Mysterious Ways

I used to watch '' Mysterious Ways '' when it was broad casted after midnight on our commercial television. For me it was the perfect material to end the day with. Its heartwarming story lines never get too heavy and it has a positive atmosphere.

The show is about a charming college professor ( Adrian Pasdar ) with a huge interest in the paranormal. With his skeptical colleague psychiatrist Peggy ( Rae Dawn Chong ) and promising student Miranda ( Alisen Down )on his side, he tries to uncover the story behind ghostly appearances, Christian miracles, reincarnation and exorcism. In most of the episodes he's confronted with a scientific explanation to everything, but sometimes the outcome suggests more between heaven and earth. Science and faith are equally important in this show.

In another review someone mentioned it is a combination between ''The X-files '' and '' Touched by an angel''. That's a pretty accurate way to describe the show. It has the scientific approach to uncover the reality as in ''The X-files'' and the heartwarming interaction between humans as in '' Touched... '' Though I must add that '' Mysterious Ways '' never takes a religious stance in its subjects. It's to the viewer what he wants to believe. No forced Christian morales here.

After viewing The Pilot, I thought that The Adventures of The Believer & The Skeptic had already been done well and better on The X-Files. The Second episode, however, changed my mind. Adrian Pasdar and Rae Dawn Chong are engaging leads and are believable as the passionate Professor of Anthropology and the bitter scientist/Psychologist. Episode II was better written and was reminiscent of other feel good shows like Touched By An Angel, Early Edition, and Highway To Heaven. Mysterious Ways is worthy of a second glance.

I fell in love with this show within the first 10 minutes of watching the pilot episode. I've watched X-files since day one, and believe it is one of the best shows to ever have tackled the "unknown"...... but Mysterious Ways has more heart and that is what sets it apart. The acting is fabulous! Adrian Pasdar is very charismatic, and his character is wonderful, (I've already fallen in love with Declan!) And Rae Dawn Chong adds a powerful and insightful side to the duo that just makes me want to know her character in real life. I think these two have a great relationship on screen. Both Adrian and Rae detailed movie and t.v. histories, but I think this show will really help them along. Looking forward to the next episode already!! Monday is my new favorite day of the week!

One of the biggest losses was the cancellation of Mysterious Ways. The first time I saw it was in Sept. 2000. The title caught my eye and decided to watch it. It left me in amazement! I loved it! And this was just the first episode I saw. Some shows grow on you, this one steals your heart and mind.

I totally disagree that this show is a cheap imitation of the X-Files. The X-Files deals with government conspiracies, alien invasions and gives you a sensation of doubt and uncertainty. Mysterious Ways relaxes you and gives you hope that not everything is what it seems and that anyone can experience a miracle, where this word is not meant to be a "Divine intervention", but rather the emotions and possibilities that are within us all.

Take the characters, a bumbling anthropology professor whose heart is the only thing in its right place, a scientific minded calculating psychiatrist and a true genius that is a social misfit. How can these three people have anything in common? How could they get along if placed alone in a room? And yet, each has this trait which takes them above all this and helps them build a friendship of love and loyalty. In a world where they are all alone, they form a union where each accepts the others and is in turn accepted. The message that they scream is that the true miracle is that we all can get along and that we should, if we can get outside our selves for a moment. Who can forget the episode when Declan discovers a lump near his underarm, or when Miranda mysteriously learns to play the violin, or when a college student is found to have "superhuman" strength, or when the tomb of an ancient monk is discovered. (etc, etc.)

The show was marketed at 30 to 40-year olds, and apparently there weren't enough of them to keep the ratings up, so the show was cancelled leaving us with game shows, reality TV and sitcoms. Not that these are bad, everyone is entitled to veg-out once in a while, but shows that make you want to be a better person and that make you think and leave you feeling like there is hope out there and that we can make a difference are scarce, and this was one of them.

If you ever come across it, don't pass up this unique experience.

I know this show was canceled about five years ago, but I just started watching the reruns a couple months ago, and fell in love with the show. True, the episodes aren't in order that way, but I don't think it really matters. Peggy Fowler, the psychiatrist (is that what it's called?) is a really interesting character, because you find out more and more about her as the series continues. Of course, Declan Dunn is great; I love his klutziness, and how he always jumps to conclusions, and Peggy and Miranda step in to help him, though more skeptically. Which brings me to Miranda Feigelstein (is it Feigelsteen or Feigelstein?), another amazing character. She's just so serious, and so focused, you can't help but love her character. An amazing show, and I'm very sorry it was canceled.