Keen to jump into the fourth season premiere of "Alias" this coming Wednesday but worried that as a new viewer you won't understand what's going on? Don't panic. According to an interview up on Alias Media with creator J.J. Abrams, the two-hour opener will be easy for newcomers to follow - "We're not going to have any reprise (of previous seasons). We're not going to have any explanation...In no way is this first episode imposing or convoluted".
Til now the spy actioneer has been one of those shows that you have to watch every episode from the beginning to understand all the shifting character dynamics, twists and loyalty changes that have been going on. Unlike shows like "Buffy" or "24" which would reset each season, many of the storylines got carried over from year to year. This continuity became a problem last season when the intricate tapestry of developing subplots became so entangled it was near impossible for all but the hard core viewer to follow.
The plan, at least for the earlier episodes of this coming fourth series, is that more than a few of the eps will be self-contained. Like any show there's more rewards in it for the long-term viewer but the strategy is at least for the opening few weeks to make it easy for a new audience to jump into the show which hopes to benefit from its post-"Lost" timeslot. Don't expect the show to go all "CSI" reset each week style however, as the season goes on "Alias" will move back into the larger schemes (essentially it's like the show's first season all over again). "Hopefully, people will be so invested in the characters that they'll enjoy the ride" says Abrams.
Indeed, already a few reviewers of the first half of the premiere episode (which introduces Angela Bassett in a recurring role as the new boss) have been raving it's better than ever, so says TV columnist Kristin from E! Online. In the same column, Abrams continues to be adamant about the shows change of direction from last year: "There were flaws, but my gut is that at the end of the day, when you look back when we're in year--hopefully--six or seven, and you say 'Year three really went off track a little,' it'll feel more a sort of bump in this road and a necessary one... I'm thrilled we get to correct our course, and the reaction I'm getting so far is that people are all very enthusiastic about season four".
For hardcore fans though some little spoilers are emerging. For example Sydney goes through least three different wigs in the opening 15 minutes of the premiere. Vaughn will be going down a darker track this year after the death of wife Lauren. Weiss gets to go on a few missions this season, and gets bizay. The Rambaldi stuff will be a lot less and further in the background (thank god!), and finally the episode scores are all getting beefed up with live orchestral recordings.
No comments:
Post a Comment