Every so often, people ask me what TV shows I'd recommend watching. I mean not just watching, but hunting out then watching, because obviously this blog gives you some big clues as to what to watch as it is - it's the rarer stuff that's not on tele at the moment that are the bigger concerns.
The US remake of Touching Evil, starring Burn Notice's Jeffrey Donovan (he's also in Clint Eastwood's The Changeling soon), has been coming up a lot of late and people are finding out (or should be, if they follow my advice) that
- It was brilliant, although as the title suggests, it's not going to take you to a happy place
- It was a whole lot better than the UK version
- Even if you don't like the series itself, the music was brilliant
- The USA Network was nuts to cancel it
I won't go into long drawn out discussions about its merits here - I've already done that on several occasions - so instead, I merely offer you, thanks to the joys of YouTube, the full first episode of the series. You can watch the whole 13 on there as well, but I draw the line at setting up playlists for those, too. It's not out on DVD yet and has only once been shown in the UK so let's start a petition, hey?
October 24, 2008 | Reply
The only problem with it is that - having watched the UK version with the mighty Robson Green quite recently - I know what's going to happen.
Though that's a good thing in a way since you have more time to admire the acting and the little differences.
Though that can at times be a bad thing since some of the differences (the ending of episode 1 for instance) lessen the drama rather than increase it.
All of that said, it is a damn good series and better in so many ways than the UK original, from the much, much better character of Cyril (played brilliantly by Pruitt Taylor Vince as opposed to 'Mike the Barman from Only Fools and Horses' in the UK version) to the fairly essential fact that the hook - cop gets shot in head and changes all his behaviour as a result - is actually used in the US version.
Maybe not a Sandbaggers level recommendation, but a good solid heads-up nonetheless :)
October 24, 2008 | Reply
Well, once you've recommended the best TV series ever made to someone, it's very hard to top it for your next recommendation.
There's an old interview with Jeffrey Donovan and co about the differences between the two shows and the thinking involved.