Eleventh Hour

I LOVE Eleventh Hour. This is, in fact, the only CBS show that I actually watch. Before Eleventh Hour came on, I always referred to CBS as the "CSI Channel". I'm also not into reality TV. BUT THEN CAME DR. HOOD! Eleventh Hour is SMART! It's engaging. It shows genuine human concern and compassion. It grapples with the very real possibilities of when science and technology go too far and what that means. IT MAKES YOU THINK! I have always thought Rufus Sewell was an excellent actor, and he has been a joy and pleasure to follow in this series. The chemistry between him and Rachel, and now Felix, is AWESOME. I DVR'd every episode so I wouldn't have to sit through commercials--I hated breaking up the story with ads, I was always on the edge of my seat. I'd very much like to see some reruns of Season 1 this summer and am definitely planning on getting the first season on DVD when it's available. This show has great potential for several continuing seasons. I'm eagerly (and slightly impatiently) waiting for the fall so that I can see new episodes of Eleventh Hour and Dr. Hood.

First, it's true that this is a US version of a Brit TV series. But since Brit TV usually has only 4-8 episodes per season as compared to the 13-20 in the US, the stories have to supplemented to stretch out the season. And the characters have to grow more, also. It works for some shows and not for others.

But this show mostly makes it. Sewell comes across as smart but not smarmy, complex but accessible. Shelton is pretty, bright and brave. This doesn't feel like a show where they are going to fall for each other and jump into bed (or over the shark, for that matter). Adding Omar Benson Miller has added another foil and gives some teeth to the kick-ass FBI. He's got the enthusiasm and really plays well with the two leads.

As for the stories, it's partly X-Files with some CSI tossed in. It's a bit lighter than both but genuinely has some sense of impending doom. Some stories work better than others but this show seems to have found a pretty good balance in the last several episodes.

It's worth watching a couple of episodes. I think it could get better with a little more time to develop. I hope it gets a second season because it could develop into a really neat show with more than a cult following. It gets a 7 for now but there is room for an upwards adjustment.

Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell) is a scientific adviser to the FBI. FBI agent Rachel Young (Marley Shelton) is assigned as his partner in unusual incidence.

I guess this was another attempt at importing Brit TV. It lasted only 1 season or 18 episodes. It wasn't particularly successful. There's nothing particularly new here. It's a basically a police procedural with hot Marley Shelton and dark Rufus Sewell. The most interesting part of the duo is how low is Marley Shelton going to open her shirt down to and how much energy can Rufus Sewell suck out of the TV. It's not one of my favorites. Certainly not surprised of its cancellation.

Among the many things make this show highly enjoyable, it's worth mentioning the absence of non-sense, low grade, soapbox drama, no abnormal, twisted minds, demented characters sold as heroes, the engaging scientific quests, and the great individual and teamed performance of both leading actors. Personal drama is added in the right amount to make the characters real and likable, never diverting the focus from the original concept and plot lines. Two very plausible professionals, each very skilled in his/her trade, just trying to do their best to save other's lives and honestly earn their salaries. The show delivers week after week. It took just one episode for acquiring the taste. The gap caused by the show's cancellation will be deeply felt. Please: GET THE SHOW BACK ON!

It was just another run of the mill murder/mystery show. Rufus and his side kick both talk in monotones. The mysteries were not very interesting and they had no real hook to make this feel special or different. Neither of these actors seem to be able to make that transition to having a hit show. I read about this show on a list of sci fi shows and I have no idea why it was on the list. There is nothing sci fi about it at all. It is however perfect to watch and fall asleep too or have on while working on something else. :) Also why do we have to submit 10 long lines for a review? Sometimes less is more IMDb.