Tru Calling: compte à rebours

I watched the premiere of Tru Calling last night and it was pretty good. I am not sure if this show will last because its time slot sucks(between survivor and friends) but I plan to watch it anyway( I will tape it because it is on opposite Survivor) The only thing I am concerned about is that if every episode is the same formula of Tru going back in time a day then the show will get old quickly. However, I will give it a shot and see what it will do. Eliza Dushku is great! I have been a fan of her work since she was in That Night. If you are a sci-fi/horror fan give Tru Calling a try before its too late!

This show had so much potential and Fox never gave season 2 a chance. If Netflix was around and picked up Tru Calling after fox cancelled it we would have gotten another 4 seasons. Netflix should remake this show now and let it have the run it deserves

The first 3 episodes were really engaging, fast-paced and had great character and story developments. The show then becomes even better as Tru learns from the people she attempts to save and this show does a great job distinguishing each episode and making them unpredictable. Some episodes are even unforgettable. The main chemistry between Eliza, Zach and Shawn keeps you watching. The mythology of the show really picks up toward the end of the first season and the instant chemistry with Eliza and Jason is addicting. The entire second season revolves around those two and each episode is a can't-miss.

I watched the first season of Tru Calling about year ago on Sky One, and thought it was OK. It didn't stand out at first and the writing wasn't very good, but it really started to pick up! The stories got better and the characters developed, and I enjoyed watching it.

I got the complete DVD set a couple of months ago, and wow, the second season (well, all 6 episodes!) is AMAZING. Suddenly the whole thing gets better, with more intricate characters and surprises. There is great interaction between "Tru" and "Jack" and the show is suddenly entertaining to watch. It is such a shame that it was cancelled after only 6 episodes of Season 2! If only they had shown Season 2 on TV, I'm sure people would have watched them. It's worth buying on DVD to see the whole thing, and remains one of my fave TV shows.

At first glance, Tru Calling may appear to be a "rip off". It has elements of The Dead Zone, Early Edition, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Quantum Leap; even Saved By an Angel. And with vetran writers from shows like Star Trek: Voyager, you might think that you've seen this all before. Well, you haven't!

But, isn't that the way of scifi television? Even Star Trek: The Next Generation could be considered a "rip off". Why do comic book heroes keep reappearing on the screen, after years and years of already knowing their superpowers?

The answer is simple -- good storytelling. And, especially in the second half of the first season, "Tru Calling" found its stride. What makes "Tru" different is that the show seems to seriously care about the themes it presents to you; murder, life, death, and dealing with the ability to change the fate of people facing this prospect. Tru successfully walks the line between tongue-in-cheek Back to the Future/Ground Hog day humor inherent to the premise, and the serious obligation that would be involved if you could change someone's fate. Tru is a great lesson in mortality and touches on how we all deal with death, with a comic book's playfulness. In this way it is like any great adult comic book that gives itself a bit of philosophy.

The first season DVD is highly recommended if in the US. At the time of this writing the show has been canceled by Fox television and the cliffhanger ending may leave you wanting to see the last six episodes, which have yet to air.

CJF