Charlie Jade

This 21 episode television series, a joint South African and Candadian effort, is less like a traditional TV show (where episodes have a beginning, middle, and end) and plays more like a very long mini-series. Watch Charlie Jade like you are reading a book; each episode is a chapter. Influenced by Sci-fi noir films like Blade Runner, creator Robert Wertheimer was determined to make a science fiction series like nothing that has ever been made before, and he has. Throw away any preconceptions you might have, especially if you're an American. This is nothing like American TV programming. Shot in Cape Town, South Africa, the show, despite it's futuristic and science-fiction edge, is both stylish and surreal and yet also firmly rooted in reality, dealing with real issues like terrorism and the abuses of power by massive conglomerates. It is filled with real people, not pretty models of perfect people. It starts off with a slow, patient pace, which some might find frustrating or boring, but hang in there! By the end of the pilot and the start of the third episode you will be hooked and utterly captivated.

This is coming to SPACE soon. The whole idea that the show's built on the pillaging of the world's resources by multinational corporations is pretty interesting. A lot of science fiction these days is about big bad ships and space opera. You know, who's got the best technology. I'm interested to see something that actually talks about the weird power imbalances in our world. Something that doesn't just fetishize cool gadgets and the attractive people using them... in deep space. Charlie Jade might have something interesting to say, who knows?

And what about the issue of colonial tension? A powerful group of invaders uses the land and the resources against the will of the people who rightfully dwell there. I mean, this is set in South Africa... I wonder if it was intentional?

In the vein of John Doe and The 4400, Charlie Jade is an intelligent character driven sci-fi series shot in and around Cape Town, South Arfica. The unique location of South Africa gives the show a refreshingly different atmosphere compared to the standard fare of Hollywood back lot sets that we see in the vast majority of television shows being broadcast today.

The concept of parallel universes is by no means a new idea, even a little worn, but the excellent acting and contrasting character studies give the concept new life and I for one, have quickly developed an attachment to this series.

I hope the show is able to find a USA venue as that would help to insure a second season but so far the show is only seen on SPACE and a smattering of small countries including South Africa, Korea, France, Japan, Italy, and Romania. I believe it is seen on Space in both Canada and the UK.

If you like sci-fi and have access to this series I think you will find Charlie Jade an intelligent, fulfilling, and entertaining experience.

Will

More solid S.F. (as Asimov defined it) than pop Sci-Fi, this series which has scrambled to find audiences on three continents will probably always frustrate fans while it fascinates them until there can be a DVD release to appreciate its many stately paced virtues without the incessant, mood destroying commercial breaks.

Imagine the dark, fascist ruled world like that of Blade Runner (like Blade Runner, built around a hot but well roughed up film-noir detective - Colorado native Jeffrey Pierce - later seen or heard Stateside in quality work from NCIS to Eli Stone and The Bourne Conspiracy); toss in parallel universes of lighter but similar complexity (the lightest could have been borrowed from the lush but potentially threatening island of Lost) and a classic "Mars Needs Women/Water" umbrella plot. Now draw it out like a 21st Charles Dickens spreading his intricate plot and character descriptions over as many YEARS as possible of serial publication (pausing every hour or so to blow something up in as scenic and non-sensational way as possible), and you have the look, feel and details of CHARLIE JADE.

It's heady stuff for discerning ADULT viewers, and not remotely for the short attention-span set (which may be why it has failed to take off in television which this style of story telling is not ideal for), but the quality of the work is first rate in almost every aspect from acting to cinematography to scoring - even if all are almost too self consciously trying to recapture the aura of Blade Runner. On DVD or DVR, this is close to addictive caviar which any self respecting S.F. or film noir fan owes it to themselves to try for a couple hours - but *live* on commercial television, it will probably always remain difficult to get into.

Jade is still waiting to be discovered. This beautifully written, moody complex but dramatically compelling work is in fact what so many shows and films have claimed to be, but aren't, the spiritual TV inheritor of Blade Runner.

The cinematography is terrific I think and the mix of languages, looks and environments is both other-worldly and gritty.

This show has yet to have it's day, whether through VOD or television I predict it will be 'discovered by the right combination of powers-that-be in the US.

I hope to see other work by this group of artists.