Tuesday, January 03, 2006

TV REVIEW: Surface, Episode # 11

Surface unexpectedly "surfaced" last night at 8:00 pm. I was surprised to see that NBC had a new episode scheduled so early into 2006. I figured people were still vacationing and away from the TV; but apparently not...

Anyway, there are only four episodes remaining in this season of the 2005-2006 sci-fi show about a new species of carnivore living at the bottom of the ocean.

When last we left our heroes, Laura Daughtery and Rich Connelly had been rescued after videotaping the beasties in their spawning ground; and poor Nimrod, the pet of teenage Miles in Wilmington, NC, had been shot.

This week, the series created by the Pate brothers (G vs. E) dispenses with suspense before the end of the opening teaser, and we learn that Nimrod is actually alive. Miles goes to visit the little guy and he kind of sneezes while laying in a tray of ice cubes. The scientists at the aquarium thus surmise the lizardly Nim possesses "really advanced healing capabilities." You think? The long term upshot of this may be that the "monsters" are resistant to gunfire. That could be a problem down the road, no?

Meanwhile, Laura and Rich hitchhike to San Francisco and peddle their videotape to a reporter who works for NBC (cross-promotion synergy!!!!). Their footage of the "American Nessie" is aired on MSNBC's "Countdown" starring Keith Olbermann (who guest stars on the show...), but Laura is discredited and made to look like a fool on national TV. Damn! At least she can comfort herself by the knowledge that only a couple hundred thousand people watch MSNBC each night. I'm one of 'em, though. I watch Hardball (except when right-wing loony-bird Norah O'Donnell subs for Chris Matthews), and I'm addicted to Countdown...

My wife wasn't too keen to see Surface back on the schedule (though was comforted that she would never have to sit through another episode of Threshold...), but I was thrilled. I continue to enjoy this program, especially the depiction of Miles. He's not a super genius like Wesley Crusher, just a regular kid who has done some extraordinary things because he has an extraordinary heart. It used to be - a long, long time ago - that science fiction film and TV were filled with regular kids like this. Remember the kid on NBC's Voyagers? Or the little boy in Invaders from Mars (either version?) Or Eliot in E.T.? They were just regular joes who happened to be helpful and very resourceful. The character of Miles on Surface brings to mind those examples, and it's kinda nostalgic.

Another subplot involving Miles: now that he's shared some sort of "communion" with Nimrod, he also possesses some of the lizard's abilities, apparently. His hands don't prune after being in water (!) and more importantly, Miles now appears capable of affecting nearby electrical fields. But can he down salt by the pound and eat poodles, I wonder...

I'm curious to see where this series will go in the four remaining episodes for the season. Anybody heard if Surface has been picked up yet for next year?

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