Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
For the most part, there are two genres that have coexisted almost without conflict: the hospital and teen dramas. Both formats have benefited from capturing an essence about those industries by highlighting their daily conflicts in exciting ways. While there has been occasional overlap, the two have survived without each other's help. However, as 2014's Fall TV season starts, Fox is taking an exciting, original approach to their line-up. Something that combines their success with shows like House and The O.C.. With Red Band Society, the network is attempting something noble and deservedly noteworthy. They are tackling a teen drama at a hospital.
This may seem like a gimmick. In fact, the trailers made this series feel like Glee in the hands of Octavia Spencer as a doctor. With Fox having been known to embrace culturally different youths dealing with emotional, hormonal, and societal conflicts, this already feels like a welcomed installment. With an impressive cast that shines throughout "Pilot," the series starts off with all of the spunk and sass of a teen drama but with an impressive amount of heart underneath the surface. Not since the short-lived Enlisted has Fox released a series that feels so organic and raw while featuring a lot of promise for being an important show.
The comparisons to Glee will be obvious. That Ryan Murphy series bankrolled Fox with such ease. However, where these shows differ is in one factor: sincerity. Glee was about outcasts who expressed themselves. However, their approach was obnoxious and felt cliche. Characters felt possibly even more like they deserved to be ignored with their contrived stories and banal singing. Comparatively, Red Band Society's first episode is similar in that they're outcasts looking for acceptance. Even with fart jokes and purchasing beer while underage, this medical drama is already leagues ahead. Even if there isn't always a sense of form to the characters (a lot of dialogue feels forced), the overall sentiments of the series and authenticity to make them more than helpless sick kids is great stuff.
In keeping with almost all pilot episodes, this one should be judged more on concepts and characters than actual plot. This is our first introduction to the universe and for the most part, it delivers something worth grasping. Beyond the comatose narration that somehow combines everyone's inner thoughts a'la Angels in America, there are taboos that are broken. There's kids smoking and having really banal fights while a fairly typical array of music including The Who and The Clash play. Even if they have the limitations of the hospital, they are essentially kids who want to express themselves in whatever form necessary. If that means posting a call for pizza to the outside world on the window, then so be it.
For the most part, there are two genres that have coexisted almost without conflict: the hospital and teen dramas. Both formats have benefited from capturing an essence about those industries by highlighting their daily conflicts in exciting ways. While there has been occasional overlap, the two have survived without each other's help. However, as 2014's Fall TV season starts, Fox is taking an exciting, original approach to their line-up. Something that combines their success with shows like House and The O.C.. With Red Band Society, the network is attempting something noble and deservedly noteworthy. They are tackling a teen drama at a hospital.
This may seem like a gimmick. In fact, the trailers made this series feel like Glee in the hands of Octavia Spencer as a doctor. With Fox having been known to embrace culturally different youths dealing with emotional, hormonal, and societal conflicts, this already feels like a welcomed installment. With an impressive cast that shines throughout "Pilot," the series starts off with all of the spunk and sass of a teen drama but with an impressive amount of heart underneath the surface. Not since the short-lived Enlisted has Fox released a series that feels so organic and raw while featuring a lot of promise for being an important show.
The comparisons to Glee will be obvious. That Ryan Murphy series bankrolled Fox with such ease. However, where these shows differ is in one factor: sincerity. Glee was about outcasts who expressed themselves. However, their approach was obnoxious and felt cliche. Characters felt possibly even more like they deserved to be ignored with their contrived stories and banal singing. Comparatively, Red Band Society's first episode is similar in that they're outcasts looking for acceptance. Even with fart jokes and purchasing beer while underage, this medical drama is already leagues ahead. Even if there isn't always a sense of form to the characters (a lot of dialogue feels forced), the overall sentiments of the series and authenticity to make them more than helpless sick kids is great stuff.
In keeping with almost all pilot episodes, this one should be judged more on concepts and characters than actual plot. This is our first introduction to the universe and for the most part, it delivers something worth grasping. Beyond the comatose narration that somehow combines everyone's inner thoughts a'la Angels in America, there are taboos that are broken. There's kids smoking and having really banal fights while a fairly typical array of music including The Who and The Clash play. Even if they have the limitations of the hospital, they are essentially kids who want to express themselves in whatever form necessary. If that means posting a call for pizza to the outside world on the window, then so be it.
What gives this series an edge? It isn't the immediacy or top notch writing. It is the sense that its heart is in the right place, at least so far. There have been teen dramas that have been affected by sickness story lines and supporting characters have had unfortunate diseases. In most cases, it is melodramatic beyond belief. Here, almost everyone is on the same page and they are united by the red bands that make them feel like they have a home. As long as it remains authentic and sincere, there's chances that this series could reach an audience that hasn't been spoken to. There continues to be sick children who have faced issues similar to those presented here. From "Pilot" alone, it feels like it will attempt to present these physical conflicts in a way that doesn't define the person. They will be normal and live happy lives while just having other problems.
It may seem hokey, but considering all of the teen dramas that have attempted to embrace the outcasts, this is the only one in recent years that feels like it's doing something fresh. It may be network television, but there's a lot of edgy material here that gives it a personality. It doesn't feel watered down, and that may be its biggest attribute. There's hopes that the dialogue will improve, but for now, we have a series that manages to have a dramatic core, but also can be very witty and inspiring when it wants to be. The final act of the episode in which everyone hangs out on a hospital roof may be corny, but considering their medical conditions, there's also something heartwarming about it. At least for one hour, sick people had the chance to be normal and talk like kids talk about how bad acoustic covers of The Fray are. Compared to everything else on the regiment for this Fall TV season, none feel as important.
Red Band Society is designed to be a crowd pleasing series that hits all of the familiar teen drama tropes, but in a hospital. Going in, that was kind of a misguided idea. By the end, the only thing that was different is that Spencer has a lot smaller role than initially believed. She's comedic relief and a passerby comparatively. This is an episode about the kids and their world. Sure, the narration idea may be a little goofy, but it works to show the diverse pallet of disabilities that these characters share. Still, despite the occasional flaws, this is a series with heart and ambition in ways that are hard to top. Here's hoping that it only gets better from here.
Comments
Post a Comment