Flash Gordon: America’s Golden Boy Returns to the Tube
But Is the Series Sci-Fi Done Right or Sci-Fi Done Trite?
Flash Gordon is so misunderstood, an observation that is reinforced each time another person mentions shows like Battlestar Galactica and Farscape in the same breath. As the latest take on the classic 1930s comic strip created by Alex Raymond was never intended to equal or rival such series, it only makes sense to me to evaluate Sci Fi Channel’s latest addition in terms of its independent merits.
Those who are familiar with earlier versions of the story, no matter what the medium, will instantly recognize the basic premise of the current interpretation. All-American—and superpowerless—Steven “Flash” Gordon (Eric Johnson of Smallville) is living a relatively carefree life with his mother following the assumed death of his scientist father when he was just thirteen years old. Things get unexpectedly weird very quickly, however, when a truck driver finds a strange device floating above the road, and Flash’s ex-girlfriend Dale Arden (Gina Holden of Blood Ties), a local television reporter, begins investigating her own weird story about a bowling-alley alien.
Add the ever-present underlying theme concerning Flash’s search for his father, who he discovers may still be alive after an encounter with the scientist’s former colleague Dr. Hans Zarkov (Jody Racicot of Night at the Museum), and the stage is set for the defining frequent trips through trans-dimensional rifts to the planet Mongo. Ruled by a thoroughly unimposing and non-scary blonde Ming (John Ralston of Earthstorm), Mongo has its own problems arising from the so-not-evil dictator’s stranglehold on the planet’s precious water supply. Will Flash manage to eventually find and reunite with his father while also teaching this allegedly merciless leader a lesson or two? The question isn’t so much will he but rather will anyone care.
Executive producer Tom Rowe states in an interview with TV Guide that although the new Flash contains “sly commentary on politics and global warming,” the intention was to have “light, goofy fun,” not to make a deep, meaningful show on a par with the Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Well, in that respect then, mission more or less accomplished. Viewers who tune into Flash Gordon anticipating a program with the potential to blow them away with its creativity, insight, and/or realistic special effects should squash their expectations posthaste; campy or not, the series doesn’t deliver on any of those fronts.
Yet, if all you need is a bland companion to your Friday-night Doctor Who fix that’s capable of providing an hour of mild storytelling, then Flash it is. Whether the series succeeds or fails depends entirely on how many viewers will make do with that minimally serviceable contribution to television history. Judging from early commentary and public response, the number might not be sufficiently large to sustain the series. But who knows? Maybe nonvocal TV watchers will show up en masse to blast away the predictions of all the naysayers, and it wouldn’t be the first time (remember last year’s Who Wants to Be a Superhero? pre-launch criticism?) or very surprising to me.
The Verdict: C
Related Post: Sneak Peek: Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon will air Fridays on the Sci Fi Channel at 9pm EST
Flash Gordon photo courtesy of the Sci Fi Channel
Flash reeked!
Yet Sci-Fi execs didn’t renew the Dresden Files (apparently something about the demographic being too old (30+) and female – weird, considering SF is run by Bonnie Hammer who is in that same demographic…).
The Dresden files is intelligent, exceptionally well-written, superbly acted & directed, has excellent character chemistry, and get this – original stories. PLUS it hasn’t been on since APRIL, hasn’t had ANY re-runs, NO advertising, NOTHING – and the DVD’s are STILL 30th in OVERALL DVD Sales at Amazon & 7th at Barnes & Noble (8/11)!! I wonder what Sci-Fi is thinking now!
We fans have been campaigning since April with absolutely NO response from Sci-Fi or NBC/Universal, but we’re stepping it up with a NEW HOME 4 DRESDEN PETITION at: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/new-home-4-dresden.html which currently has over 770 signatures (over 100 a day) & the “WIN HARRY†RAFFLE running from 8/8/07 through 9/8/07 to help support the campaign. http://dresdencity.org/Renewal/Donations/Donations.html
So don’t count us fans (many of us in that scorned demographic) out yet! We’re just about to get serious.
I agree Zarina—Dresden deserved much better treatment than it received from Sci Fi and NBC Universal. I’m a member of that apparently inconsequential viewer demographic, too, and I would love to see the Dresden campaign succeed.