The Eleventh Hour...

[fajrdrako]

I'm so happy to have found a new show I love. On the strength of the first episode, anyway. That's The Eleventh Hour, "Resurrection". I watched it primarily because I have been a fan of Rufus Sewell since I first saw him ride onscreen as Fortinbras in Branagh's Hamlet.

And here he's playing an American. Who'd have guessed?

What I loved most about the story (besides intelligent, suspenseful writing and an interesting plot) was that Rufus Sewell plays a genius who is not dysfunctional in any way I could see. He isn't quirky, antisocial, or rude. He may have his flaws (and no doubt we'll get to see them) but he's smart, insightful, kind, brave, and even wise. Humanist values that matter to him. A heroic hero - I love the concept. A genius who isn't crazy - I love it even more.



Other thoughts: The show kept reminding me of other shows, in good ways rather than derivative ways.

• The styles of Dr. Jacob Hood (Sewell) and his bodyguard/partner Rachel Young (Marley Shelton) reminded me of Mulder and Scully in the prfessional dynamic and the way she dresses.
  
• Her visual style reminded me of Rebecca Locke in The Inside, definitely not a bad thing, though I don't find either of them particularly compelling in looks - just interesting. I like it that she's the fighter, he's thinker; and that she's the type that thugs would underestimate.
  
• The plot seemed to me more like Century City than X-Files, in that it relied on a scientific-style crime and new scientific advances rather than spookiness and weirdness.
  
• I really liked the cop on the murder case. I thought his name was McNeill but it seems to be (from IMDb) Officer McEachern, played by Andrew Hedge. He reminded me both of James Spader in The Watcher (though maaseru didn't see it) and Crewes' new boss Captain Tidwell on Life.

Nice setting. Took me a while to twig that it was Seattle. Cool. Seattle is one of my favourite American cities. I'm so glad they aren't in a fictional place.

Bring on the second episode!

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

damaged genius

Did I miss something? I was enjoying the genius because I thought he wasn't damaged!

I liked the 'clone' plot because it reminded me of a similar clone plot from Century City that I'd liked. And that's a rather obscure source, not to mention a show with a theme such as I haven't otherwise seen. I haven't seen clone plots on other shows, but ... as you may have noticed... I don't watch a lot of TV.

I also loved it that it wasn't a CSI-type forensic show.

Yes, I love seeing Sewell as a good guy. It seems rare! It isn't that he's bad as a villain, he's terrific, but it seems a waste. I haven't seen Tristan & Isolde yet - it's sitting on my shelf, unwatched - hope to get to it soon.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

I thought that he was supposed to be worrying so much about the clone mom because his wife died young, or something. Just an impression.

I only watched a little of Tristan & Isolde. If you haven't already watched the BBC-produced "Shakespeare Re-told" series, you could start with that. They're available through Netflix, and possibly online. RS plays Petrucchio in the Taming of the Shrew episode (and Damien Lewis plays Benedick in Much Ado). As heretical as it might sound, I think the re-tellings are an improvement in some plot aspects, although only bits of the lovely language are left.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I saw Rufus Sewell as Petrucchio, and enjoyed him very much. Haven't seen the other "Retold Shakespeare" series yet, though.