Flash Forward

ori-STUDFARM · September 29, 2009, 04:07:58 PM

Finally caught the first episode tonight. There seems to have been a lot more hype over this show than anything else for a long time. Always a bad thing hype. Hype leads to disappointment!

BUT! Not in this case! It was awesome and blew me away. The first half reminded me of the Lost pilot! Although Lost isn't without fault, I consider the best TV show ever! This pilot has matched that and may even lead to a better show! The set up was fantastic. The second half set up the characters perfectly.....and the ending sent shivers right through my spine. Episode 1 and I'm in already!!

jedijeff · September 29, 2009, 08:11:40 PM

Really cool show, was just able to watch the first Episode last night. Certainly a lot happening and looking forward to where the story goes

Rico · October 02, 2009, 05:04:19 AM

Second episode was good too. Lots going on now and starting to get pieced together. Really liking this show quite a bit so far. I hope the pay off is worth the awesome concept.

moyer777 · October 02, 2009, 06:57:51 AM

I agree. I can't believe they have packed so much into two episodes already. I care about the characters and want to understand the mystery of it all. Pretty cool.

Feathers · October 06, 2009, 03:19:05 AM

I'm really liking this though I still struggle to understand how they'll ever reach a series two - if they don't wrap it up this season then a lot of people will give up. If they do then surely they'll need a new concept for the future.

Regardless...I'm hooked (and we now have an English actor playing an English character. Yay!).

Jobydrone · October 06, 2009, 07:28:01 AM

sigh, I guess I have to give this one a go. I am watching so much TV these days I can barely find time for it all! I used to almost never watch commercial/network programming. Are shows getting better or am I just lowering my standards? It may be my imagination but it seems to me the overall quality, especially in the writing, of alot of new shows is really increasing. I really can't remember a time that network programming has captivated me so much.

Rico · October 06, 2009, 07:35:08 AM

Quote from: Jobydrone4of20 on October 06, 2009, 07:28:01 AM
sigh, I guess I have to give this one a go. I am watching so much TV these days I can barely find time for it all! I used to almost never watch commercial/network programming. Are shows getting better or am I just lowering my standards? It may be my imagination but it seems to me the overall quality, especially in the writing, of alot of new shows is really increasing. I really can't remember a time that network programming has captivated me so much.

I think the thing is there is MUCH more "geek-type" programming these days. There is a TON of it. More than ever. I frankly mostly watch genre type shows (with a few exceptions like "House" and a few comedies), and it is hard to keep up these days. Used to be there was nothing like this stuff on the air. Think back to when TNG was airing. Trek was just about the only genre show on - and it was syndicated. The geeks are certainly in control of programming these days.

- Oh, and jump in on "Flash Forward." My wife Lynn is even enjoying it and she isn't into this stuff like I am.

Feathers · October 06, 2009, 07:37:39 AM

My wife's watching it too - not sure how much she's enjoying it but I did catch her smiling at the...[spoiler]...mouth to mouth reference when discussing the guy who died face down in the urinal...[/spoiler]...so I know she was actually paying some attention.

jedijeff · October 06, 2009, 08:23:32 AM

Maybe the quality of scripted shows is because there are less of them then in the past since some of the time is filled with reality TV and variety shows. The writers and producers are not spread across a lot of scripted shows, and they can have more top people working on one show then maybe before. Also with Networks so quick to cancel, shows need to be good to survive and viewers do seem a lot more demanding. I guess the internet as well allows networks more feedback then they would get in the past with ratings and focus groups. For me I think getting a PVR has changed my viewing habits, and I watch a lot more shows then I did in the past. I can record and then watch when I have time, and not try and remember when something is on. As well things like on screen guides give me an idea of shows coming up and what they are about, That is how I found out about shows like the Mentalist which I like watching. I also watched shows based of what others said on this forum, so maybe it is a lot of small factors that changed my viewing habits. I was a lot like Rico in the past I really only just watched Star Trek and nothing else as either it did not catch my interest, or I did not think there was anything else that would interest me past Trek.

I do watch a lot of Genre TV, but I also watch other shows I typically would not watch. This season I watch non genre shows like Castle and The Mentalist, and also some comedies, such as The Office.

With Flash Forward, it is going to be interesting to see how things play out through the season, and how they setup season 2. I hope they take the LOST route on this more then the Heroes route. LOST seems better at tying all the seasons together, so I am hoping when they get to the season Finale for Flash Forward that it is more of a cliff hanger and lead into season two, then answering things, and then almost starting from scratch for the next season. I think it is going to be a lot of fun as they discover others visions and how they all tie together.

Ktrek · October 06, 2009, 08:31:44 AM

I am really enjoying this show. It is extremely well done. Like others though I am skeptcal about how the concept can play out for more than one season. Perhaps by design it's only a one season show?

Kevin

Feathers · October 06, 2009, 09:22:03 AM

Quote from: jedijeff on October 06, 2009, 08:23:32 AM
With Flash Forward, it is going to be interesting to see how things play out through the season, and how they setup season 2. I hope they take the LOST route on this more then the Heroes route. LOST seems better at tying all the seasons together, so I am hoping when they get to the season Finale for Flash Forward that it is more of a cliff hanger and lead into season two, then answering things, and then almost starting from scratch for the next season. I think it is going to be a lot of fun as they discover others visions and how they all tie together.

I think they need a careful compromise between the two.

Heroes is maddening with the major plot reset that seems to take place each year but against that you have the let-down that many people feel where a series ends on a cliff-hanger with no major plot resolution.

I don't particularly like either approach (particularly the latter if the thing then gets cancelled) so I don't envy the show-runners who have to tread that line each year!

Rico · October 06, 2009, 09:29:25 AM

I think I stated before in this thread and maybe elsewhere, but the creators of "Flash Forward" say they have at least a three year outline for the series. So, we'll see what happens. You can have a contained storyline per season and then do something new the following year. You just have to do it well. ;)

jedijeff · October 06, 2009, 09:47:32 AM

Quote from: Feathers on October 06, 2009, 09:22:03 AM
Quote from: jedijeff on October 06, 2009, 08:23:32 AM
With Flash Forward, it is going to be interesting to see how things play out through the season, and how they setup season 2. I hope they take the LOST route on this more then the Heroes route. LOST seems better at tying all the seasons together, so I am hoping when they get to the season Finale for Flash Forward that it is more of a cliff hanger and lead into season two, then answering things, and then almost starting from scratch for the next season. I think it is going to be a lot of fun as they discover others visions and how they all tie together.

I think they need a careful compromise between the two.

Heroes is maddening with the major plot reset that seems to take place each year but against that you have the let-down that many people feel where a series ends on a cliff-hanger with no major plot resolution.

I don't particularly like either approach (particularly the latter if the thing then gets cancelled) so I don't envy the show-runners who have to tread that line each year!

Agreed, The Terminator Series from last year was proof of something getting cancelled without the story being resolved. It is a fine line to tread for sure. If like Rico says, that the series has been mapped out for 3 years, then that gives me the feeling that each season can answer some important questions but still leave the overall premise of the show to carry on being developed. Since Flash Forward is on ABC, I suspect it is being viewed as a replacement for LOST when it ends this season, so I am hopeful that it will have a good run if it keeps up with quality like the first two episodes have shown so far.

ori-STUDFARM · October 07, 2009, 12:25:04 PM

Episode 2 watched and I'm loving it. It seems to be living upto all the hype! Still not sure exactly how it's going to work itself out, but seem to be taking the "Is the future set?" route...which suits me fine! :D

Jobydrone · October 09, 2009, 01:15:22 PM

What was the name of the actress that played the bartender/ex girlfriend of the Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor. It is driving me CRAZY, because I know I just saw her in something recently and I can't remember where. IMDB does not name her in the cast list, but I believe her name in the show was Kate. Can anyone help?