TV Review: Flashforward
It all started so well. Emerging in September of last year, FlashForward had the look of a potential successor to the throne of Lost; an intriguing mix of high production values and a fresh-looking premise. Cancelled by ABC, the show failed to make it past season one amidst falling viewing figures and deteriorating reviews. What went wrong?
The show revolves around the mystery of a ‘global blackout’, in which everyone on the planet simultaneously loses consciousness and experiences a vision of life 6 months in the future. Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes), an FBI agent and a former alcoholic, is tasked with investigating the cause of the event and utilises accounts of ‘flashforwards’ (including his own) to unravel the case. This (albeit far-fetched) idea was an instant hook; an intriguing proposition with an inherent timeline structure to build momentum with. The initial episodes threw up some huge existential questions. Will events play out as foreseen? Can you change your destiny? Why does Joseph Fiennes look constipated? With this, the show looked a winner. The dialogue was wooden and the acting ranged from bad to hilarious, but the basic premise was simultaneously interesting and silly enough to maintain interest.
However, such an ambitious idea was always at risk of falling flat on its face, and Flashforward did spectacularly. Instead of being an entertaining examination of time, fate and free will, the show descended into an abject lesson in how to lose an audience. As the season played out, it became apparent that the characters were universally moronic and unlikeable, the plot had no idea where it was going and Joseph Fiennes is actually just really shit. The motivation for watching switched from being an interest in what was going to happen, to tuning in to just to see how bad it actually was. The storyline made no sense, people behaved completely out of character to manipulate an increasingly complex narrative arc and the whole thing collapsed under the weight of bad writing, bad acting and bad planning. Don’t even get me started on Dominic Monaghan.
Despite their obvious flaws, shows such as Lost and 24 are shining examples of how to turn an interesting premise into a well-made, well-written drama with longevity. In their wake, there is a gaping void for a US blockbuster TV show to fill. Flashforward promised to be that show, but in the end failed miserably. Oh well, it was funny while it lasted. I’m sorry Joe, you’re no Jack Bauer.
4/10
I was so into flashforward you have no idea! This was to be my new lost, and for abc to toss it out after one great season that hasn’t caught on isn’t that bad in this day and age when so many people watch tv online, on dvr, on the go, recorded on a laptop, etc. I don’t believe abd even had a handle on the audience of fans like me who were rooting for our show, and figured it would at least get a push from the end of lost! Then of course it could concurrently run on a cable channel to catch newbies up and maybe a usa or syfy could pick it up and fix whatever they feel is broken, we know its not the actors they’re all great on this show and I can feel the chemistry between Lloyd, mark, the kids, bryce and both women, etc. I want to know what was going to happen and when a station leaves us high and dry like that, it hurts everyone involved but mostly the audience! I’m afraid of investing anymore time in a new show until I know it has a future on television, or I’ll watch it on dvd after it ends its run!
I watched this even though it was so evidently shit. Well, I say I watched it, I watched it up until the point where Harold from Harold and Kumar sings karaoke for the reason that he “justs wants to live his life”. As soon as that line came out I turned it off and never returned. Utter bollocks.
I recognise that quote from somewhere.