Brimstone

It's too bad this show didn't live long enough for people to discover it.

At first glance, it seems just like another stupid fantasy show. However it's not like others of its ilk. It was well written and entertaining. Not the typical mind-numbing fare which is TV today.

Enjoy the reruns. It's a show which should have another shot but I doubt it will get the chance. If it did, it's unlikely the studios wouldn't destroy it in the next incarnation.

Sometimes, a television show comes along that goes against the grain. It doesn't play to any requirements to be successful...it allows the public to judge for itself whether they like it or not. This is TV on the edge. This supernatural story ultimately comes down to the relationship between the two main characters, one a tortured soul, the other his tormentor.

Despite the cracking storyline from week to week, the underlying story is remarkably developed. The true beauty of the show is each episode can be seen as a 'stand alone' or as a wonderful slice of religious science fiction. However, the series from start to finish leaves you with the feeling of hope for its main character.

Discerning television viewers will agree that really good shows are few and far between. Sure there's enough fast food around to keep our jaws working, but eventually we all long for a wholesome, home-cooked meal. And few things rival the satisfaction of sitting down to such a meal. Brimstone is one show that delivers this kind of satisfaction. Just when I had become used to the fast-track glitz and shallow humour of late 90's TV, Brimstone comes along and opens my eyes. It is an extremely enjoyable series. It's dark, grim, sad, but very intelligent, and often very funny. The razor-sharp innuendoes are the wittiest I've come across in a long time. The story is captivating. The dark blue shining in almost every scene is eerie, and sets the mood just right. To top it all off, we have a deliciously enjoyable bad guy (the Devil, played by John Glover), and interesting episodal villains. But, for me, who steals the show is Peter Horton. He plays the taciturn, unwilling hero so convincingly and honestly that he became a favourite of mine right from the first episode. He is MARVELLOUS. But, sadly, this gem is another scalp on the belt of the Network Butchers. The network that cancelled Brimstone have proven again that they have NO idea what quality viewing is. Their complete disregard for innovation and originality propels them into a new realm of ignorance. You will always be followers FOX, because, perhaps, you were never destined to lead. I mourn for Brimstone.

Which is, unfortunately, mostly what succeeds on TV these days. Shows such as Brimstone are just too intelligent, and go over the head of Average Joe TV Viewer (or Average Joe TV Executive). With all the proliferation and specialization of TV channels these days, maybe some day we can have an "Intelligent TV Channel" where shows like these can flourish and those too dim to "get it" can just remove it from their channel rotation.

Black humor is under-appreciated, and intelligent black humor is just beyond too many people, unfortunately. And Brimstone was chock full of it. Add to that a completely original premise, some decent action, good acting and the wonderful, delicious Lori Petty (::melt::) and Brimstone was a real winner. Too bad the suits didn't "get it".

Any TV producers out there reading this -- there's an idea for you. Create an "Intelligent TV Channel", and give us shows like this, or Max Headroom, Key West, Cupid, etc. You could even call it that, as a dig at the mindless drivel that pours off the screen most of the time.

This show showed the greatest amount of promise. It was a more realistic form of X-files with a focus more on the supernatural than the alien. Why was it better? Moments of dark comedy was one reason. The devil pops up in a cafe with Stone and orders " a big piece of angelfood cake." I almost fell out of my seat, laughing. But, it wasn't all dark comedy... some episodes mirrored "Its a wonderful Life," such as the one where Stone was visited by the other angel, one of the non fallen variety. Horton and the rest of the cast put on a marvelous show. The way the two characters played off one another was excellent, allowing the devil to be evil, but at the same time, full of trickery. He is afterall, the Lord of Lies, right? It was just a well rounded show, full of surprises, like Ash's true alliance. It had romance, drama, dark comedy, action, and mystery. It was intelligent, which, of course, means it could not take the Fox line up. I place this show above X-files because it advanced, while it seems X-files is still about Mulder believing and nobody else buying it.