Review of Point Pleasant: The Complete Series 1

Introduction

This is yet another series that got the chop halfway through transmission. Five episodes were shelved and then Channel 4 did the same. So no one either side of the Atlantic could find out what happened to the good or otherwise people of Point Pleasant.

The season premiere sees a weird summer storm hit the pretty seaside town of Point Pleasant, on the New Jersey coast. As rain lashes the beach, local life guard Jesse spots a body floating in the sea and dives in to save it. A blackout hits the town.
He brings ashore a young girl who needs the kiss of life. Jesse takes the unknown girl to the home of the Ben and Susan Kramer. Ben is the town doctor.

When the girl wakes all the lights in the town come back on. She reveals that her name is Christina. She has fallen off a boat whilst on a cruise with her school. She tries to get in touch with her father and decides to stay for a while in Point Pleasant. Judy Kramer, Ben and Susan`s daughter is keen to have a friend especially since she lost her sister in a tragic accident.

As the series develops it is revealed that Christina is the daughter of the Devil and a mortal woman. As she seeks answers to her past and her future it becomes clear that she will soon have immense power.

Boyd, her father`s right hand man moves to the town to try to tweak Christina`s behaviour so that it tips over into the demonic. Meanwhile the forces of light are represented by young Father Thomas who believes he can see the potential for good in her.

Everything is complicated by Jesse; he has a few secrets in his past that link his future with that of Christina. His mother, Sarah, and father, Sheriff Parker Logan, have a volatile relationship due to their own convoluted past.

The cast is mainly made up of dramas not shown over in the UK so faces will not look familiar other than Richard Burgi who appears as ex-husband to Teri Hatcher in Desperate Housewives. Christina is played by Elizabeth Harnois, a familiar Buffy-type from All My Children where Sarah Michelle Gellar also earned her stripes.
The show was produced by Marti Noxon (Angel, Buffy) other producers included Dawn Parouse (Tru Calling), Marty Adelstein and Neal Moritz. There`s a lot of cross-over with writers, producers and directors from these other shows. With this much talent floating about its amazing the series didn`t make more impact.

There are thirteen episodes including five previously unaired. Cancelled at episode eight they attempted a wrap up of the story.

The episodes are as follows; as each one succeeds the other I`m not going to spoil it by revealing the plot;

Pilot
Human Nature
Who`s Your Daddy?
The Lonely Hunter
Last Dance
Secrets and Lies
Unravelling
Swimming with Boyd
Waking the Dead
Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Choked
Missing (aka When the Cat`s Away)
Mother`s Day
Let the War Commence

So as in other dramas an outsider comes to town and is the catalyst that disrupts everyone`s life. Relationships are strained, people become uncertain and secrets rise to the surface. A pretty teenager creates feelings that cannot be explained.

It`s not just Christina that disrupts life. Boyd brings his money to corrupt the town and the fact that he`s a demon is almost incidental, the town is ready to fall.

To complicate matters everyone has the potential for good and evil in them. Nothing is set in stone. Boyd reveals part of his past that makes him vulnerable and "the good" Doctor Kramer has a guilty secret.

Video

As usual with American shows this looks good with lots of moody camera work and some big budget special effects thrown in.

Audio

A good opening title track is supported by non-intrusive background music. There`s an occasional song but it`s not overly used. Perhaps they were mindful of all those royalties paid by previous shows on their DVD release or perhaps they thought the orchestral less poppy score more suitable. It seems to work.

Features

Just a making of documentary, no commentaries no thoughts about where it was going…apart from in the bin of deleted shows.

Conclusion

This is an enjoyable piece of hokum and it`s completely daft. I can see why it got cancelled it probably upset the fundamental brigade who can`t see the difference between fiction and real life.

It`s also hard to see where it could go, there`s not a wide enough range of characters and the actors don`t have enough chemistry between them. Although it supposedly sets Christina up with a family they never exchange enough words to make it remotely believable. The relationship between Jesse and Christina relies in making big eyes at each other and some interesting visions.

I have to say despite all my reservations and put downs I was still hooked from start to finish. Individual performances stand out. Grant Show who plays Boyd should be nominated for the Cole Turner award for nasty yet vulnerable. Elizabeth Harnois could have retitled the piece "Pouting Unpleasantly". her extensive wardrobe seems to materialised on its own and as I mentioned, there`s a lot of lip gloss moments...


Unfortunately this is no mini series. There is no neat ending with everything tidied up. The ending is messy and disappointing and worse than that there are no jokes!

Come back Buffy at least you slew with a smile and a neat one liner.