Proof

As I began watching the first episode all I kept saying was wow this is slow but I stuck with it. I've watched it week after week and I'm beginning to really like the show. I read most of the reviews and the reviews giving a low rating all seem to surround 2 main characters the brilliant surgeon Dr. Tyler (Beals) a skeptic, a bitch & she's rude to the people around her & then the millionaire Ivan who is dying & is willing to give a certain amount of money to the hospital (NOT to Dr. Tyler) but he will only make this donation if Dr. Tyler is willing to do a little side project which is finding PROOF if there is life after death.. of course Dr. Tyler says no, her being very skeptical even though she has had her own experience (which she hasn't told anyone) & the fact that her son died in a car crash, her marriage has failed & she has a 15yr old daughter who acts like a typical 15yr old girl (any women & young women know exactly what I mean) but something happens in the 1st episode that changes her mind, she asks her intern from Africa Dr. Zed to assist her on this project as well as Janel who is some kind of asst. to Ivan (I think). All of them having there own opinion on if there is life after death, thankfully she has these 2 beside her since she is VERY SKEPTICAL and the 2 of them give her a open mind. She won't admit it but I believe that Zed, Janel & these people's stories are opening her eye's & she is beginning to not be so skeptical but won't show it so she keeps up the bitchy bossy skeptical self for appearance. I am hoping that this series gets picked up for a 2nd season. This series has a lot of people questioning will they find any type of proof that there is life after death?? I'm not sure if I like it & watch it every week because I believe that there is some type of life after death. I've never had an experience I'm just open minded to the fact that there could be some type of after life.

O.k. I tried to wrote this review in Spanish but the system does not let me. So I will try to write it in English, so forget me if I make grammar mistakes. Although the pilot was projected on t.v just yesterday in my country, on TNT Series, I want to say... I am dying to wathc the next episode, even if the plot is not to different, and the psychology of the characters are to similar at the common people whose had to loose someone they loved experience. I am curious about the view from the creators and the guionist, they want to make us believe, or they have more evidence or proof to show us. I want to watch more episodes because the theme about life after life is just interesting and wonderful. After that, the plot, actors and escenography were convincing for me. Thanks everyone!

I was looking forward to this show, where the basic unknowable answer concerning our existence would be questioned in an entertaining yet intelligent way. It can be done. It has been done. I believe, nay, require character development and back-story. Most persons experience loss and the sadness - even emotional devastation - it can bring. However, after a mourning period, especially when returning to work, a certain civility is expected from the mourner. We have been given enough information to have, at least, sympathy / empathy for the Beals character. But who wants to watch the primary be unabashedly rude every time she opens her mouth. Women can be bosses without such dismissive condescending harshness. It certainly promotes the negative stereotype of a surgeon, though!!

I don't know what happens when we die. I am intrigued by it, given my own experiences and after having seen the series Beyond and Back..., where real people told their stories, which were breathtaking. It really wasn't about NDEs because all the people in it had been pronounced dead and flatlined. It was an amazing show.

Proof takes a slightly different stance. A wealthy man, Ivan Turing (Matthew Modine), who has terminal cancer, wants to know what happens when we die, and asks a brilliant doctor, Carolyn Tyler (Jennifer Beals), to investigate the phenomenon. Tyler herself had an NDE when her son died, but has pushed it away and doesn't talk about it. Tyler asks a young doctor, Zed (Edi Gathegi) to join her, and she works with him and with members of Turing's staff.

Carolyn remains skeptical and attempts to handle things in a scientific manner, which is good, and because of that, the show doesn't go into la-la land. I wouldn't mind it, but I'm sure some would.

I have always liked the beautiful, intelligent Jennifer Beals, but she was misguided initially. Her character was unlikeable and annoying. An actress playing this kind of role can choose parts of a script where she can show some vulnerability or warmth -- and it was up to the director to guide her in that, which he obviously didn't do.

It sort of reminded me of Vivien Leigh begging that a line remain in the Gone with the Wind script where Scarlet says she wanted to be kind like her mother etc. -- because she felt without that line, Scarlet was an impossibly awful character. The character of Dr Tyler was in the same boat but with no paddle.

I noticed a change in her personality around the fourth episode and realized the director was different. The change was enough to make her a nicer character.

The story veers out of the hospital covering Carolyn's home life - she has a teenage daughter and is separated from her husband. Also, Zed has his own problems -- he's expected back in his home country, and a marriage has been arranged for him. It isn't what he wants.

The subject of NDEs is a fascinating one but in order for it to play to the masses, it has to be presented in a clinical way, and the episodes have been solid. I hope it continues with Beals' adjustment in character.

I wasn't expecting too much from Proof as there are many new shows each season that start out good and fall apart fairly quickly. I have to say that this series just seems to be getting better and better and I find myself looking forward to each new episode. So far it doesn't seem to be getting wrapped up in supernatural ridiculousness, just the search for truth and for me, it keeps the show more real. As long as the writers don't veer off into the Twilight Zone, I think this show could be around for the long haul. Also, there are some outstanding performances, particularly by Jennifer Beals, Matthew Modine, and Edi Gathegi.