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FlashForward

Joseph Fiennes as Mark Benford in FlashForward
  • Posted at 10:45am
  • 18 September 2009
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 5 comments

I never make the mistake of underestimating my capacity for watching drivel; for example, my current favourites The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Harper's Island are top quality, hugely entertaining drivel. But drivel, all the same.

Which brings us to FlashForward. Not that it's drivel, it's just silly, but it's good silly, brilliantly put together and a lot of fun. Five has bought the series, which makes its US debut on Thursday 24 September, and starts here shortly afterwards (Monday 28 September, 9:00pm).

I loved it, and I'm generally far too sensible and literal to like anything sci-fi-ish or otherworldly. But the premise of FlashForward is potentially interesting, if preposterous (the series is based on Robert J Sawyer's novel of the same name). At the same time, the world's population loses consciousness for two minutes. When everyone comes to, they realise that during their lost moments, they each saw a glimpse of their future. And, in most cases, they don't like what they see.

Posh Brit actor Joseph Fiennes, with a smart American accent, is FlashForward's muscular action hero (yes, really, and very good he is too), FBI agent Mark Benford, who is careening down a Los Angeles freeway, chasing a suspect, when he drops off at the wheel.

FlashForward's depiction of the chaotic aftermath of this disastrous worldwide temporary narcolepsy is eerie and effective, though the characters, at the least the ones that we see in the first episode, verge on stereotypes: cops with complicated personal lives, that kind of thing.

But there is so much going on that this kind of stock characterisation doesn't get in the way or spoil the enjoyment of what looks like it will become an exciting thriller. And it stars the silky-voiced Courtney B Vance (as an FBI boss), which is fine by me.

The first episode does a good job of establishing a complicated story that has many interlocking strands and characters, and the real interest will lie in seeing just how they fit together over FlashForward's 13-week run.

*

I'm so glad Peep Show has returned to Channel 4. Viewing figures are always tiny, but C4 has kept the faith. And so it should - no home-grown comedy even comes close to Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong's bleakly hilarious portrait of modern masculinity.

Hapless, emotionally stunted flatmates Mark and Jeremy (David Mitchell and Robert Webb) are adrift in a sea of sexual uncertainty and, disastrously, potential fatherhood. Mark's sometime girlfriend Sophie is pregnant, but after a brief fling with Jeremy in the previous series, she's unsure of the baby's paternity. Brilliant.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times - read her column in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, on sale now.

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Comments

  • Posted on 27 September 2009
  • at 8:10pm
  • by ChrisW

Like whats already been said above, every time I read a comment by not only AG, but even from the other RT staff, if it's bad I know I'm going to like it.

What really bugs me with RT is that the reviews are SHOCKINGLY bad, really poor excuses for reviews, especially some of your movie reviews. I know I'm going to like this show, and any laughable RT comments are definitely not going to spoil it.

  • Posted on 27 September 2009
  • at 10:26am
  • by Five

It's a good show, but will be ruined by FIVE with all the stupid annoying pop-ups about their other uninteresting programs. It is far simpler to just download the show and watch it in peace. Thanks FIVE for destroying yet another great show.

  • Posted on 25 September 2009
  • at 4:26pm
  • by Lynn(e)

obviously AG must be good if they hired her .. and guess what she is paid to tell HER opinion and that is HER opinion so yes maybe its not the same view you have on the program but she's not paid to tell every one if you like the program the whole point is to show what she thinks of it!!

I think AG is reallly coool and so does my friend :P

  • Posted on 21 September 2009
  • at 11:08am
  • by john

When AG slags off a programme as she often does, my wife and I sometimes watch as we know it will be good. She has excelled herself in the 19th - 25th September issue of Radio Times however with her spiteful comments on Joanna Lumley's Cat Woman programme. Miss Lumley obviously adores cats, a trend which should not attract adverse criticism from someone who has a dislike of these animals themselves. A true critic should make an objective assessment of a programme free from personal bias.

  • Posted on 18 September 2009
  • at 1:23pm
  • by Ali

Just read AG's comment on Joanna Lumley's Catwoman odyssey and nearly ruptured myself laughing. I quite like cats, despite being allergic to them, but I know exactly what she means when she likens it to 'an hour of dry heaving'. Some women seem to have lost the inner chip which tells them how much fluff is really acceptable in one life. They're usually lovely people, but when they start sharing their plates with their cats, it's all gone too far...

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