So, I just watched Syfy's "Alphas" ...
Jul. 12th, 2011 08:24 pm...and it was surprisingly enjoyable! I'm definitely in and excite for the next episode!

(click pic to download pilot episode)
I already love Nina (above: bottom middle). Laura Minnell has been on my radar since an episode of the 4400 she did where she was absolutely mesmerizing, so I'm thrilled to get to watch her being glam and sexy with an undercurrent of vulnerability on a weekly basis. Nina's ability no doubt means that she's done some shady, shady shit in her past so Minnell should get some nice dramatic moments.
I also really like the Rachel (above: top right) character. I feel she's the most accessible, the most normal of the group so far and already relate to her.
Based on nothing but prettiness and the fact that I like both of the characters, I'm also already shipping Nina/Rachel.
I've never really liked Strathairin, but I thought that he was pretty tolerable here so that's nice. I was expecting to constantly be annoyed by him, but while the Dr. Rosen (above: top middle) character is a bit overly quirky, I didn't have a problem with the actor or the character.
Bill (above: bottom right) is a bit abrasive as a character, but I like that the show acknowledged it and that it's a point clearly set up for character development rather than bad writing making a character intolerable. I would have reacted the same way as Rachel to him eating part of my muffin! Somewhat OT, but not too much: Does anyone know if Bill's wife was played by Rachael Crawford (a.k.a. Petra from When Night is Falling)? It looked like her, but I'm not sure.
Gary (above: bottom left) was interesting and pretty funny at times, but I see the potential for this character to get old really fast if the writers aren't careful. I liked him though, and I enjoyed the characters interactions with pretty much every member of the principle cast (especially Bill and Nina) so that's good. His power is the most WTF out of all of them though.
And finally Hicks (above: top left). I feel like this is the character I'm going to be the most 'whatev's' about. The actor has a nice, quite strength kind of quality thing going on, but I see the potential for this character to be hogging up a lot of screen time while pretty much every other member of the team seems more interesting than him. I don't want this show to be all about Cameron Hicks man!pain. I'm reserving judgement, but I can feel the side-eye gearing up.
Overall, I think what I liked most was how real things felt (which is saying something on a show about superpowers). I liked that all of the powers had side-effects/limits/drawbacks (i.e. Rachel's other senses becoming basically useless when she super-heightens a particular one, and Bill suffering major fatigue if he uses his strength for too long, etc.) I also really enjoyed the team dynamic and the different and interesting ways the characters interacted which other.
I'm officially looking forward to episode 2.

(click pic to download pilot episode)
I already love Nina (above: bottom middle). Laura Minnell has been on my radar since an episode of the 4400 she did where she was absolutely mesmerizing, so I'm thrilled to get to watch her being glam and sexy with an undercurrent of vulnerability on a weekly basis. Nina's ability no doubt means that she's done some shady, shady shit in her past so Minnell should get some nice dramatic moments.
I also really like the Rachel (above: top right) character. I feel she's the most accessible, the most normal of the group so far and already relate to her.
Based on nothing but prettiness and the fact that I like both of the characters, I'm also already shipping Nina/Rachel.
I've never really liked Strathairin, but I thought that he was pretty tolerable here so that's nice. I was expecting to constantly be annoyed by him, but while the Dr. Rosen (above: top middle) character is a bit overly quirky, I didn't have a problem with the actor or the character.
Bill (above: bottom right) is a bit abrasive as a character, but I like that the show acknowledged it and that it's a point clearly set up for character development rather than bad writing making a character intolerable. I would have reacted the same way as Rachel to him eating part of my muffin! Somewhat OT, but not too much: Does anyone know if Bill's wife was played by Rachael Crawford (a.k.a. Petra from When Night is Falling)? It looked like her, but I'm not sure.
Gary (above: bottom left) was interesting and pretty funny at times, but I see the potential for this character to get old really fast if the writers aren't careful. I liked him though, and I enjoyed the characters interactions with pretty much every member of the principle cast (especially Bill and Nina) so that's good. His power is the most WTF out of all of them though.
And finally Hicks (above: top left). I feel like this is the character I'm going to be the most 'whatev's' about. The actor has a nice, quite strength kind of quality thing going on, but I see the potential for this character to be hogging up a lot of screen time while pretty much every other member of the team seems more interesting than him. I don't want this show to be all about Cameron Hicks man!pain. I'm reserving judgement, but I can feel the side-eye gearing up.
Overall, I think what I liked most was how real things felt (which is saying something on a show about superpowers). I liked that all of the powers had side-effects/limits/drawbacks (i.e. Rachel's other senses becoming basically useless when she super-heightens a particular one, and Bill suffering major fatigue if he uses his strength for too long, etc.) I also really enjoyed the team dynamic and the different and interesting ways the characters interacted which other.
I'm officially looking forward to episode 2.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 07:57 pm (UTC)About Hicks, yeah I see him taking up a lot of screen time in the future. His powers scream "action hero", and there's no way I can see a character like that being benched. Though I'll reserve judgement too. I found Warren Christie so far a far more better actor and watchable than any of the leading characters from Heroes that the creators had a boner for. As long as the creators don't over do it, I think he'll be fine. Zak Penn is no stranger to superheroes, but the success varies, so I guess we'll see where this falls.
I'll be interested to see what other superpowers will be introduced since the show seems to be aiming for a realistic quality. So that will probably mean no people who can walk through walls, no flyers, no multipliers and no one who can shoot energy blasts. Actually with enough pseudo science, I think they can pull off an energy blast character. They can say the character absorbs electricity and fires it. Or say they can create fire with a combination of stored up sunlight and body heat. The drawback is that just like the electric guy, they have a limit to how much they can use. Or possibly if they go too hot, they risk burning/hurting themselves, which would be an interesting angle on an energy manipulator since superhero stuff general ignores stuff like that.