Paradox

Although the first episode is not particularly engaging (not a good sign) I persevered and from the second story on they have definitely got better and better.

The thing that makes this series most interesting to me isn't the science fictiony bits - not that there's really that much involved in this story. The main influence of science fiction on the plot is mainly on the delivery of the plot line pictures but the suspense in the story comes down to good old character interaction and the way that that the three police officers interact with each other and the scientist running the satellite that appears to be taking the photographs that are cuing the police into the incidents they are investigating.

Each of the characters has a particular view on what these pictures represent, from the DS's continuing scepticism of the photographs reality to the scientist's belief that the pictures are showing the future but he has issues with his bosses in the shadowy section of the MoD that is contracting the work he's doing.

It's been good in the way that the Beeb haven't shied away from letting people die - this power has not given the cops god-like abilities to change the future, and there have been moral dilemmas as to who can be saved.

All-in-all an interesting set of story lines.

I have just watched the first 5 episodes of Paradox - it has just aired here in New Zealand. I loved it - every episode and can't believe thats it - only 5 episodes! Please bring more to me - there's still so much to explore. Where are the messages coming from, what does this mean about the nature of reality (deep eh!), how are all the characters linked? I love the relationships the characters have with each other. I think Tasmin Outhwaite portrays her part amazingly well. The acting is great, the story is exciting, interesting and absorbing. I find there are very few programmes on television these days which grab my attention and which I feel I need to see every episode. Mostly I can take or leave it and if I miss an episode - so what. With Paradox I was glued to each episode and felt I had to make sure I saw every episode. I only wish I had recorded the episodes so that I could watch them again. It's the best programme I have seen for a long time. More please!!

Why, when the majority of the comments on this series are positive, is IMDb displaying only the negative ones on the first page and one has to delve deeper to find those that give the series praise? Also if anyone reading this looks closely at the negative comments and reads how many people found the comment useful, they will see that it's quoted as 5 out of 15, or something similar. Personally I found it far better than the big budget, typically glam, US production, Flash Forward, which, so I read on EZTV, because of low viewing figures may not be returning after the mid-season break. I recommend that you give this series a chance, you'll enjoy it!

Paradox is obviously inspired by Fringe: Heavily featured out of the way City (Boston/Manchester), Blonde female lead, Mysterious high tech corporation behind the happenings, something else I won't mention to not spoil Fringe plot, Team that is formed from the normal police force but deployed to track unexplained phenomenon, socially awkward scientists provide technical support. I love both shows, but I think Paradox is more intelligent and disciplined. Fringe is all over the place (and fascinating for it), but Paradox stays focused on one phenomenon and milks it. Each episode you get a little more. With Fringe I get the feeling that we are being introduced to an ever increasing piece of an ever increasing pie. In other words, that there is no way we are ever going to get a complete explanation. But with Paradox, I may hold out hope. I also like the way that both shows are filmed on location. You definitely get a feel for the cities.

Yes, it's not an American TV show. So you will not find tons of special effects, sophisticated action scenes and so on. In the other hand, you can count on a very intelligent script, good acting and very nice and well prepared suspense scenes. Actually, this TV show follows a kind of UK productions (and, being more specific, BBC productions) tradition, to present series with this quality (Survivors is another good example). Hopefully we will have more than the already predefined 5 episodes and, hopefully, the audience will not be frustrated with a premature end, without a convenient conclusion that bring some light to all open questions (what, unfortunately is quite common nowadays in other TV shows).