Me and Hubby devoured Season 1 with great gusto. The first bit of Season 2, not so much. Having a major character shunted off-site for episode after episode (despite the dismal reasoning for it) felt like a misstep.
Once it got up and running I despaired the finale. I was unaware if the creators had known going in that they needed to wrap things up.
I needn't have worried.
I haven't cried (with a huge smile on my face) like that in many, many years.
Suddenly I wanted to watch the whole thing again, and again.
Even the uneven first bit of Season 2.
As to the casting - it was spot on.
Lee Pace (who is best known now for playing non-humans) is otherworldly here. His sad sack delivery and groundedness saves what could have been a terrible character.
Anna Friel (doing a spot on American accent) is given a lot of heavy lifting here. She supposed to be in love with a man she hasn't seen since they were children. She's given a lot of exposition to talk through and her character is responsible for some of the many course corrections the show manages in only twenty two episodes. She is a wonder and I only occasionally wondered about her choices.
Chi McBride has a tightrope to walk as well. While he is mostly known now as a voice actor these days his presence here grounds much of the wildly fantastical elements of the show. But if you think he's hard boiled - think an egg with a runny center. That's his character here - all hard edges with a soft spot or 12.
Kristen Chenoweth is given precious little to do here. She mostly laments over her love life - or lack thereof. Although she does have a couple of musical numbers. Since I love her, this is just further proof she needs better agents.
Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene provide first rate support and drive much of the subplots. And while Ms. Greene is given a brief (and heart destroying) song - having one of the great Broadway singers relegated so much was disappointing.
Once it got up and running I despaired the finale. I was unaware if the creators had known going in that they needed to wrap things up.
I needn't have worried.
I haven't cried (with a huge smile on my face) like that in many, many years.
Suddenly I wanted to watch the whole thing again, and again.
Even the uneven first bit of Season 2.
As to the casting - it was spot on.
Lee Pace (who is best known now for playing non-humans) is otherworldly here. His sad sack delivery and groundedness saves what could have been a terrible character.
Anna Friel (doing a spot on American accent) is given a lot of heavy lifting here. She supposed to be in love with a man she hasn't seen since they were children. She's given a lot of exposition to talk through and her character is responsible for some of the many course corrections the show manages in only twenty two episodes. She is a wonder and I only occasionally wondered about her choices.
Chi McBride has a tightrope to walk as well. While he is mostly known now as a voice actor these days his presence here grounds much of the wildly fantastical elements of the show. But if you think he's hard boiled - think an egg with a runny center. That's his character here - all hard edges with a soft spot or 12.
Kristen Chenoweth is given precious little to do here. She mostly laments over her love life - or lack thereof. Although she does have a couple of musical numbers. Since I love her, this is just further proof she needs better agents.
Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene provide first rate support and drive much of the subplots. And while Ms. Greene is given a brief (and heart destroying) song - having one of the great Broadway singers relegated so much was disappointing.