Damien

Damien (2016): TV series on Fox, a direct sequel to The Omen film. Damien is now 30 and works as a war photographer. Things start to go strange, people die around him, friends, enemies, those who know about his past. The Devil Dogs are pretty busy but other deaths result from being dragged into an escalator by a tie (terrible way to lose face) or being crushed by a taxicab. There are competing cultists who want to protect Damien and also those who wish to kill him. Quite dark and violent even though Damien is an engaging character who is a reluctant Antichrist. There was only one season of ten episodes and I'm halfway through it. I suspect I'll be left wanting more. 8/10.

First, I'm really mad! Beside all the crappy shows on TV, that people find interesting and I can't figure it out why. They cancel one of the best in a long time!? Damien had a real potential and was much better then The omen and other movies in the omen franchise. It was much more complex, mysteries and row, and although it was based on the movie, it was original and unique. Of course the show wasn't perfect, but it also wasn't so bad as a lot of people said it was. Actors did a really great job, especially Bradley James and Barbara Hershey. Bradley James brought the new meaning on being the Antichrist, he wasn't just like I'm the Antichrist and that is it, but showed that even evil incarnated has a human in it and even Antichrist can suffer accepting his faith. And his American accent was amazing, I would never said he was British. And Barbara Hershey did a really good job making Ann Rutledge a real disciple totally dedicated to serve and protect Damien and it seems like she wants for her and Damien to be together forever and her believe that she is his mother, and nothing or nobody better cross her way protecting her little ˝angel˝. I think if the show centered more on the relationship between Damien and Ann Rutledge, It would be a lot more interesting kind of Norman Bates situation but reversed, here the ˝son˝ would call the shots. I don't know if anyone knows a real crime case of Stewart Northcott, but that case shows mother-son relationship that I mean.

Well long story short. It's a real shame that Damien was cancelled after one season and I'm sorry more people didn't find the show interesting. The show acquires a certain taste and not many have it.

Having watched all three Omens film during my youth, I was a bit reluctant at first whether or not it would be possible to take a classic like that and bring it into the TV-series era. I've watched 10 episodes so far, and I must admit, they've nailed it! Its a thrilling experience from episode 2 and on wards, and the suspense only rises per episode. The TV-Series does a really good job of providing a bit of feedback from the first film into season 1 so it sort of binds it together, and gains a plausible "life" of its own as a TV-series. If you love dark stories, and the everlasting story of good vs evil, where the boundaries are often erased as nothing is truly completely light nor dark, but can be either at any side, you should really take a good look at Damien, which has a lot of gloomy sides.

I have just finished watching the first episode of Damien and enjoyed it overall, unfortunately let down slightly by poor acting from Tiffany Hines and Megalyn Echikunwoke who both had the emotional range of a brick but Bradley James was good ( I mean I never expect top notch acting but surely an actress should be able to conjure a few tears when called for ). The use of footage from the original film was well used and gave us just enough to jog the memory without having to watch it.

But if you have not seen the original film then get watching but don't watch any of the others ( just don't! its not pretty ). So Overall 7 out of 10 for episode one.

I have confidence in Glen Mazzara's creation of this series, even if the critics out there trashing it, do not. One critic went so far as to say he would never give this show another chance after viewing the pilot. What tripe and how close minded. I gave Hannibal a chance, a re-working of another well-known character, and was richly rewarded. I intend to give this series a shot, let it unfold and see how it hits me, as a big fan of the 1976 Richard Donner film from which it draws thematically and musically. What I like about the pilot episode: the modern updating, the acting, the music, and not making Damien good or bad but basically innocent until his 30th birthday (why, I will leave for you to discover), upon which he must start grappling with horrific memories of his long-past childhood.

It makes no sense for Damien to start out evil in this show, as that leaves his character nowhere to go. What I hope will be explored is if the nature of evil, whether you believe in Revelation/the Bible or not, is a growth, a given, a concept that can be overcome, or something you ultimately must submit to and revel in as your true nature. And that conflict, the gray area, is much more interesting to me. This series will sink or swim, based on its ability to draw out that narrative. And in just viewing the pilot, I think it has a lot of possibility.