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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

Drive

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Kali, Queen of Kitteh

17:53 / 16.04.07

This premiered last night on American TV and on Friday for you Canadians.

The concept: a secret illegal road race that has been occurring for as long as there have been automobiles. Random people all across the country are chosen to participate because at the end of the finish line lies $32 million tax-free dollars. Only the twist (if you want to call it that, but I wouldn't) is that all they have something more important at stake than winning the money. Namely: kidnapped spouses, protection from abusive spouses, clean criminal slates, etc.

I watched it last night and feel very sort of, I dunno, meh about it. I don't really think it's that great of a concept and aside from the awesomeness of Nathan "Future Ex-Husband" Fillion, I find myself indifferent towards the characters and their respective situations. Though to be fair, a lot of their back stories have yet to unfold (a la Lost) but since everyone loves the flashback concept, I am sure we will be forced to find out. The survival rate on this one is unclear unless you really really really like watching car chases every week.

A text conversation with my best friend--simultaneously watching in Baltimore--made us ask this: Is everything that involves actors from Firefly/Angel/Buffy doomed? It's like they get stuck in the Whedonverse and there ain't no way out.

13:11 / 17.04.07

Haven't seen it yet; the concept seems TOO shoehorned onto the "Lost" template. And the concept in general - a secret cross-country car race driven by everyone trying to get something, and especially our hero trying to get his kidnapped wife back - just seems cheesy; 'Cannonball Run' done serious. It does have great actors, though. Who knows. I'll eventually tune in and make a much more informed judgment. But the idea for the series doesn't get me excited, only the cast does (and Minear himself to some degree).

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

13:40 / 17.04.07

I watched the third episode last night and it was better than the two-hour premiere. I'm having difficulty getting past the contrived feel of the series--esp., those continual overhead zoom out it's a map and zoom in it's where our characters are thing.

Of course, watching a bruised yet foxy Fillion driving a vintage Dodge Challenger was really quite the sexiest and manliest thing I have seen in months.

14:08 / 17.04.07

Isn't Alyson Hannigan doing alright on 'How I met your Mother'?

Fillion-cakes yay!

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

15:14 / 17.04.07

She seems to be the only one out of the Whedonverse who has found some measure of non-Whedon success. I cannot say the same.

Ah, Nathan Fillion. It makes me relive that lunch I had with him all those years ago.

Whisky Priestess

15:31 / 17.04.07

Was that a TV dinner?

(I'm here all week)

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

15:38 / 17.04.07

I'll get your coat.

MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!

15:39 / 17.04.07

Of course, watching a bruised yet foxy Fillion driving a vintage Dodge Challenger was really quite the sexiest and manliest thing I have seen in months.

HEY!

Manjealousy aside, I haven't seen Drive, not likely to -- I'm a steadfast opponent of cars and "car culture," so I can't see myself finding anything in the show to love -- but on the subject of the Whedon Curse:

What do you do with a Whedon veteran?

Most Whedon stuff relies more on the writing than the acting to make it shine, and Whedon seems to have a talent for casting characters who complement his two-note characters very well. I loves me some Buffy etc. just like everyone, but it doesn't exactly require brilliant depth -- just the ability to hit the grim/flip switch at the drop of a hat. I like Nathan Filion okay, I just can't see him in other shows, because he fits a very confined space of can play serious/can play comedy, but he's sort of inextricably both. I can't see any Whedon vets doing straight comedy or just dramatic acting, because they've spent their careers to date doing "dramedy," which now that Whedon is out of TV might get them work if somebody decides to revive Hooperman.

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

15:54 / 17.04.07

I think, given the proper script opportunities, I don't really see any reason for Fillion or Baldwin or any of those guys to do well.

I forgot that I cannot speak of Alan Tudyk in regards to the Whedon Curse because he is kicking ass on some Broadway shows these days. And he was doing all kindsa neat stuff before he was Wash.

Drive may very well be a one-trick pony--whose trick isn't that good--but it doesn't seem to showcase the trademark snark we've come to expect from the Whedon/Minear/Greenwalt camp.

Elijah, Freelance Rabbi

16:08 / 17.04.07

Wait, Fillion is driving a Challenger?

Is it white? I suppose it would need to be, how can anyone make a series about a cross country illegal race without making a reference to one of the greatest films of the 1970s

16:39 / 17.04.07

I saw a dead ringer for Willow/Hannigan at the grocery store this past Sunday. Had the glum expression and everything. I would've immediately gone over and struck up a conversation with her, but, uh...I'm married. Seriously though, the resemblance was uncanny.

16:41 / 17.04.07

Also, I rewatched Vanishing Point again this weekend (the UK version, which has extra material). The sight of that Challenger in the "Drive" commercials was enough to get me to tape the 2-hour premiere and Monday's ep. But catching a few minutes of the actual show...think I'm gonna record over all three episodes.

01:52 / 18.04.07

David Boreanaz seems to be doing well over on Bones. I haven't seen it, but ratings are strong. But, I'd agree that no one from the Whedonverse is doing anything that approaches their work on Buffy/Angel. I'd disagree with the idea that those shows didn't require much acting talent. Just looking at the transformation Willow and Wesley went through shows how much range both those actors have, and James Marsters absolutely owned the screen whenever he was on. You're just not going to get roles like that elsewhere, not in a movie or a sitcom or even most dramas.

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

05:51 / 18.04.07

Note I haven't actually watched How I Met Your Mother, so I could be wrong here, but isn't Alexis Denisof appearing as a minor character as well? This makes me quite sad, as to my mind Denisof is far too good an actor to be working as a bit character in his partner's show.

On topic, with regards to Drive I'm absolutely with MattShepard - broadly I can't imagine any concept for a show I'm more likely to despise. It might be excellent TV, but what with the whole car thing I'm highly unlikelt to ever know.....

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

17:24 / 18.04.07

That's why I'm sayin' unless you really really really like cars and car races, it's unlikely it will survive.

17:58 / 18.04.07

I dunno, it's basically Cannonball Run crossed with with today's mystery drama formula, and, well, people really like cars. Imo, it might just have some legs.

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

18:03 / 18.04.07

We'll see. It's not horrible but then it's not that great, either.

I'll be bothered to keep up with it for a little bit if only for the purely shallow reason of watching Fillion in a sexy sexy vintage car.

18:26 / 18.04.07

Yeah, it's pretty middle of the road (thus far), but then so is Prison Break - boringly so, if you ask me - and that's wildly sucessful.

We'll see. I'd like Fillion to have a career post Firefly whether I like the show he's in or not.

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

18:36 / 18.04.07

Definitely agreed. Didn't Slither do reasonably?

18:40 / 18.04.07

I think so. Wasn't that keen personally.

19:36 / 18.04.07

Sadly, Slither failed to make back it's rather modest production cost at the box office.

20:44 / 18.04.07

Internationally?

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

18:47 / 19.04.07

I swear: given a really ace script that has NOTHING to do with sci-fi/horror, Fillion could be someone huge.

I haven't seen him in the lil' indie film called Waitress, but look forward to doing so.

19:50 / 19.04.07

Yeah, worldwide gross was 20% short of the production costs. I'm sure it made the rest back in DVDs, but still qualifies as a failure in Hollywood, I belive.

Imaginary Mongoose Solutions

03:43 / 24.04.07

I think I'm the only person in the world enjoying this mash-up of Lost and Cannonball Run.

Of course, I have a weakness for the cliche' that Fillion's character is.

And Fillion. And his Car.

12:27 / 24.04.07

I'm enjoying the show far more than I thought I would (though it' still not great or anything). It's entertaining but I'm not sure I'd have even bothered watching if Fillion wasn't in it.

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

15:25 / 24.04.07

I second that. I am continuing to watch it, though sometimes it makes me want to groan.

Apparently, in the state where I live, there are no highway patrol officers. Cool!!!!

Imaginary Mongoose Solutions

21:59 / 26.04.07

And alas, apparently it's canceled as of episode 6.

00:49 / 27.04.07

Saw that news today IMS. Not surprised but it seems like Fox should have at least given it 1 season to try and build an audience. Oh well. More time for learning to program Ruby I suppose.

02:23 / 27.04.07

Oh well. It tried. Fox didnt. Maybe some other chanel will pick it up and... ohnevrmind!
grrr!

What this show needed was for it to take place in space.

02:58 / 27.04.07

Manjealousy aside

You know who you're dating, yes?

but, uh...I'm married.

My congratulations to Mrs. Butterpalm.

16:34 / 27.04.07

I'm always intrigued by shows being cancelled mid-season, because I'm used to the BBC way of commissioning entire seasons.

So does this mean that they have to wrap it up in the six episodes they have, in some way? Or are all the episodes already filmed? And what are the chances of the six episodes out being released on DVD?

Kali, Queen of Kitteh

18:54 / 27.04.07

Cancelled? Already? Alas, Fillion...we hardly knew ye or your Manly Manly Car.

But I was proved right!!!!!!!!

Not that that makes me feel any better.

Imaginary Mongoose Solutions

00:05 / 29.04.07

It means that just as they were finishing episode six, they were told there would be no more episodes. In other words, no wrap, no closure, and actually pretty low chances of episodes 5 and 6 making it on the air.

*sniff*

15:26 / 30.04.07

damn, thats such a shame. Haven't the people who worked of firefly, or anything on fox for that matter, to stay the hell away from FOX?? Your show will get canceled! Don't do it!

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