|
Flash Gordon: SCI FI's New Series Bridges Generations |
|
Monday, 06 August 2007 |
By Kenn Gold
|
|
|
Gina Holden (Dale Arden) and Eric Johnson (Steven "Flash" Gordon) star in SCI FI's re-maged classic |
In the summer of 1980, the film version of Flash Gordon, starring Sam Jones, was released in American theatres, the first live action adaptation since the 1950’s (discounting the X-rated take off, Flesh Gordon released in 1974). While panned by today’s critics as campy and crude, I personally loved the Sam Jones film. That’s largely because that summer I connected to my father in a way I probably hadn’t before, begging him to take me to see it at least 10 times. And he did. He also explained to me then that he had loved going to the movies in the 1950’s with his own father to watch the weekly serials. Both my father and grandfather have passed away since I last visited Flash Gordon, so the story has a personal meaning to me, especially given the commitment that this Flash has to his own father. Thus, in a very real way, Flash Gordon is more than just another pilot on the SCI FI Channel. To me, at least, it is a bridge across the generations, and the rebirth of a character, whose story needs to be told.
SCI FI Channel recently sent out a pre-air unfinished version of the pilot for their new series for review. The version still has green screens in some scenes with notes as to what effects will eventually go there, as well as ADR notes about dialogue to be re-recorded. Seeing the pilot in this state was in and of itself an interesting experience as actors are reacting to things that aren’t there. To cut to the chase, before delving into the specifics, this pilot works and works well. If the momentum and energy of the pilot can be carried forward into the series, this show has every potential to be a huge success.
|
|
|
Flash meets up with Dale after she returns home. | This time around, Steven “Flash” Gordon (Eric Johnson) is still an accomplished athlete, though now a three time winner of his local marathon. His physicist father gave him the nickname of Flash when he was just a child. Flash’s father was killed in a lab accident when he was 13 and Flash, now in his early 20’s, still lives at home with his mother. This is a fact that is somewhat embarrassing to him as he is explaining it to his former high school girlfriend, Dale Arden (Gina Holden), who has recently returned from college and is now a reporter for the local news channel. In a particularly touching scene early in the pilot, we see Flash visit his father’s grave and place his winning medal on the gravestone (along with two others that have obviously been there for awhile).
Flash notices that he is being followed by a man in an RV, whom he eventually confronts. The man who we later learn is Dr. Zarkov (Jody Racicot), hints to Flash that his Father may in fact still be alive, before disappearing. Meanwhile, strange things begin occurring around town; flying vehicles are seen and shot down by the locals and an alien appears in the bowling alley causing damage.
As Flash begins investigating these occurrences, in hopes of learning more about what the strange man meant about his father and trying to discover if there is a connection, he is paired with Dale, who is now investigating the events for her job. Eventually, they find RV man and learn that he had worked with Flash’s father who was working on a secret government project. When another alien appears at Flash’s house and is destroyed, Flash finds his father’s drivers license amid the debris.
This leads him to take a huge risk in entering a trans-dimensional rift that opens, in hopes of discovering if his Father is alive. When the rift opens on the planet Mongo we meet the ruler Ming (John Ralston), who is called the benevolent father. Flash and Dale quickly surmise that Ming is not as benevolent as he would like them to believe, which leads to Flash being tortured, and Dale being cleansed in preparation to spend the night with Ming, for his pleasure.
|
|
|
Flash and his friend discuss the strange happenings going on |
Eventually, Flash and Dale make it back to Earth, along with a supposed slave girl of Ming's, who is in fact going to Earth to search for a precious artifact, believed to have been in the possession of Flash’s father. This artifact is known only as the “Imex”. (Wait for it, it’s an interesting revelation when we find out what the device actually is!) Eventually, Flash and Dale learn that they must keep the existence of the other dimension a secret from everyone, or that it will have dire consequences for the world.
Three questions come to mind in watching this pilot. First, is this a worthy successor to the legacy of Flash Gordon that the SCI FI Channel is launching, or is it going to be a campy and bad take on a great story? The answer is a resounding yes that the show is worthy of the name, and if the unfinished pilot is any indication, the show has every potential to become the next Battlestar Galactica. The second question is; given that there is a huge built in fan base for the legend of Flash, will the changes that were necessary to make this show work be acceptable to the fan base? For example, there are no longer rocket ships, and Flash and Dale travel to Mongo via a trans-dimensional rift. It is easy to blink and see the pilot and the strange experiments going on as almost another episode of Eureka. So that concept is workable given that shows success on the network. Given the similarities of the rift technology to the StarGate universe, a mainstay of the network for many years, that is workable also, and it is easy to forget that earlier versions of Flash traveled in a rocket ship.
|
|
|
Flash's mother is evasive about what happened to his father | The major remaining question that comes to mind is whether or not Eric Johnson, starring as Flash can carry a show as the lead. Best known for his recurring role as Whitney, Lana’s boyfriend and the foil to Clark Kent for Smallville’s season one, this is Johnson’s first outing as the lead character in a series. Again, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, if anything, Johnson may be so perfect for this role that it’s a very real possibility that he will be typecast as Flash Gordon for years to come, whether the show makes it or not. He is dynamic, funny and interesting in the pilot, and will do fine as the series progresses. Not only does he have "the look", but he carries it well. When coupled with the extremely strong supporting cast (Gina Holden as Dale Arden could likely carry the entire show herself) the pilot has even more promise.
|
|
|
Flash and Dale meet Ming for the first time |
This pilot is among the best of the season, and is a worthy embodiment of the Flash Gordon story. It is not to be missed. The only nagging doubts are whether or not any show aimed at a younger demographic can truly make it on a Friday night. It will likely be Tivo’d by mass numbers of viewers who are doing other things when it is airing live, but who won’t be counted by the Nielsen system. The other major remaining concern is how the relationship between Flash and Dale will be handled. It would seem that things are being set up for a long drawn out affair where the two come close to coming together, but never quite get there. Interestingly enough, Johnson's character was the obstacle in the way at first for Lana and Clark on Smallville. I would challenge the show runners to find a way to let them be together without the endless tease that seems to be so much in style. If any one thing makes the long time fans of some very popular shows grow to hate them over several seasons, it would be the endless relationship tease. Hopefully this is a problem that Flash Gordon will have, i.e. Why are Flash and Dale still not together at the end of season 8?
SCI FI Channel’s latest re-imaged classic, Flash Gordon, premieres on Friday, August 3rd.
|
|
|
