Finding Carter

I was very skeptical about an mtv series, but gave it a try for the lovely Katt Prescott. I was pleasantly surprised! The writing and storyline is absolutely wonderful! Even with the party scenes, or rather especially with the party scenes because it adds to the reality of teenagers, the plot is captivating. The acting is also superb! Kathryn Prescott effectively makes the audience feel the emotions Carter is feeling (not to mention the fact that Prescott is from London and definitely pulled off the American accent). I feel as though I'm part of the story. Fantastic show. I recommend this for anyone who likes drama with a little mystery involved.

Carter Stevens (Kathryn Prescott) is shocked with the discovery that her mother Lori (Milena Govich) is actually her abductor. Carter was born Lyndon Wilson to Elizabeth (Cynthia Watros) and David Wilson (Alexis Denisof). Her birth family includes fraternal twin Taylor (Anna Jacoby-Heron) and younger brother Grant (Zac Pullam). Max (Alex Saxon) is an old friend from her life with Lori who falls for Taylor.

This is a great concept. The idea is heart-breaking and full of potential. After the pilot, I was ready to give it an eight. This is why I wait for serial TV shows to end before doing a review. This show takes some crazy and horrible turns. First thing first, I thought Megan Prescott would play Kathryn's fraternal twin. I'm guessing Megan has quit acting. It's too bad because they were great in Skins. Her new TV family struck me as being wrong. Taylor looks so different from Carter. That basic problem leads the show down a rabbit hole of bad convoluted writing. After finding Carter, I would think it's standard procedure to do a DNA test. None of the writing about her origin makes any sense. So the overarching concept turns from a great original idea into a unmitigated mess.

As for the teen melodrama, I love Max. He is the only character worth rooting for. Taylor and him is the only compelling couple. Carter simply has horrible taste in boys. None of them are interesting. One can see the douche in them right from the start. It makes Carter look bad. It becomes a chore to care about her relationships. At first, I though the show was setting Max up as her longterm relationship. I'm fine with Max going with Taylor. That leaves Carter with an empty spot that is never filled.

As others have mentioned before me,its not quite as black and white as it might come of in the trailers.. Finding Carter starts out pretty interesting, and the 2-3 first episodes are entertaining enough.

But after that is goes into stereotype mode. Prescott does a fairly good job of playing Carter the long lost kidnapped daughter returned home. But Cynthia Watros does the most horrible job of pretending to be a mother,a cop and a struggling wife.

She doesn't look remotely believable as any of the three characters.I mean how many active duty detectives do you know,who walks around in high heels? Carters siblings are mostly one dimensional.

Her little brother is a gamer,and thats basically all you know about him.

Carter's so called twin sister(which doesn't look remotely believable as a twin) is the bright head of the family, the stereotype good girl who just struggles to break out of her role and be bad. And along comes carter soon she's smoking pot and hooks, up with Carters EX boyfriend, a stoner none the less.And her cop mother even condone. So They come up with a few twist and turns along the way,just so you will stick to the end. Mostly it consists of the usual family dramas.Wife cheating,struggling author of a husband,who feels he's a failure cause he can't come up with another best seller etc. I'm kind of amazed they gave it a second season,cause it's really not that great of a storyline. But I will watch it

Most of the "Tween Show" offerings from networks like CW, ABC Family, and the worst offender, Disney are so lame and contrived they insult one's intelligence and assault the senses like cold, moldy oatmeal.

This new show is a delight! With a perfect blend of drama and laugh out loud comedy, it portrays the ebb and tide of real world emotions in a clever and fresh new outlook I have only seen on shows like House MD or NYPD Blue.

Moving from dark angst to teenage pranks, sometimes in the same scene: The food court scene from the pilot episode in the mall is hilarious black humor. I won't delve into the plot, others have already covered the storyline.

I ill say that writing is phenomenal, the direction, fast paced and clever, the casting is spot on and their performances amazing.

I am not a youngster, I am in my fifties and thoroughly loved the first three episodes and watching the characters and their complex relationships develop.

Parents who are uncomfortable with real world, teenage drug use, drinking and sexual behaviors may find this show offensive. Then send your kids to a lock down Mormon Academy in Provo, because we behaved like that in the 1970's, my daughter did in the 1990's and my grand daughter does now. This is the real world of teenage, pain, drama, laughter,joy and real risk.

How they learn.

Very well done show, kudos to MTV and all the cast and crew, for producing a fun, edgy program. Particularly when it would be far too easy to follow this genre into the oatmeal bowl of boredom.

With so many shows coming out, I often find myself thinking that they all feel very similar. Especially the dramas seem one-sided, with clear-cut characters and predictable plots. This was not the case with Finding Carter. The characters portrayed are complex and conflicted, nevertheless I found myself able to empathise with every character on the show, maybe not sympathising with their behaviour, but definitely understanding it.

The premise guarantees interesting character interaction, as well as diametrically different points of view that situations can be looked at. It is difficult to achieve believability when trying to show this on screen, but this show managed to do this quite well.

The acting was surprisingly decent, especially from the main lead and the Wilson family. I say surprisingly, because more often than not, in features involving a young cast, acting is a problem. Alex Saxon and Jesse Henderson as the male love interests, were far from good in my opinion, but overall the cast was doing a fine job; even the little brother was believable, which could have been the biggest worry.

Even though I initially watched it because of my younger sister, I still look forward to the next episode. Especially the subtle hint, that there is more to the whole kidnapping story, keeps me interested. I hope the show keeps up the realism, despite the complex premise.