Pasadena

The Greeleys are a powerful Californian family. They own newspapers and politicians. George Greeley is the patriarch. His daughter Catherine is married to Will McAllister with teenage daughter Lily. One night, Lily is home alone when she's confronted by crazed Philip Parker. He commits suicide. Lily investigates and discovers the dark secret inside her family.

I don't know if I saw this back in 2001. After 9/11, I remember the start of Smallville, non-stop new reports, and late night serious comedians. One did get overwhelmed with the disturbing reality of the world and retreat back to fantasies. A darker fare like this could have faced a greater hurdle. This certainly deserved a better fate. Dana Delany is brilliant. I do get frustrated with Lily's childlike cluelessness. It's predictable that the bones would go missing. It's odd she thinks that Henry had run away. Also Henry's conflict with Tom seems to come out of nowhere. There are a few plot turns that come too fast and furious. They need set up or maybe not exist at all. Mike White puts his comedic touches which doesn't always fit the dark murderous plot. It's fine to have the comedic flourishes from the lighter characters like Jennie and Mason. It's more problematic for the others to flirt with comedy. The tone needs some calibrating. Overall, this is an engaging soapy mystery drama. The twisting plot does move very quickly which leaves me questioning how far the show could go anyways. It got canceled after four episodes.

This drama actually became quite intriguing minute after minute. I basically only tuned in to catch a few cast members that I enjoy thinking I was only going to be interested in the scenes that they were in but I ended up watching the whole episode and enjoying it. A teenage girl finds out that her family, one of the wealthiest in the world, has many skeletons in their closets after she finds a disturbed man committing suicide in the dining room of her home. Her family shrugs it off as a mere inconvenience but she knows better and discovers more than she could imagine with the help of the new boy in school, who's got some secrets of his own. With the teenager's narration and the "perfect" family that isn't so perfect the series plays out like "My So-Called Life" meets "American Beauty". Much more interesting than any of the dramas of the fall 2001 season this show is slick, smart and very well done. No surprise considering that Mike White, who wrote and starred in the film "Chuck and Buck", created this disturbing piece of drama. Diane Keaton did an excellent job directing the first episode. If the rest of the series can remain as provoking and addicting as the first episode than I think there's definite possibilities and promise in store.

I knew Balthazar Getty was to be in this show, so I had to watch it. The first minute of the show I was glued. Each show gets better and better, and is perfectly rounded with humour, and moments that make you want to scream and dive into the scream. Surprisingly the unrealisticness works, and you don't question. Great show, definitly my second fave! Malcolm in the Middle is better, of course =)

I am a huge fan of prime time soaps especially 90210, Melrose Place, and Titans. Pasadena is deffinetly an awesome addition but its different than the rest. I deffinetly did not expect to be drawn into a murder mystery. Pasadena is stuck in an awful time slot and ratings for the first 2 episodes sucked so it needs to start picking up viewers if there is any hope for it to stick around. Deffinetly give it a shot, you'll love it!!!!!

I have just finished watching Pasadena and I definitely want more. The haunting narrative and creepy atmosphere keep you on the edge of your seat. The story begins with a teenager recalling the events that will lead up to her rich family's demise. As the story slowly unfolds and you see the main character, Lily, coming to terms with the fact her family is not what it appears, one is left wondering what could possibly be in store for Lily next. I am curious how the writers will give us enough information to sustain our interest, but keep enough mystery to have us wondering what is to come. If the first episode gives us any indication as to what's to come then the series will continue to be solid and intense. I for one will be setting up my VCR to catch the next episode and I would recommend you do the same.