Flash Gordon

I watched the pilot and, frankly, thought this series was plain bad. HOWEVER a funny thing happened over the months. Around October I tuned back in with a friend to show them how weak a show "Flash" was...turns out it was much better. Still not fantastic but watchable. Some of the characters were interesting, the plot was more action oriented and set on Mongo (rather than Flash's Mom's house). It made me re-evaluate it. Another few weeks passed and I tuned in again...turns out the show isn't that bad after all.

So the question begs itself, can you write off a show that starts poorly or should it be judged in its entirety? I think, all things considered, the show is better than it was and might well become a quality show. There are a few episodes left in the season so I'm adopting a wait and see attitude. But the most recent episodes are far better than previous ones and I think the show deserves a second season...assuming they up the budget and tweak the writing.

I've read some of the reviews at how this series's pilot got trashed by a lot of viewers. The acting here isn't on the Citizen Kane level, but I've seen the Sci-Fi channel come up with a lot worse.

The Flash Gordon for the 21st century is Canadian actor Eric Johnson who you might remember was in the first two seasons of Smallville as Whitney Fordman the boyfriend of Lana Lang. I was very sorry he was written out of that series and am glad he got something else.

There's been so much advance in science that stuff like Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers can't possibly sell today in its original form except as camp. The creators of this series obviously wanted to have the show grounded somewhat in reality.

What they did is ripoff the concepts from Stargate, both the film and the television series. Flash's father was killed allegedly in a lab explosion several years ago, but maybe not. What was created was some kind of portal and maybe he's gone through it.

Flash and Dale Arden, played by Gina Holden, who's an investigative reporter go through the portal and end up where no man, but Flash's dad has gone before. We've got eleven episodes already filmed to see what adventures they find.

I sincerely hope the show lasts and it was nice to get an explanation of where the name Flash came from, real name Steven.

I've read the reviews, and I know my opinion is unpopular. So, in my honest opinion, the new Flash Gordon is a good adventure series and not unlike the original Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Hercules, Firefly, or any other tongue-in-cheek adventure show. The new Battlestar Galactica is a drama set in a Sci Fi universe, but it takes itself too seriously for my taste. Don't get me wrong, the new BG is good, but I prefer shows like the new Flash Gordon over it.

I've read the venomous barbs attacking the show and I don't want any part of that: suffice it to say "to each his own". I guess what I'm saying is I prefer the Fantasy-side of Sci Fi over the drama-side, but that does not mean I'm any less of a fan of Sci-Fi. From my perspective,FG is a good effort and the Sci Fi channel ought to be lauded for such a brave endeavor, but like the Dresden Files, Flash Gordon will most likely be canceled.

The saddest part about this is new take on FLASH GORDON is that the lead (Eric Johnson) is actually not bad in the role. The rest is mediocre at best. From clichés like the "funny" black guy side kick, characters just happening to get important phone calls just when the main character was about to leave the room, to old relationships being revisited coming back into the hero's life just when the adventure begins so that they can become closer through adversity and on and on and on; to some truly pedestrian dialog (yes, they at one point even use the immortal "don't go there" line); and finally production values and special effects on par with the Superboy t.v. series from the late 80's-early 90's...this pilot isn't exactly confidence inspiring. While Johnson was often quite irritating as Whitney on "Smallville" he shows a good deal of humor and charisma as our hero. It was a very unwise decision to make him a marathon runner however. He's far too big to pass as a long distance runner and it's not exactly a physical and dashing sport. It's cheaper to film a bunch of guys running, so this was probably a budgetary decision, but than why not make him just some kind of overall ambitious athlete? Or maybe make him some in the closet major talent that didn't get his break because of responsibilities to his family. Maybe he just tears up the local football or soccer amateur leagues and hence his nickname for flashing past all the local competition? Just a thought. The rest of the male cast looks like they were recruited from a Canadian dinner theater production and the mandate for the females seems to have been "Skinnier! Skinnier! I want these ladies to unconvincing and yet remarkably skeletal at the same time!" The show also takes so many liberties with the characters (as opposed to previous versions) and essence of the story itself that it now resembles more of a "Sliders" clone than any previous FG creation. It would have been better off being it's own thing and not trying to simply leech off the Flash Gordon name. If only the show could have been as inventive and epic as the concept art included on the special pilot episode DVD that was recently released. That actually showed some promise. One can only hope it improves (a whooooole lot), as I don't think it could get any worse. At least I hope it doesn't get any worse. But then at least it would enter the "so bad it's funny" area and that would be more entertaining.

I don't think this is as bad as some reviewers seem to believe. I do think that this is NOT Flash Gordon. I'm getting sick and tired of Hollywood re-imagining or re-inventing stuff. I mean, what's the point of naming your show Flash Gordon and then taking it as far away from it's origins as you can get. In my humble opinion you will just disappoint people. And when you read the majority of the reviews here, they have!! It's too bad for the lead character, because Eric Johnson is great!! He can act and he is great as an action hero. The actor who plays Zarkoff is also great. He actually made me laugh out loud several times. The great let down (besides the SFX and very mediocre writing) of this show is Ming! He is certainly not merciless, he is just...well...less. He is not scary nor is he even interesting. Damn I want Max von Sydow back!! I mean what's next?? A re-invention of Star Wars where Darth Vader is actually a Russian ballet dancer?? I mean come on!! If you name your show Flash Gordon then give us Flash Gordon and NOT the sequel to Sliders where the main character just happen to listen to the name Flash Gordon.