After previewing the pilot episode of one of SCI FI Channel’s newest shows, Flash Gordon, I came out of the viewing with some reservations and concerns. Having said that, it’s hard to make them stick when you’ve only seen one episode. We know that Flash Gordon doesn’t have the significant budget like SCI FI Channel’s flagship programs. But budget doesn’t necessarily equate to the level or degree of talent. And because I respect the talent in front of and behind the camera, being able to do what they do with so little, I was more than willing to give the show a chance to prove itself. I said in my previous post that the show will have to prove itself quickly if it wishes to keep a fan base after the first couple episodes. So does it accomplish that?
The answer is yes. And while it is not a resounding, yell it from the rooftops, tell total strangers on the commuter train the next morning, yes, the show is showing some improvements in writing and character chemistry. We’re heading in a good direction. The cast seem more comfortable in their roles. Eric Johnson looks more confident in his role as Flash, eliciting a goofy charm to his unexpected hero in exceptional circumstances. Jody Racicot is still as eccentric and manages to have more interaction with the main cast. And Gina Holden and Karen Cliche, as Dale and Baylin respectively, are required to come out more in the third episode, Infestation.
Perhaps, what I should do is give a brief description of the next two episodes. Episode two is titled Pride and there are a couple storylines to follow. The first is Flash and Zarkov are looking for a way to use the dimension rifts so Flash can go back to Mongo and find his father. At the same time Baylin is still stuck on Earth from the first episode and when she learns that Ming has sent an expert tracker, Tyrus, to find her she comes to Flash for help. There is also an interesting subplot going on back on Mongo during this episode in which an ice smuggler is captured and scheduled for execution. Aura learns of this smuggler’s motivations and in doing so learns more about her father’s motivations and further establishes the menace of Ming, the Benevolent Father of Mongo.
In episode three, Infestation, Flash’s friend Nick is bitten by a Joybug, freshly flown in, via a rift, whose bite is lethal but also induces the victim into a euphoric state until they die. Flash and Baylin go to Mongo to get the vaccine while Dale stays with Nick during his brother’s wedding. In order to slow the poison down she has to stop him from being happy. She must keep him miserable to keep him alive. This predicament of course sets up the story with some comedic moments. As well, this episode displays Flash’s loyalty to his friends and his willingness to do whatever it takes to keep them safe. We also see him start to sow the seed of discontent in the different races that are under the rule of Ming. Though just subtle, at least getting the other races to think about their predicaments and what it would take to get out of it may prove to be enough right now.
The writing is a bit stronger in these two episodes. Derick and Steve Martini wrote Pride and the show’s Executive Story Editor, Melody Fox, wrote Infestation. And with the better writing we’re seeing better chemistry between the characters. The episodes also have more humor in them as they lean more towards that camp sense we know and love from the earlier incantations. They’re camp. They’re fluff. It’s good, clean fun. Although it seems that those familiar with previous incantations of FG are content to call camp what the uninitiated or unlearned call cheese. You’re doing yourself a favor if you watch those previous incantations so you better understand the foundation that this show is building up from.
It is just my hope that there are more off-Earth adventures coming in future episodes. We could benefit from seeing more races and the forest kingdom of Arboria or the flying city of the Hawkmen. Spaceships. We need spaceships. I understand if the budget may not allow for big effects shots but we seem to be a bit rift-happy these days, content to live with dimensional shifts and portals and such. Myself? I am a hardware kind of guy. I need ships.
So for now, I am content with the next two episodes of Flash Gordon that air tomorrow night and the following week. Though I am not completely won over I sense that the show is beginning to find its identity and place and if the fan base can identify with it in turn then they’ll be around a bit longer.
The pilot was just terrible, really. It was so bad I was skipping ahead hoping for interesting scenes (not just more talking about how whatshisface runs marathons, and how his dad gave him a watch). It was enough to convince me not to bother with the rest of the series.