Miracles, episode 1: The Ferguson Syndrome
Jun. 8th, 2023 02:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annavereHad spare time today so I threw this on. The short opinion: Creepy as hell. I loved it, although I'm not sure how much of that is based on this show's unique flavor as opposed to what it shares with others I already love.
Basically, this episode is a perfect blend. Whole shots and lines of dialogue reminded me of other shows. It carries with it the automatic hooks of religious themes fearlessly tackled, sinister supernatural occurrences and swift cancellation (13 episodes, just like Brimstone), plus it came out in 2003, so has then-typical budgetary limitations leaving most of the horror gratifyingly to one's imagination.
My first thought when I read the synopsis and saw the photo of Paul Callan was "no way, he's too young to be any type of investigator," but in under a minute Skeet Ulrich had me convinced. He brings a remarkable gravitas to the role, a calm clerical sensitivity, an old soul - exactly what the part seems to demand, and I quickly forgot his All-American pretty boy looks. Pretty much the instant he reluctantly destroyed the opening hope for a true miracle was when I started liking him - this increased at the end, when he finally got a real miracle and didn't want it at its price. And when his own superior didn't take it seriously he had the principle to resign.
I also liked the background of the character, in terms of being an orphan, brought up in the church, struggling with his faith and getting manipulated into the Ferguson case by someone or something which can imitate a trusted voice. Yeah, I think I'm going to like Paul. I don't remember being so impressed with Ulrich in Jericho, but it's been a long time since I saw that.
The other two main characters gave me less to go on. One of them literally just opened the door at the end. However, Paul going down the alley with the dry ice machine to meet this woman was the perfect inviting closer - Highlander, Angel and Brimstone prove that dark alleys are to adults what wardrobes and hedgerows are to children. Realms of angsty supernatural wonder await (I hope).
The third, Alva, is clearly leader of the team with the unpronounceable name, so I presume I should discount the beautifully sinister vibe he gave out? When Paul's in the diner and leans back, revealing Alva hidden from view precisely behind him (after Alva spent all episode stalking him), I got chills. Last time I saw that visual was Lucas Buck in American Gothic. Let's say I'm preconditioned to see this type of juxtaposition as a sign of dark intent or untrustworthiness.
Also from American Gothic: A ten year old boy whose miraculous powers possibly indicate his potential for damnation (although once he died he seemed okay and not demonic, so maybe not).
And when said boy started talking about how the darkness is some kind of entity? Major Rose Smith vibes. The "God is now here" message, and the diner conversation about a looming end of the world event also meshed with Jeremiah so well this episode standing by itself could practically be a prequel.
To be fair, it isn't all fannish-adjacent. There's also a certain X-Files vibe to proceedings, but I can live with that as long as it doesn't overwhelm the other aspects. The creep factor was exactly right for this story, anyway, as was the gloomy uncertainty of the end.
Anyway, back to Alva. The perfect trifecta of a somber, scholarly Scotsman. I'm pretty happy about that. Although stalking Paul before anything weird had even happened to him is in itself weird. And not wanting Paul to say what he saw in the blood out loud, as if he thinks something might be listening? Yeah, this guy is unnerving. I hope he remains so.
Lastly, the visuals were gorgeous throughout, the guest actors were all very good, there was a lot of emotional value in the boy's plight and the score was completely amazing, so it wins major style points out of the gate.
Basically, this episode is a perfect blend. Whole shots and lines of dialogue reminded me of other shows. It carries with it the automatic hooks of religious themes fearlessly tackled, sinister supernatural occurrences and swift cancellation (13 episodes, just like Brimstone), plus it came out in 2003, so has then-typical budgetary limitations leaving most of the horror gratifyingly to one's imagination.
My first thought when I read the synopsis and saw the photo of Paul Callan was "no way, he's too young to be any type of investigator," but in under a minute Skeet Ulrich had me convinced. He brings a remarkable gravitas to the role, a calm clerical sensitivity, an old soul - exactly what the part seems to demand, and I quickly forgot his All-American pretty boy looks. Pretty much the instant he reluctantly destroyed the opening hope for a true miracle was when I started liking him - this increased at the end, when he finally got a real miracle and didn't want it at its price. And when his own superior didn't take it seriously he had the principle to resign.
I also liked the background of the character, in terms of being an orphan, brought up in the church, struggling with his faith and getting manipulated into the Ferguson case by someone or something which can imitate a trusted voice. Yeah, I think I'm going to like Paul. I don't remember being so impressed with Ulrich in Jericho, but it's been a long time since I saw that.
The other two main characters gave me less to go on. One of them literally just opened the door at the end. However, Paul going down the alley with the dry ice machine to meet this woman was the perfect inviting closer - Highlander, Angel and Brimstone prove that dark alleys are to adults what wardrobes and hedgerows are to children. Realms of angsty supernatural wonder await (I hope).
The third, Alva, is clearly leader of the team with the unpronounceable name, so I presume I should discount the beautifully sinister vibe he gave out? When Paul's in the diner and leans back, revealing Alva hidden from view precisely behind him (after Alva spent all episode stalking him), I got chills. Last time I saw that visual was Lucas Buck in American Gothic. Let's say I'm preconditioned to see this type of juxtaposition as a sign of dark intent or untrustworthiness.
Also from American Gothic: A ten year old boy whose miraculous powers possibly indicate his potential for damnation (although once he died he seemed okay and not demonic, so maybe not).
And when said boy started talking about how the darkness is some kind of entity? Major Rose Smith vibes. The "God is now here" message, and the diner conversation about a looming end of the world event also meshed with Jeremiah so well this episode standing by itself could practically be a prequel.
To be fair, it isn't all fannish-adjacent. There's also a certain X-Files vibe to proceedings, but I can live with that as long as it doesn't overwhelm the other aspects. The creep factor was exactly right for this story, anyway, as was the gloomy uncertainty of the end.
Anyway, back to Alva. The perfect trifecta of a somber, scholarly Scotsman. I'm pretty happy about that. Although stalking Paul before anything weird had even happened to him is in itself weird. And not wanting Paul to say what he saw in the blood out loud, as if he thinks something might be listening? Yeah, this guy is unnerving. I hope he remains so.
Lastly, the visuals were gorgeous throughout, the guest actors were all very good, there was a lot of emotional value in the boy's plight and the score was completely amazing, so it wins major style points out of the gate.
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Date: 2023-06-08 10:42 pm (UTC)American Gothic, so badly treated, so much potential.
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Date: 2023-06-08 11:53 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2023-06-09 02:45 am (UTC)