THE LOS ANGELES TIMES' HERO COMPLEX: ‘Following,’ ‘Bates Motel,’ ‘Defiance’: Next in promising genre TV
Jan. 22, 2013
by Patrick Kevin Day
“Fringe” might have just concluded its run last week with an emotional two-hour finale, but that’s hardly reason for discerning genre television fans to despair. AMC’s hit zombie series “The Walking Dead” picks up its run of third season episodes next month, while HBO’s lavish fantasy serial “Game of Thrones” returns for its third season in March. And there’s a host of new, interesting offerings as well.
Some, such as “Continuum” and “Ripper Street,” have been road-tested in other countries. Others, such as “Defiance,” are totally unknown properties with serious world-building potential. And then there’s “Bates Motel,” which might be the only show that can tout links to Alfred Hitchcock and “Lost.” Not too shabby.
Following is a look at some of the most interesting options heading your way this spring — and yes, “The Following” made the list...
... “Continuum” (SyFy): This Canadian science fiction series premiered in the U.S. on Jan. 14, but it’s already aired its first season north of the border and has been renewed for a second season. The story centers on a group of rebels who have been convicted as terrorists in the year 2077 but escape back to the Vancouver of 2012. However, a police inspector travels back with them and attempts to apprehend the baddies in our present day. Rachel Nichols, Victor Webster and Erik Knudsen star. Fans of “The X-Files” will want to watch for William B. Davis, who played the mysterious Cigarette Smoking Man on Chris Carter’s landmark series.
Continuum airs Monday at 8/7C on Syfy. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE EPISODE TRAILER FOR 'WASTING TIME' AIRING JANUARY 28, 2013.
... “Defiance” (SyFy): Prior to “Cult,” Rockne S. O’Bannon developed this ambitious science fiction drama scheduled to premiere April 15. Set in the near future, a prolonged war between humanity and colonizing alien species has left Earth nearly uninhabitable. Grant Bowler stars as a former soldier who returns to his hometown of St. Louis, only to find it’s been turned into a refugee camp called Defiance. Seeing a need for law and order, he becomes the town’s sheriff. Julie Benz plays the mayor; Tony Curran, one of the many aliens populating the town. With two new languages developed for the series and a related MMO game that will be available for Xbox, PlayStation and PC, this promises to be the kind of deep dive into world-building that genre fans love...
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SYFY VIDEO PROMO FOR DEFIANCE
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