The Buzz: PARADOX

In 2002 the fantastic Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg released Minority Report, a film about police solving crimes that hadn’t yet happened. Earlier this year ABC television in the US launched the ‘high-concept’ show Flashforward, about the FBI investigating events that haven’t yet happened. On Tuesday the BBC present us license payer with Paradox, a show about… You guessed it the police investigating a terrorist attack that hasn’t happened yet.

Yet for some reason even though this series does not sound like the most original idea for a television series, I am still pretty excited about Paradox, the newest offering of ‘high-concept’ television starting Tuesday on BBC1.

Described as “a bold, fast-paced, character-driven thriller” this gripping 5 episode series stars Tamzin Outhwaite (The Fixer, Hotel Babylon) as Detective Inspector Rebecca Flint, who is thrown together with Space Scientist Dr Christian King (Emun Elliott) when a series of rogue images are transmitted from space into his laboratory. The fragmented images appear to be of a major incident but, shockingly, they also suggest it is yet to happen – it’s in the future. (Sounds a bit familiar… Flashforward anyone?)

With each episode of this high-concept and intriguing series set to a relentless ticking clock (hmmm 24 perhaps), Christian, Rebecca and her team, DS Ben Holt (Mark Bonnar) and DC Callum Gada (Chiké Okonkwo), face a race against time as they only have 18 hours to put together the clues of this most complex of jigsaw puzzles and try to prevent almost certain tragedy.

The reason how, and why, these images are being transmitted to them is a mystery. Forced to intervene in the course of destiny, the underlying question posed throughout Paradox is: “If you could see the future, would you change it?” (Or even could you change it?)

Information taken from the BBC Press Office

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE PARADOX PRESS PACK

What did you see?

If you have been watching Flashforward, as I am sure you have, then you will know that the show is based on the fact the entire world lost consciousness for 2 minutes 17 seconds. During this loss of consciousness most people experienced a flashforward, a vision of the future, to a point of time about six months into the future. You will also know that the in the show the FBI team involved in the investigation to the cause of this event have created a website, where people can share their flashforward vision.

What you probably didn’t know though is that this site really exists, and you can visit and post your vision of the future… pretty cool stuff!

So if you want to share your vision of your life six months from now pop over to the Mosiac Collective and share with the world.

FEEDBACK: FlashForward

Last week I extensively hyped FlashForward, the great new bit of sci-fi telly showing in the UK on FIVE, and across the pond on ABC. So now that the show has finally graced the screens on both sides of the pond, the question everyone has is… Was it any good?

Well I thought it was OK, and like Lost, I think given a bit more time it could become addictive television, but I am just a lowly telly addict, so I was wondering what do the critics think?

Andrew Billen, The Times:

FlashForward speaks to the way we watch television now, fast-forwarding and back, geekishly looking for clues in frozen frames. The bad news is that the writers, who include Robert J. Sawyer on whose novel it is based, have, oh dear, a five-year plan. If one needed evidence they admire Lost a little too much, note the kangaroo bouncing through LA during its mini-apocalypse: it’s a homage to the polar bear racing through the jungle in the very first Lost. My hope, however, is that in this case the soap opera will remain in equilibrium with the sci-fi. So far it does. As Mark’s boss said yesterday, quashing the objections to Mark’s plan of action, it works for me, it works for me.

Click here to read the full review

Brian Viner, The Independent

The opening episode integrated these personal LA stories into a seismic international crisis, and did so with such panache that I had a little flash forward of my own, and saw myself following the series to the end.

Click here to read the full review

Ginia Bellafante, The NY Times

In the years since 9/11, producers have found rich thematic material in the arguments for and against preordination, resulting in series like “The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Lost” and now “FlashForward,” which begins in such a spirit of bracing suspense that I am challenged to recall another pilot that lured me so quickly into addiction.

Click here to read the full review

FlashForward : It’s happening tomorrow!

Tomorrow we will finally see the future,  or is it the past as American TV audiences have already seen it… Whatever it is, I can’t wait!

more about “FlashForward : Series Premiere – Snea…“, posted with vodpod

FlashForward opening V Lost opening

I found this clip on TV.com from FlashForward, and after watching it I couldn’t help but think it was very similar to the opening scene from Lost??

Or am I just drawing to many conclusions from the shows connections???

more about “FlashForward : No More Good Days – Cl…“, posted with vodpod

FlashForward – The meaning of fate

The basis behind FlashForward is that we are all controlled by fate, but what is fate? And do we have any control over what really happens to us?

Who knows, but the people at ABC television have created this short documentary which discusses just what the creators of FlashForward think of fate and destiny, and it is a really good little watch to get you in the right frame of mind for the show.

more about “FlashForward – The meaning of fate“, posted with vodpod

FLASHFORWARD – A beginners Guide

What is this? There is actually a show coming to FIVE that people should actually watch? No it can’t be…

Yet the rumours seem to be true. FIVE is actually going to show something that does not have CSI in its title, and if the show lives up to the buzz coming from across the pond then the imminent end to Lost is not going to be such a shock to the geek-side of my brain.

No, the geek in me will have a new TV show to get excited by because FlashForward is coming, and to help you on the way FIVE have created a handy beginners guide to get the geek in you excited:

from FIVE.TV:

As the Lost finale looms large, gripping new drama Flash Forward, from the same makers, has crossed the Atlantic to Five. Who cares about the awful autumnal wet and windy weather outside – we’ve got glossy, glamorous telly to towel-dry in front of. Life is good again!

So what’s the lowdown?
A mysterious global event causes everyone to blackout simultaneously for two minutes and seventeen seconds exactly. In that time, everyone glimpses their life six months from now. When they wake up, everyone is left reeling, wondering if what they saw will actually happen…

Scary stuff. Were their futures not very bright then?
Some of what they see is not pretty it has to be said, with adultery, alcoholism and murder all featuring among the premonitions. But don’t worry, FBI agent Mark Benford, played by Joseph Fiennes, and his partner Demetri Noh, (American Pie’s John Cho) are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Sounds like a star-studded cast?
It is. Aside from Joseph and John, there’s also This Life and Coupling actor Jack Davenport, Lost’s Dominic Monaghan and Law & Order’s Courtney B Vance. beginner’s guide

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING

AND CLICK HERE FOR MORE FASTFORWARD INFO FROM FIVE