Author Topic: Flashforward (Read 16876 times)

Darwinist · **on:** September 16, 2009, 03:06:57 AM

Is anyone planning to watch this series this fall? I rather liked the Sawyer novel.

stePH · **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2009, 01:31:58 PM

Quote from: Darwinist on September 16, 2009, 03:06:57 AM

Is anyone planning to watch this series this fall? I rather liked the Sawyer novel.

I'm interested. Want to check out the novel but my local library only has the audiobook. $:-\$

DKT · **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2009, 04:26:29 PM

I've heard the only thing the two have in common is the concept. I don't know if that will frustrate fans of the book or not (I'd imagine it does). That said, I think it's really cool that they lifted the concept from the book and are giving Sawyer full credit (and presumably $$$) for it.

I'm very interested in checking out the show, mostly for the concept, and also because of Joseph Fiennes involvement. Although, Sonya Walger (Penny, from LOST) is a definite plus.

Planish · **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2009, 02:13:51 AM

Yup. We're giving it a try.

I think I saw the series finale in 2015.

Planish · **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2009, 12:18:44 AM

Next day: It's on my "must record" list for now.

Darwinist · **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2009, 02:50:36 AM

Hmmmm......this is going in a different direction than the book. I thought the premier was good. Will keep watching. It looks like the network is spending some money on this, anyway.

Swamp · **Reply #6 on:** September 26, 2009, 02:51:31 AM

I forgot it was on last night so I just caught the end of it, but my wife filled me in. I definately plan to watch it online.

lowky · **Reply #7 on:** September 26, 2009, 03:28:48 AM

Wow, I see why people are calling it a Lost ripoff. Some of the same actors, some of the same cinematography/effects. Still this looks awesome, and I will have to try to find the book this is based off of.

stePH · **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2009, 02:31:16 PM

Quote from: lowky on September 26, 2009, 03:28:48 AM

Wow, I see why people are calling it a Lost ripoff. Some of the same actors, some of the same cinematography/effects. Still this looks awesome, and I will have to try to find the book this is based off of.

I never watched Lost so this isn't an issue for me.

[edit]
Is Seth McFarlane going to be a regular, or was he just a walk-on?

Swamp · **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2009, 12:46:05 PM

I watched the pilot in full this weekend and was even more impressed. I think it will be a good series. The only relation I see to Lost is that there is a sci-fi element and it seems to be character-driven, both good things IMO. It is good to see Sulu (John Cho). It will bee good to get to know him more as an actor, unless...

I think the flash forward is a great device to both drive the action and plot, as well as to focus on the characters. I haven't read the book and probably won't for a while so that I won't be comparing the two all the time.

stePH · **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2009, 01:53:43 PM

I wonder how long they're planning on having this show run, given that the flash-forward is only a few months.

lowky · **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2009, 02:24:48 PM

Quote from: stePH on September 28, 2009, 01:53:43 PM

I wonder how long they're planning on having this show run, given that the flash-forward is only a few months.

read something that said ideally 7 years, minimum 3 to tell the main story arc in a believable manner.

As for comparisons with Lost, it's more Cinematography, lots of lens flares, some of the special effects, Plus the focus on an Oceanic Air sign in the opener. Considering it's more or less supposed to be ABC's replacement for Lost, making it seem reminiscient of Lost, should help bring in viewers.

DKT · **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2009, 05:16:01 PM

Quote from: lowky on September 28, 2009, 02:24:48 PM

read something that said ideally 7 years, minimum 3 to tell the main story arc in a believable manner.

As for comparisons with Lost, it's more Cinematography, lots of lens flares, some of the special effects, Plus the focus on an Oceanic Air sign in the opener. Considering it's more or less supposed to be ABC's replacement for Lost, making it seem reminiscient of Lost, should help bring in viewers.

Well, I could make some additional comparisons.

The opening in general reminded me a lot of LOST. Guy wakes up after a terrible accident and the world around him has gone to hell. He tries to help.

Also, there's the flash forward itself. I know LOST didn't invent flashbacks or flashforwards, but they seemed to have reinvented it, or at least taken it to a new level. So that feels very LOST to me as well.

That it seems to be a potentially sprawling ensemble we're attached to, who are all somehow connected, instead of just the Jack Bauer hour. (I know 24's more ensemble than Kiefer, but still...)

Still, I'm a HUGE LOST fan (in case I haven't made that clear) and I really enjoyed this first episode. The acting was great, so was the intrigue, and the hooks came right where they needed to. Oh no! The kid's dad is going to be Olivia's lover! Who's the mystery man walking around in the stadium?

The daughter giving Joseph Fiennes the friendship bracelet scared the hell out of me and made me a bit heartsick. Considering how both his marriage to Olivia (Hello, Penny!) breaks down, well, I'm very worried. And of course, I'm worried about John Cho. I half expected him not to make it out of this episode (that would've been terrible)! So, all in all, I'm invested and very curious to see where they go.

Although I'd hope it's shorter rather than longer. 6 months doesn't feel like seven seasons to me. Although they could probably spend a whole season post-flash forward.

Swamp · **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2009, 05:39:51 PM

Quote from: DKT on September 28, 2009, 05:16:01 PM

Well, I could make some additional comparisons.

The opening in general reminded me a lot of LOST. Guy wakes up after a terrible accident and the world around him has gone to hell. He tries to help.

Also, there's the flash forward itself. I know LOST didn't invent flashbacks or flashforwards, but they seemed to have reinvented it, or at least taken it to a new level. So that feels very LOST to me as well.

That it seems to be a potentially sprawling ensemble we're attached to, who are all somehow connected

Yes, that's true, the opening scene was remeniscent of LOST. I thought that at the time I watched it. And the style is similar. I guess what I mean is that the plot is original, not just a derrivative of LOST. It's not LOST: SVU or LOST: Maimi. It is a separate work.

DKT · **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2009, 06:47:09 PM

Totally. I don't mean to knock Flashforward. I'm very happy with what I've seen so far and am looking forward to where it goes.

Although I am holding out for a LOST: LOS ANGELES featuring Hurley, Sawyer, and Sayid as Private Investigators once LOST wraps up

davedoty · **Reply #15 on:** September 28, 2009, 10:02:04 PM

I liked it a lot. I don't mind the similarities to Lost. It's not so close it can be accused of being just a ripoff, and in less than a year, there's going to be a big LOST-shaped hole in our TV lives that I'll be glad to fill.

My prediction: the first season will take six months of story time, and the season finale will focus on us catching up to the flashforward. Not sure what will happen from there. Maybe the main plot will have developed enough that it doesn't need to worry about the flashforward any more (although the title would be odd), or there will be another, or something else.

Since all those future people knew about the flashforward, as well as the exact date and time, shouldn't that have been reflected more in the flashforwards? The government agents - shouldn't they have been staring intently at the window in anticipation of the bird? Because isn't that what they will be doing?

I wonder what the little girl saw, and isn't it odd that wasn't mentioned? (Or did I miss it?) I can't decide if it would be awesome or predictable for Fiennes' partner to die, then for the daughter to reveal she didn't see anything, either.

The creepiest and saddest flash forward to me was the main character seeing that he'll be drinking again in six months.

Heradel · **Reply #16 on:** September 28, 2009, 10:10:16 PM

Quote from: DKT on September 28, 2009, 05:16:01 PM

Also, there's the flash forward itself. I know LOST didn't invent flashbacks or flashforwards, but they seemed to have reinvented it, or at least taken it to a new level. So that feels very LOST to me as well.

I'd guess Star Trek for being the first bit of televised fiction to have the characters flashforward/back, but it's just a guess.

Sgarre1 · **Reply #17 on:** September 28, 2009, 10:43:22 PM

First official film flashback is CITIZEN KANE, so I imagine it would have been already done on TV by the 50's, probably in some I LOVE LUCY episode or something. Flashforwards, no clue...

Heradel · **Reply #18 on:** September 28, 2009, 10:57:51 PM

Quote from: Sgarre1 on September 28, 2009, 10:43:22 PM

First official film flashback is CITIZEN KANE, so I imagine it would have been already done on TV by the 50's, probably in some I LOVE LUCY episode or something. Flashforwards, no clue...

I was referring to the characters having anachronistic knowledge rather than the movie/show using flashbacks to tell a previous part of a character's life.

Sgarre1 · **Reply #19 on:** September 28, 2009, 11:50:21 PM

Ah, then I'm not aware of STAR TREK ever using it. I guess you're just looking for a story/episode that involved premonitions? THE GIRL WITH SOMETHING EXTRA? NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR?

Heradel · **Reply #20 on:** September 29, 2009, 12:15:02 AM

Quote from: Sgarre1 on September 28, 2009, 11:50:21 PM

Ah, then I'm not aware of STAR TREK ever using it. I guess you're just looking for a story/episode that involved premonitions? THE GIRL WITH SOMETHING EXTRA? NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR?

Well, one could argue that it's really just knowledge of future events, and if that's the case then The City on the Edge of Forever would count.

_{(Note: If you had to click on the link you just lost your geek card. Turn them in to the droid on the right)}

stePH · **Reply #21 on:** September 29, 2009, 01:31:56 AM

Quote from: Sgarre1 on September 28, 2009, 11:50:21 PM

Ah, then I'm not aware of STAR TREK ever using it. I guess you're just looking for a story/episode that involved premonitions? THE GIRL WITH SOMETHING EXTRA? NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR?

The Hunchback of Nostradamus?

Planish · **Reply #22 on:** September 30, 2009, 01:12:06 AM

Quote from: DKT on September 28, 2009, 05:16:01 PM

Who's the mystery man walking around in the stadium?

For me, THAT was the rabbit hole, since we already knew about the flashforwards from the promos.

Alasdair5000 · **Reply #23 on:** September 30, 2009, 11:37:01 AM

It's got my attention. I thought the pilot had some fairly serious problems especially the ridiculous slow-motion running scene and the oddly intangible destruction but there's something interesting there and with any luck, now the set up is out of the way, they'll get to it. Plus I'm a big John Cho fan and I have a theory that there may be more to Demetri's blank flashforward than he's letting on. I'm not certain they'll go down that road but if they do, I'll be quite impressed.

So yeah, I liked it but there's room for it to grow and thankfully it looks like it'll get the chance to.

DKT · **Reply #24 on:** September 30, 2009, 12:05:55 PM

Oooooooo, yeah, the slow-mo running scene was bad. And although I thought the make-up looked very cool in a comic book kind of way, I couldn't help wondering how John Cho got such a pretty blood pattern around his eye.