The Beast

I should start by highlighting that I am biased, Patrick Swayze is a legend in my eyes and his untimely death robbed the world of a hugely talented actor, may his soul rest in peace.

I don't think bias is necessarily a bad thing though, of course that is for you to judge. This TV series was cut short at the news of Patrick's death, which while understandable, maybe the biggest mistake ever made. Its an amazing show. If you think that weekend TV such as law and order, csi etc is good viewing, you will be blown away by this show. The script is nothing short of a masterclass, it takes you to the very last minute of every episode and never has you guessing what's going to happen, because, well simply you just don't want to, it leaves you wanting more.

Its gritty and realistic and while sometimes pushes the boundaries of what may be believable for some, Sir Swayze always makes it feel real. The tension builds from the first episode and rumbles all the way through, so you're never disappointed. If you like hard hitting feel good TV, this is ideal for you, and if you like Patrick Swayze, this is a must see TV series.

It seems that only interpersonal emotional dramas gather the votes. The Beast is emotional, but it is not Little House on the Prairie. Swayze as maverick FBI agent is ably abetted by his new partner, well-portrayed by Travis Fimmel, in catching the bad guys and finding out 'who-dunnit' in an event 15 years prior. The characters are hard men who suppress their emotions to get the job done, yet this is who they are. Why this show has low ratings? I can only guess that there is not enough emotional interaction among the characters, and female interest is definitely low. Yet this is what makes the show gripping. Who will snap? Who will betray and who will be betrayed? Are the 'good' guys really the good guys? Even the bad guys are not what they seem at times. This is action drama that revolves around Swayze, who, health issues in real life or not, delivers a driven performance as if each case might be his last. If you don't like The Beast and don't want more of it, what are you doing watching cop shows? Go back to your reruns of Friends and Seinfeld, instead.

I can't understand how you could possibly think The Beast was a lousy show. Patrick Swayze is awesome in this role and Travis Fimmel brings a surprising strength to the show as Swayze's new partner. Each show reals me in even more and I can't wait for the next episode to find out where the two are next. I like the way the The Beast is filmed and enjoy seeing Chicago and its' various neighborhoods showcased brilliantly. It is refreshing to have a new crime drama that sets itself apart from all the other Law and Orders, CSIs, etc (so tired of those shows, ick). The story behind the story is what really interests me and it is fabulous to see Swayze's comeback. I root for Travis as well because not only is he easy to look at, he is turning into quite the actor.

Watch the show, it is totally worth it! Disregard the other comment. Seriously.

I saw the airing on 15 January 10:00 - 10:52 PM EST (this unusual time slot is what was scheduled). It was tight, well edited, grim, brilliant. I went to watch it with a friend and his cut was completely different. We both recorded another upcoming showing (17 January 6:00 - 7:00 PM EST and PST).

The showing on the 17th was far inferior; out of order, dumbed-down, slowed down, important points left out, and truly disappointing after the brilliant cut I had seen.

And if you are going to craft a show like this, don't decapitate it by blanking out every other word! Which versions did people see? Did anyone else catch two different versions of this? Which did you like better?

Makes you wonder how many fast and loose agents are out there. In the past one such in the CIA thought Pol Pot was a good idea. But, that too, isn't the point.

And Travis Fimmel gives a good performance from the start as he begins to trust the lunatic he's teamed with. And later in the series shows a style that'll get him re-casted without too much problem.

But three cheers for Patrick Swayze. Always liked Roadhouse, yes, the fighting, but particularly the music. Friend of mine had this problem, and stayed in his bedroom 'til the end - which is certain. Swayze shows tremendous heart by doing what he's always done, and in this case with an inner edge.

This will go down in cinema/TV history as a hell of a swansong.

15th Sept. 2009. Heard the news. My condolences to Patrick's family and friends.