We won't forget you!
Every now and then, a show comes along that surpasses its competitors and sets the standard for its genre. The Forgotten, premiering tonight at 10 pm on ABC, is not that show. In the new crime drama, a team of civilian detectives works to identify unknown murder victims -- John and Jane Does -- after the police have given up. Basically, the police hand over their case files to the "forgotten network" -- a motley crew of wannabe detectives led by Alex Donovan (Christian Slater) -- and the team uses evidence found on the body to identify the victim before he or she is buried as "anonymous."
Two things set The Forgotten apart from other crime shows: The show's dramatic movie-esque title sequence and a new-in-every-episode voiceover by the deceased person the team is working to identify. But the opener only lasts for a few seconds and the voiceover -- which could have been a good gimmick -- functions more like a soundtrack than a plot device, providing little more than useless commentary. Overall, the show's concept is good. But its core personalities -- the members of the forgotten network -- are simple and shallow. The writers could have added a little more mystery to Christian Slater's Donovan, leaving room to gradually explore his odd attachment to identifying anonymous murder victims. But so far he seems pretty one-dimensional -- and without room for character development, all that's left is another average crime drama.
Executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the king of such crime dramas, knows how to make a marketable show. He produces the entire CSI franchise, plus Cold Case and Without a Trace. But while The Forgotten has the formula down and a decent cast, the show just doesn't have the staying power to compete with veteran competitors like Law & Order.
See for yourself: Watch the first 20 minutes of tonight's premiere and let us know what you think in the comments section, below.
Comments (10)
I really like this show. It is a good concept and the acting and characters are good. I especially like the way the dead person is the "narrator"--it personalizes the story and makes it unique and different.
The Is a lot better than most of you are giving it credit for. Try working a real cold job, it's not so easy. Though the story is time compressed, like more crime dramas (otherwise they'd bore you to tears). I'm particularly fond of the indivdual characters backstories, they're at least as interesting as the front story. I truly hope that most of the audience have more patience then those who've commented on this show. I want the show to hang around a couple and see what developed, like all real story telling (like in books).
Crime shows are so over done...yawnz...wat's next?
I have never seen Christian Slater in a good TV show and after reading this review I think it is not going to change any time soon.
I just saw it, and first reaction is that the two females are dullsville -- their voices/speech sound too similar and not very "dramatic", they don't bring anything extra to their role. The darkhaired actress has brought an air of smugness to her character that I don't think fits the show, and the redhaired actress could have a little more presence.
Hope this show isn't as boring as the movie
It' truly fasinating, remaking people faces from a decomposed cadavere. The only problem i have with this show is, once they find out who the decease is the police would take over the investigation. they wouldn't dare let a volnteer group of people investigate a murder. Oooops did I spill the beans.
it stars Christian slater. thats reason enough NOT to watch. remember my own worst enemy? ugh.
I'm still surprised Cold Case has been doing so well. So maybe Bruckheimer knows something I don't....
I will give a try anyway...
XO XO
:):):):)