A Speedingly Good Show

The Flash.

Most fellers my age might remember the quick slash of crimson that was the fiery costume belonging to the speedster superhero. Some might also recall the fixed lightening bolt that travels across his chest. Much like the classic mode of superhero insignias.

But this red whirlwind of speed is far more than that. He is an everyday guy. The man who got passed his ordinariness to become something extraordinary. A really likable guy.

Those are many of the memories I retain when seeing, for the first time in over ten years, the series The Flash on DVD. Finally. It was showcased on prime network for a brief stay. Just a season. Not even.

Which is unfortunate. Because it’s a really good show. You won’t find literary themes in this series. You won’t find sophomoric messages about global warming or how pollution is causing many health concerns.

Nope.

It’s always the classic battle of good and evil. Easy as that. And this is what makes the series so entertaining. What struck me most, of all things, is how close an adaptation it was to the original comic book. Which is still amazingly popular to this day. With a wealth of lore for one’s choosing. What interests me is the fact that they used the character Barry Allan to recreate the superhero enigma.

Barry Allan. One of the first greats of superheroes. His costume is decidedly simply, very catchy. And his powers remain very simple as well. He runs fast. But there’s a lot of tricks and turns to his situations. The thrust of red dashing across the grounds, in a burst of energy, is always exciting to see. Even when I was a kid drowning myself in a comic book fixture. The Flash always remained the cool dude for me.

The TV series recreates very nicely the character of Barry Allan (Played well by John Wesley Shipp). He’s been struck by lightning which is also in the comic books. The series is set in Central City, which is very cool. That is his native town from illustrated history.

However, there are some slight departures which is to be expected in such a television venture. His love for his wife Iris is one of the things that made him a great person, his warm dedication to her, his ability to express that love. That isn’t in the TV series. She disappears in a flash after the pilot show.

His powers seem more believable in the series. His explosions of speeds causes him to have a far greater metabolism rate. Which does make sense.

Most of the first half of the series has him dealing with regular street thugs and junk heaps looking for power trips. Bike gangs and the like. But it is the later half, starting with the Trickster, that the series digs deeper into the series history for some enlightening revelations of the Flash character.

Any one of us could be the Flash. But it is Barry Allan. And he carries the burden like anyone… he has his emotional wounds. He bears the scrutiny of human flaw.

Some of the best episodes of the series is with Mark Hamill playing the crazy magician who becomes the Trickster. His exhilarating antics and moments of zaniness is a definite precursor for his voice part as the Joker in the upcoming Batman animated series which followed a year later. Here he is the absolute antagonist of the Flash. He doesn’t make sense. He has flashes of insane inspiration. His costumes are goofy.

A policeman mentioned to the Flash in one of the episodes, and these words along the lines as, “It’s all your fault. These costumed clowns started appearing when you showed up. Now we got to deal with them too. You’re a magnet for them.”

Which left the Flash thinking about his true purpose in Central City.

It’s an interesting thought to play with and it coincides nicely with Batman and his gallery of villains who crop up in Gotham City like a contagious disease.

However, Batman does fight in the shadows, keeping himself hidden from the public spectacle. He prefers to work in total darkness to provide his mystique.

The Flash plays it out in the open, defeats his opponents in front of the crowds. He is a more accessible hero. People can look up to him as a good role model.

Many of the stories do help develop his somewhat platonic relationship between the Flash and the Christina 'Tina' McGee character Amanda Pays portrays. (Though her character deals with Wally West rather than Barry Allan in the comics). Their rapport is very easy to see from the beginning. They do have good chemistry. In some ways, with several supporting characters, it does become very much a family show.

But fate has changed the course of the mile run for the speedster. The series lasted only twenty two episodes before falling victim to poor ratings.

But if you like the character of the Flash, you can check out the animated film “Justice League New Frontiers,” which they used Barry Allan as the Flash. There are other Flash characters who came before and after him. But Barry's the one I remember the most.

If you’re looking for some straight forward entertainment, the Flash series would suit your needs. And he would take you by the hand and give you a good run for your money. Maybe, just maybe, you might catch a glimpse on how much fun it can really be.

Through the Glass Darkly

The often forgotten television series is overshadowed by its more popular counterpart the X-Files.

Most might not remember the short lived, yet highly inventive, series called Millennium. A series so dark in its enriching tapesry, relentless gloomy, that one is not surprised at the shortness of its life. Millennium is like breaf glimpse into the dark heart of humanity. With whims of faith and biblical prophies wrapped around this series. The downhill struggle of people with their souls hanging on a thread.

A definite landmark in the horror genre.

The series was supposed to run for four seasons with a countdown rushing towards a conclusion in the year 2000. It never got that far. It ran for three seasons before seeing the fatal ax coming down. That ax to grind unfornately took away the last gasp this series had.

What were the reasons for the cancellation? Perhaps graphic content offended some. The use of children as victims, always a number one rule in the field of horror fiction. Leave the children alone. A rule that the series repeatedly broke at the face of some public outrage. The same rule Stephen King wrung in the book Pet Cemetery before children became fatal victims in a story.

The whole viewing grew morose, dark, like digging under the charred ruins.

Not exactly family entertainment for a late night viewing.

More than that.

It was a series that did push the evelope more. Probably one of the best horror TV shows to come out of the woodwork apart from the American Gothic series during the 1990s. There's a definite grand design in the series that unfolded throughout like a canvas, showing a downward sprial for all of humanity to suffer. It continued to give shunned photographs of television viewing into the most wretched.

Created by Chris Carter while cashing in on the popularity of his X-Files phenomena. And why wouldn't he? Though he came up with a show that surprisingly got passed the televsion censors at the time. It was a practice in darkness. Truly.

Some might not agree with the merits of the series. However, it was a courageous and headstrong series that offered a poetic storytelling while nuturing on the elements of horror to fit inside an episodic series. With repeated viewings of this series, and a laspe of time rushing passed us, there is a feeling that this series has finally become better fitting in today's retrospective. Considering the current presidential administration falling deeper into a religious war in the Middle East, the audience might've like this series better now. Such a show like Milleninum would have been a perfect showcase for today's audiences. Faith is now not trusted. The patheon of gods and deamons become martyrs for people to worship.

People of today are split up by diffences of opinions. More polorized, far more dischanted. The difference of religion driving a further spike between the people. The chasms always growing wider. Millenium does portray such things in the episodes.

It is probably second season that remains the most significant in storytelling and atmosphere, also direction. The X-Files creative writing team in Glen Morgan and James Wong weaved many stories here of dread and horror. And their intriguing mythology were solified here with the Millennium group, furthering their mystery and awe. A group of advisors, dealing with the religious events of the bible that may relate to today's world. There are appearances by many religous artifacts including a sampling of the cross of the cruxifiction that offers great powers. There is also the Hand of St. Sebastian that brings a wealth of power to the group.

The ongoing writing of these episodes, the mythology episodes, are always well done. You would also get to see a good performance by Charles Nelson Reily, reprising his role from the X-Files series. For those who are always interested in reading the book of the revelations, or just like the history of the bible, the series plunge into some interesting stories which discusses the importance of catastrophic events and the mayhem that religion may cause.

The series takes on a philophical look on the secular direction the human race is also taking. Episodes like "Owls" and "Roosters," a two parter story in the middle of the season, is a further thrust into this argument. Where the group becomes more increasingly sinister in its intent. Where brother is going against brother. It becomes fasinating. Then, setting apart from the rest of the serious attitude, there is a funny episode called "Satan, Somehow Get Behind Me," a very funny look at how demons pass the time at a donut shop.

Certainly one of the most imporant components of the series is the always wonderful performance by Lance Henrickson. He plays Frank Black, a forensics profilers, tortured with a gift. He brings to the series an incredible presence. His words sound like crushed glass, his eyes carry a looming grace of the mundane.

Frank Black sees through the eyes of seriel killers. That would be enough to drive any man crazy.

You can believe this man has a wounded soul. His ability to see into things, such as the future, makes him a dangerous man often. Henrickson is one of my favorite actors. It is always a pleasure to see him give 100% into his role.

For those worrying that the series never reached a conclusion, there's a kicker. On the third season DVD box set of Millennium, you can find the very final episode which wraps up everything the series intended. Perhaps a little too pat. However, the appearance of Frank Black in the X-Files is a much needed final resting place for the series to end. And it brings a certain finality which is somewhat satisfactory conclusion to the apocalypic series.

Despite the dark trends of the series, there are small shining beacons of light especially Frank Black's daughter Jordan, played to perfection by Brittany Tiplady, who always brings a great smile and a postive heart in the middle of all the fixed goom that hangs like a madness. The young actress is commended for her acting skills.

The series is ultimatly about belief. Whether the character Frank Black understands the undergoing changes of the world taking place, he is always protective of his own family. And it is his family that he loves very much. He is a good man caught in a middle of a moral storm. The fate of humanity falls like a shaking leaf. And leaves only a simple thing like belief to hang onto. And, for the rest of us, we need to believe in something in order to live. Frank Black believed in his family.

Striving for Humor in Doctor Who

There’s some nice changes in the Doctor Who fourth season opener.

The most noticeable, and important, change is the shift in Catherine Tate’s encore performance as Donna Noble. Her striking confidence goes a long way since her runaway bride routine from the previous year. She’s already ditched the Doctor once before. She’s not making that same mistake again.

Most of the story does focus on her character and following a persistent life of danger in hopes of finding the Doctor again. Because of his inspiration, she takes on the initiative when investigating Adipose Corporation which may or may not be involved with illegal actions. She weasels her way into the corporation as she learns more about their agenda.

The Doctor finds a different way into the building. Via the sonic screwdriver.

What’s nice is seeing these characters, passing each other like ships in the sea, and finding their own way into a high-level security is extremely funny. Their stories unfold as they run along side by side. It’s interesting how they work.

Their stories come to a comedic peak when they see each other despite a glass room separating the both of them. The scene is very funny without going overboard.

What’s great is Russell T. Davies is pulling no punches when it comes to having some old fashioned fun. It’s something not often seen on television when a TV show plays up for laughs with a little bit of fun. Can’t be too serious these days.

Both of the heroes attempt to stop a corrupted businesswoman Miss Foster who is using Adipose company to manufacture diet pills. It’s more than one way to lose fat. The scheme basically allows for unsuspecting people taking the diet pills to give birth to the Adipose in which she would offer to her employers the Adiposian First Family to assure her insurance. And it turns out Miss Foster acts as a mid-wife. Things doesn’t work well for Miss Foster.

However it seems to stir another set of episodes in a story arc regarding what will happen to the Adipose and what intentions will be used with millions of them having been levitated to a large spaceship. Earth has turned into a nursary almost. People have died through the strange births. What’s left is a bigger mystery.

The story so far is a lot of fun. Did I mentioned it was fun?

After the mundane storyline from last year regarding the renegade Master, having taken its seriousness, as well as the annoying turn of events Torchwood has taken in killing off a couple of their major characters, it’s nice to see the Doctor Who series take a lighter note. It has to.

The episode called “Partners in Crime” depended on the performance of Tate reprising her role. Certainly, like many people, I had my reservations about her. However, unlike most, I gave her a chance. It was good to see her taking the role a little more seriously and proves to the Doctor that she is capable. And resourceful.

What paints her character with a colorful background is her family. Her grandfather and mother both have great quirks and makes for better stories. Much of the emotional impact can be focused on just these two supporting characters without having to split the overly large family that Martha Jones had. It’s very difficult to focus on a family of four and embellish the characters.

Here there’s just Donna with conflicts with her mother and her ongoing cherished relationship with her wonderful grandfather played by the always initimable Bernard Cribbins.

One more thing. She’s not in love with the Doctor. She’s just along for the ride. But she’s not someone who’s going to be pining for the Doctor and his good looks. This will turn things back to the way things used to be with the old BBC series. Just the companion and the Doctor. And the adventure they’ll be stumbling into. No more soap opera romance.

There’s a number of mentions of the Shadow Proclamation that had been an underlying theme throughout the series ever since the very first episode of the Doctor Who series. Some of the details surrounding this interesting idea will remain the hook of the fourth season.

The Massive program used for the Lord of the Rings films is utilized to a great advantage here as the little Adipose, cute and cuddly, may be a foreshadowing of things to come. Don’t trust those little buggers.

Most unexpected, however, is the supposed return of one familiar character from the series: Rose. Her single appearance towards the end of the episode will make jaws dropped. It’s a surprising thing to see. I already knew about her coming back to the series for a few episodes. But this early in the series? That was a good return for her like some vanishing ghosts or an echo from the stars. A wealth of memories floods my thoughts after seeing her.

This episode does set the tone for the lighthearted feeling that lingers in the air. That might not last so long as we kick up our feet to enjoy the shows before we get sucker-punched by the remaining stories if they decide to change direction of the mood. There’s still an entire season to come around the corner. But for now let’s make the most of it with a little adrenaline rush.

The Doctor Who series returns as it crack a few smiles for us.