My favorite new show of the year is ABC’s FlashForward, an immersive sci-fi mystery filled with poignancy and wit. It launched with a great deal of “The Next Lost!” hype, and I can say the show has at least one thing in common with its network sibling: the ability to encourage passionate even obsessive interest. At least for me. I am driven to rummage through its text for clues, but even better, I am deeply moved by its characters. The premise: On Oct. 6, everyone in the world blacked out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds, causing global catastrophe, and during their inexplicable power nap, everyone got a quick glimpse of the same future date, April 29, 2010.
The best episodes of the series so far have been the ones that take the time to imagine, in detail, how this mysterious calamity would have truly affected the real world and its people. Tonight is one of those episodes. I got the chance to see it early, and it’s a top-notch outing. It focuses on Dr. Bryce Varley (Zachary Knighton, pictured), who in the pilot was seen trying to shoot himself at the moment the blackout occurred. Since then, he has found reason to live, thanks to what he saw in his flash-forward. To date, all we know about his vision is that it involves a young Japanese woman and a Japanese character for the word “Believe.” Tonight’s episode, which is entitled “Believe,” will reveal the “heavy stuff” that drove Bryce to his suicide attempt and what he really saw in his vision. You will also meet the young Japanese woman — and if she has the same effect on you as she did on me, she’ll instantly become one of your favorite characters on the show. I’ve been one of those FF fans who’ve griped that the show has been slow in getting to this story. Having seen it, I can say it was worth the wait. Come back later and let me know if you feel the same — or don’t.
Last week, I had the chance to interview FlashForward co-creator David S. Goyer for a story about FlashForward that will appear in the new issue of EW, on sale tomorrow. He told me that tonight’s episode is one of his favorites of the season. “This was a story we always knew we wanted to tell, and we’ve been really looking forward to telling it,” says Goyer. In fact, he reveals that there was much debate within Team FlashForward about the proper timing for this episode. Some thought it should have come early in season; some thought midseason would be best. The defining issue: what kinds of stories would better hook people on the series — something mysterious that intrigues, or something emotional that moves. Goyer says they decided to play the mystery-intrigue card — hence early season episodes that had a more cop procedural vibe, as opposed to tonight’s more character-driven affair.
Tonight’s episode distinguishes itself in another way, too. For the most part, the series so far has restricted itself to moving in real-time, from the Oct. 6 blackout and heading toward April 29. But the opening act of tonight’s episode is largely set in the weeks and days before the blackout. Goyer says FlashForward will begin doing more of this, with upcoming episodes offering a deeper peek into the characters’ pasts and providing larger context for what exactly happened on Oct. 6. And for those who have been frustrated by the show’s pacing, I have two things for you: 1. Remember, first year TV shows often move slowly out of the station so that late-arriving passenger can run and catch up and hop aboard. Hence, a lot of repetition, a lot of over-explaining of premise, a lot of mystery-generating and very little mystery-resolving. (I am guilty of forgetting this and being overly harsh on a show’s early episodes; witness my snarky recaps of ABC’s V); 2. All that is about to change: Goyer says the show is about to accelerate the story and begin directly tackling some of its biggest questions. The ramp-up begins when the show returns in two weeks, on Dec. 3, with an episode that Goyer says will give viewers “a pretty major info dump” about what caused the global blackout. The story will also deepen the intrigue around Agent Noh (Star Trek’s John Cho), who saw nothing during his flash forward and believes he will be murdered weeks before April 29. “Our first nine episodes established the premise of our series,” says Goyer. “But with [the Dec. 3] episode, the game really starts to change.”
Come back to EW.com tomorrow, when I’ll have some more FF info for you, including a Doc Jensen geek-out on the show’s cryptic clues.
And for more teases from Goyer about what’s to come on FlashForward — including some choice intel on the show’s villains, season finale, that kangaroo that keeps popping up, as well as my big theory about what’s really happening in the show, check out the new issue of EW on stands tomorrow.
Photo Credit: Ron Tom/ABC
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I also love this show. I mostly wait to see Lloyd claim his woman and for the kids to live together and become friends. They are so cute together. But I am interested in Bryce’s relationship with this woman. I always thought this woman was just someone to inspire him and he really gets with the nanny. I still don’t know all of their names yet since it’s so many characters.
So does this mean EW will finally start recapping Flash Forward? I like V, but it doesn’t grip me as much as Flash Forward.
Am I really the second post? will probably change when i refresh. But anyways, this show is awesome and does have the potential to be the new Lost. Hopefully the action keeps on coming and I hope that Mark’s flashforward happens, cause it would seem pretty sick for something like that to happen. Tonight’s episode looks good, and I can’t wait for your Lost articles!
Love Love Love this show! I’ve basically given almost every new show a chance this season b/c I was a super late commer to Lost. I don’t want to have to do that kind of catch up ever again. I’m so happy FF is living up to the hype. I just wonder what will happen after April 29th. What will next season look like is already on my mind.
Doc (Jensen),
I was wondering when you were going to comment on this show. My heart practically soared when I read what you wrote. I have been wondering what you will do when Lost concludes. Please tell me you’re in charge of the “FlashForward” re-caps now.
I love this show and can’t wait for tonight’s episode. Any by all means, Doc, get your geek on, dive into all the subtext at the very least until “Lost” premieres again.
I really do like this show, but, every week, I fall asleep right in the middle of it. It is the only show that can’t make it through! I guess I’m just getting all good and rested for Fringe!
I KNEW that Bryce’s story reveal would be a big one. There’s a little bit of a John Locke vibe to his epiphany. Looking forward to tonight.
FlashForward is slowly growing on me . It in no way grips me the way Lost does but I have stuck with it and plan to continue.
I’ve long given up on this show. A thrilling cliffhanger in the last five minutes of every episode does not make up for the boring that preceded it. It seems like EW is the only magazine that keeps praising this show.
TVGuide still seems to like it.
I guess that makes two, then!
i am really enjoying this show. definitely my fave new show of the season (yes, i mean you glee)
my fave part is joseph fiennes. still in awe that they managed to score such a talented actor for a network series. looking forward to seeing where he takes the role as the plot thickens.
I really hope “Doc” is going to drop “V” like a hot potato and pick up recapping FlashForward…at least until Lost starts up again!! Love this show and have been really disappointed so far that it hasn’t had a decent recap on EW.
Really? I hope Doc takes up the challenge and does the recaps for all 3 of ABC’s sci-fi dramas. (Would we then have to crown him King of the Geeks?) I am still a bit “iffy” on V, but I think it still has a lot of potential we shouldn’t dismiss yet.
Thanks, Doc. I too think FF is the best new show of the season (far superior to V). I was beginning to think that no one at “E” was even aware that it existed because there has been ZERO coverage of it. Looking forward to your additional observations tomorrow. Also, are you going to post any pre-season LOST musings? Keep up the good work.
Jeff Jensen here. While I was dazzled by FF’s pilot, I decided to take a wait-and-see approach on the show. Also, I was wary of committing to a season’s worth of recapping, as writing about Lost is a full time job unto itself. But you’re going to get more FF content soon, on a weekly basis here at ew.com. And yes, pre-season Lost musings will be coming very soon, too.
I’m not sure why EW keeps trying to pimp what is so obviously a terrible show. The ratings are dropping every week for good reason.
This is the first FlashForward article that EW has published since the show premiered.
This may be the first article, but FlashForward has gotten mentions in The Bullseye and the week’s top 10 things feature.
There is absolutely no mystery to “V.” It’s very disappointing. As for “Flash Forward,” I would prefer we refer to John Cho as from “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle” instead of “Star Trek.”
I thought it was 2 minutes and 17 seconds?
I do not think that V will hang on. The ratings are dropping and it has to be very expensive to make an episode.