1.02 – White To Play – Flash Forward Review
Ladies and gentleman … welcome to: Soap-Fi, the wonderful world of soap opera, masquerading as science fiction. We had our first deep foray into this brave new world with the hopelessly melodramatic Battlestar Galactica, helmed by Star Trek alum Ronald D. Moore. Our next expedition comes courtesy of yet another Trek alum, Brannon Braga who brings us the super-sudsy Flash Forward. “White To Play” is an episode that wears out its welcome within ten minutes, and then spends the rest of the time trying to re-ingratiate itself to audiences. Truly, this is a terrible episode. Almost nothing happens without fulfilling some ridiculously contrived dramatic construct.
Yes. Flash Forward is already worse than Battlestar Galactica ever was.
The crux of this episode is the impending marital tension faced by Mark and Olivia Benford. Just for a moment, set aside the utterly ridiculous and amateur performance from Joseph Fiennes (Mark) and consider how putrid the dialogue and interactions are between husband and wife – all because Olivia had a vision involving her emotional and sexual involvement with another man. Mark says that they ought not to keep secrets from one another – and yet he keeps his future alcohol abuse … a secret. It’s the kind of nonsensical faux drama that can really only manifest itself on melodramatic shows.
Let’s be clear: One spouse keeping secrets from the other is not exactly unheard of. But building an entire narrative around such an obvious and shallow circumstance is not the mark of legitimate drama. And the truth is, we simply cannot divorce (pun intended) the terrible acting performance turned in by Fiennes from the likewise atrocious script. Put simply, the machinations between Olivia and Mark, made prominent by the story, are the central weaknesses to the episode – and the series thus far.
By contrast, the performance of Olivia’s future love-interest, Llyod Simcoe (Jack Davenport), is entirely plausible and compelling. As a father who has separated from his wife – but suddenly thrust back into fatherhood by the death of his son’s mother – Lloyd’s actions are entirely believable. It’s an understated, subtle performance that makes the garish, soapy melodrama of Olivia and Mark all the more ridiculous.
Look, if you like Flash Forward then I’m happy for you and ABC. It means that that you’ve found a show that you enjoy, and that ABC has perhaps found its next successful show (in terms of ratings). But there’s no way I can legitimize this series as anything other than a gimmick. Sometimes gimmicks are fun to watch. But that doesn’t mean Flash Forward provides a truly unique, original, or praiseworthy tale.
Overall Grade: D
I will say this about “White To Play”: I love the chess reference. As an avid (albeit slightly below average) chess player myself, I appreciate the title. But that doesn’t mean that the episode is an example of legitimate drama. It’s a gimmicky show which relies on cliché melodrama. At this point, I have more respect for BSG.
Note: I’ll likely tune in for one last episode before deciding whether or not to follow the series on a weekly basis. But let’s face it, unless the episode is spectacular, I’m not likely to follow and review Flash Forward.
Topics: Mystery, Sci-Fi, TV Reviews
Filed under: Flash Forward
Related Articles:
- 1.01 – No More Good Days – Flash Forward Review
- 1.10 – The Hunt – Crusoe Review
- 1.07 – Heroes and Villains – Crusoe Review
- 3.15 – Let That Be Your Last Battlefield – Star Trek Review
- 1.06 – Bad Blood – Crusoe Review
- 1.13 – The Transformation – Fringe Review
- 1.11 – Bound – Fringe Review
- 1.02 – Journey To The End of Knight – Knight Rider Review
- Episode 4 – Central Division Review
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Film Review
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Im suprised you gave te how a D. I see you ar not interested in plot development or as you would call it Soap Operaratic. Should the chararcters just be all action and no thought?? Like your main Fringe chararcter with his pathetic one liners and wiseass comments.
Flash Foward is trying to establih that these people who saw the future are being effected by what they saw. How would you react if you saw in the future you were with another woman and not your wife/? Dont answer that !!! LOL
Or if you may possibly be dead because of not seeing anything at all. I thought the best reaction was the FBI director on the bowl . He was reading a paper. Awesome very realistic. You do needsome plot elements to develop or we cant grow to like our chararcters. Where would we be in Star Trek if there was no soap operaratic development between Mc Coy’s crankiness and Spocks Logic. Or there meaniless banter.
You are not a fan of Ralph Fiennes so you now hate the show and look for things to pick at it like sore. Sometimes an actor can do that to a show for people.
Nuff said Im curious you speak of this show as being soap operatic yet Deep space nine is full of soap opera themes as seen in your reviews lol
Keep in mind you dont have to review something once you have deemed it unwatchable. I mean Nobdy is forcing you to review Knight Rider, Merlin or Voyager which I thought sucked ass. So keep in mind if you you dont like the website. try to review something NEW..
In one of my BSG reviews I commented, “There is a difference between having a good story to tell – and telling a good story.” And I think that sentiment applies here. The central plot of Flash Forward — that of how getting a glimpse into your future might affect your choices in the present — is, at the very least, intriguing. But I don’t think the show is doing a very good job at telling its story.
The reason why I hold shows like Deep Space Nine in higher regard than, say, Flash Forward, is that they focus more on character driven conflicts than on melodrama — differences in ideology, rather than on who is going to end up sleeping with who (daytime and nighttime soaps make a living off such nonsense).
Worse yet, I just don’t care about the characters. The performances aren’t helping any, but the story does nothing to make me relate to what these people are supposedly going through. Almost no time was spent establishing these characters as anything other than: recovering alcoholic FBI-agent dude, soon-to-be married FBI-agent dude, doctor, off-beat cutesy kid, lonely FBI-agent gal, etc. And after the Blackout, all we get is the who-is-going-to-sleep-with-who angle from Mark and Olivia, the FBI agent who will become pregnant, and so on.
I will concede one thing, though: The FBI director being in the loo during the Blackout was funny and realistic. And, actually, as I said in my review, there was one character which was given enough establishment to be sympathetic: Llyod Simcoe.
In fact, the only point that the series has in its favor is its premise — which, to this point, is little more than a gimmick, to be used to provide some “gotcha” moment at the end of every episode. There’s no natural character development and the plot is only developed by how much of the “mystery” the writers decide to reveal every week.
EDIT:
As far as whether or not I continue watching Flash Forward … I certainly have a very low opinion of it thus far, but I don’t want to summarily dismiss it out of hand. I did, perhaps, spend too much time on Knight Rider, but I think a “three strikes and you’re out” rule for Flash Forward and future shows might be the way to go.
keep in mind characters dont always start as great characters all the time. the writers flesh them out and eventually through time they grow on people. Much like the star trek crews over time. Yet I think you are biased with Ralph Fiennes. Anyway give it a few more episodes and see what you think. Im curious how well your love scenes will be in your own personal writing you seem to hate soap opera stuff. Ummm the whole Luke Leia Han solo thing was Great but you probably couldnt stand it. Who’s in love with who? Yuckky right give me deep intense moments 24 hours a day. LOL
What about Jack, Kate and Sawyer another love triangle fans LOVEEEE. Kep this in Mind when your writing your next book.