I am sorry that I haven't posted anything since the intro. That is hopefully going to change, starting with this post. One Season Wonders is about those television gems that only managed to hold on for one season. It may bring to mind such shows like Firefly, Wonderfalls, or Freaks and Geeks, which were all shows that were cancelled way before their time. However, when I first through about a show that should have been given at least one more season before the cancelation axe came down, it was Alcatraz.
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| from Wikipedia |
For those of you who have never seen Alcatraz, it is a police procedural with a very distinct twist that air on the Fox network for the 2012 as a midseason replacement. It was produced by J.J. Abrams and starred Sarah Jones (Vegas), Jorge Garcia (Lost), and Sam Neill (Jurassic Park). Jones plays Rebecca Madsen, a San Francisco homicide detective who gets caught up mystery surrounding the famous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary during one of her cases. The twist is that the criminal she is hunting isn't from our time. He was part of a group of prisoners and prison personal that disappeared in 1963, just before the facility was shut down. During her investigation, she enlists the help of Dr. Diego Soto (Garcia), an expert on Alcatraz and comic book store owner. The are later, begrudingly, recuit to help track down others 63's (people who disappeared) that are coming back and commiting crimes in our time.
There is more to it than that, of course, but I can't tell you everything. That would just ruin the fun of discovering this show for yourself. I can tell you the part of the show that caught my attention were the characters. Rebecca Madsen is a strong lead with a witty sense of humor. I know that I found myself rooting for her as she uncovered a personal connection to one of the 63's and how each new piece of the puzzle she uncovered drew her deeper into the mysteries events that happened in the prison. I also really enjoyed her partnership with Dr. Soto. Their friendship is a large part of what drives the show.
Favorite Episodes:
Before I list my favorite episodes, let me remind you that this was a midseason replacement, so their are only 13 total episodes of this show. And to tell you the truth, I liked pretty much all of them. So, for this list it is more like episodes that kicked ass and ones that didn't kick as much ass. :)
Pilot
Let's face it, if the pilot doesn't grab your attention, then you generally don't end up watching the show. Well, this pilot grabbed my attention. The 63 of the week was Jack Sylvane, played by Jeffrey Pierce, who basically was a decient enough fellow who was dealt a few bad hands that landed him in Alcatraz. However, when he appears in the present, he starts killing people. It was a good introduction to the premise of the show, the characters, and storytelling style. Like other J.J. Abrams shows, there is the present and flashbacks.
Guy Hastings
This episode does a really great job of giving you more insight into Rebecca's personal connection to Alcatraz. Between the present and the flashbacks, you get to know more about her uncle Ray and Tommy Madsen, her grandfather. There is also a departure for the 63 that arrives in the present. Instead of being a prisoner, Guy Hastings was a guard at the prison.
Not-so-Favorite Episodes:
Cal Sweeney
This one dragged a bit for me and I just couldn't quite care about what was happening in the flashbacks. There are a couple of good points for this episode. One, Soto and Hauser in a car chase was funny. Two, for any Smallville fan out there, Cal Sweeney is play by Eric Johnson, who played Whitney Fordman.
Johnny McKee
My problem with this episode was with the 'aha' moment. You know, that instant where the good guys put all of the pieces together and figure out the bad guy's plan, location, mode of transportation, favorite color, ect... I just didn't understand the 'aha' moment for this episode. Granted, it could be me, but I've seen it a few times and I just don't get it.
Other Titles to Try:
TV Shows:Alias - Yes, it is another Abrams show, but there are some very distinct parallels that can be drawn between the two. There is a strong female lead with a mysterious background she is struggling to uncover while she fights to save the world from the bad guys. There is also a mystical element to the show.
4400 - Okay, I will admit that I have not seen this show (it is on my list of ones to watch), but it has often been mentioned in sync with Alcatraz. You have people from different times that suddenly appear in the present without any remembering where they have been for years. Yeah, I can see why it might have been mentioned.
Books:
Escape from Alcatraz by J. Campbell Bruce - This book give the real history of Alcatraz, including different escape attempts. In fact, the movie Escape from Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood, were based on parts of this book.
In Death series by J.D. Robb - This series follows a New York homicide detective name Eve Dallas as she solves various murders with the help of her love interest, Roarke. There is also a twist in that this series takes place in the future (late 2050's, early 2060's), so you get to see the author's idea of what the future would be like. Just so you know, I am fully behind whoever wants to invent the AutoChef as soon as possible. Also, since the 34th book in the series was just released this past week, it will keep you occupied for a long while.
