Minority Report

Unfortunately, as compelling as the title is, the association to the movie ends there. This show is a dry, regurgitated old formula that serves up a stale excuse for yet another crime solving series. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, if you are willing to be creative with it. Think Gotham, Daredevil, SVU ... those are all very good, creative shows, that wind up being "crime solver" shows. The show in this case doesn't even spend time on fleshing out and developing the juicier imagination picking questions that the movie raised. Unfortunately the show takes place a decade after the movie and misses out on what is likely a whole season of potential. Kill it now.

Set 10 years after the events of the movie, the Precrime division has been abolished and the three precogs have been set free, but hidden away from society. Arthur, Agatha, and Dash still sense crimes before they are committed, but are not permitted to do anything about it. So Dash goes vigilante and tries to do it on his own.

Without Tom Cruise and the other big stars of the original film, this series looks like a one-season wonder, if that. It's wooden and devoid of interesting characters, which in a way is good because the actors they've chosen wouldn't be capable of portraying interesting characters. The series seems aimed at adolescent gamers who see a bunch of future-computer special effects and go Wow! and never ask for anything more. Like good writing or characterization.

Thumbs down.

This is a series in the "minority report" universe and it takes place 10 years after the events of the movie. For those who don't know, in a future society, 3 telepathic siblings who could predict a serious crime were used to imprison soon-to-be criminals in a ridiculous and impossible model of law enforcement. Well, as we see in this TV show, it didn't go well, the program terminated and the 3 siblings were left to continue their lives in secrecy.

This series follows mainly the life of Dash, the youngest brother of them three, who wants use his gift, again, to save victims. He partners unofficially with a Vega (Meagan Good) a homicide cop to help people and prevent crimes. Stark Sands is a good cast in the role of Dash.

The production as seen in the pilot has extremely high values for a TV show with very good visuals of the USA around 2065, and the whole atmosphere is realistic enough.

The script doesn't try much to be original but it is OK. Some comedic elements, the search for the missing brother, a little romance maybe and of course the couple which operates outside the boundaries of legality. WE've seen them before but the use of them here is appropriate.

Overall: Seems like a good show (based on the pilot). Entertaining with good visuals. If you overcome the impossible premise you will enjoy it.

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Compared to recent surge of sci-fi series, Minority Report is looking more refined with clearly better production. However, this doesn't have the same thrilling spirit from Tom Cruise's action thriller. The precognition concept has been reduced to typical paranormal investigation like that of Tru Calling or first season of Heroes. In fact, this may have had more buzz if it aired a decade ago.

If you're not familiar with the source, or understandably forget the story, the show opens with brief narrative about the movie. In near future authority used precog system by plugging three siblings into a machine, a mix between psychic and technology to determine crime before it happened. Unfortunately, Tom Cruise proved that it had flaws and the project was scratched.

One of the siblings, Dash (Stark Sands) now leads a normal witness protection life, but he still has the clairvoyance gift. With the help of a female police officer Lara Vega (Meagan Good) he helps solve crime in a rather timid sci-fi crime drama. The cast is leaning towards light comedy than thriller, which is perhaps intentionally made to suit the series.

The problem is the two leads don't mesh together well. Stark Sands has the quirky savant look, but he doesn't possess the on-screen presence for a capable lead. Flash and Mr. Robot have intelligent character that work for them, sadly that's not the case here. Meegan Good is attractive for the lead female, but she's an odd choice for tough female role. While she does look fit, it doesn't translate to serious femme fatale personality.

Its change to more humorous tone is different from the futuristic noir of the movie, it's not bad and probably better to accommodate TV series. It does rely too much on casual cop spectacle, yet doesn't really have the draw or chemistry such as Castle. Not to mention the use of psychic is getting old, the foreshadowing gimmick feels like a puzzle played too many times.

The presentation is impeccable though. It's obvious that the show invests a lot on making the world looks brightly inviting. The details for gadgetry, environment and investigation are splendid. This world definitely could work for foundation for TV series, although the narrative and characters are not as intriguing.

If you loved the movie, you may be mildly amused with the pilot's special FX and sci-fi predictions, but you'll hate the horribly clichéd writing. This is cop procedural dreck, including such moldy oldies as the miss matched partners comprised of a "fish out of water" white guy (with all the answers)paired with streetwise black female cop. I could live with the procedural elements, if they captured some of the tension and suspense demonstrated in the open of the movie with Tom Cruise's character stopping the domestic murder/suicide. Unfortunately the writing is so trite and unimaginative you'll see every twist coming.

Everyone in the cast does an OK job with the limited parts their given except Megan Good, who is anything BUT good. Her performance is completely broad and two dimensional. Good delivers her character like she just stepped out of a sitcom. She shows no depth, comes across completely unbelievable as a detective and demonstrates such limited emotional range she comes across like corporate spokesmodel.

All in all Minority Report the Series tarnishes the memory of the movie, which, though entertaining, was no Spielberg classic to begin with. After the TV blandness of Terra Nova, The River, Smash, Falling Skies, The Whispers, Extant and Under the Dome maybe Mr. Spielberg should get out of television productions all together and focus on directing great movies.