of Lloyd’s crucial doctor character as he is stumbling in the middle of the street and struck by a randomly passing car. Jason Alexander playing the other scientist is also quite amusing, and his bickering with Lloyd, while he was alive at least, was good fun. My absolute favorite part is the completely irrelevant plot, which features Michael Rooker as Billy Campbell’s ex-partner, determined to take out his revenge on his family in the midst of the impending meteor. Just having such a plotline exist is so completely unnecessary, but it’s what sets this apart from “Impact.” James Cromwell whining about not wanting to leave home doesn’t compare to Rooker going around killing people with his twisted sense of angry humor and delighting in threatening people (again, as the meteor approaches!). Stacy Keach, as Campbell’s father, is also pretty good since this is the role he was meant to play, and far better than his legacy at the end of season one of “Prison Break” when Michael betrayed his trust and left him as the fall guy. At its best moments, “Meteor” is reminiscent of a far more inferior version of “Jericho.” If you’re looking for quality end-of-the-world-prevention television, rent “Jericho” on DVD. Otherwise, tune in next Sunday for part 2 of this marvelous disaster. The ending scene, where a truck struck by a piece of the meteor wanders off course and crashes into Sokoloff’s vehicle, after she finally managed to hitch a ride, is a great point at which to stop. What else can go wrong? Will the world end next week? I highly doubt it, but I’ll be excitedly watching to see what happens, especially with that preposterous ex-cop storyline.

Part 1 Grade: F
Entertainment Value: B+