FlashForward (Entire Season) Part 1 of 2

FlashForward (Entire Season) Part 1 of 2

FlashForward has a very interesting concept involving time travel.  While it has a great deal in common with Lost, there are a few things done differently.  Brannon Braga (The guy the helped run Star Trek into the ground) and David Goyer (The guy that ran the Blade franchise into the ground) united to create a TV series based off of a book of the same name.  There are a few missteps along the way, but the show got interesting with the layers they added to each episode. 

Basically, the entire world loses consciousness at the time.  Most people see the future of April 29, 2010.  They get a peek into what their lives are going to be like during that time.  Some of them see good things, while other see very bad things.  Other people see nothing in their visions, which means they are going to die before April 29.  The Blackout causes mayhem after everyone wakes up.  20 million die because of the blackout.

With a concept like that, the show goes in many directions.  I think the show is at its strongest when we see the FBI investigation into the Flash-Forward.  I also enjoyed the conspiracy storyline too.  I like how the FBI and CIA clash with the people that caused the Blackout.  

What didn’t work is the relationship stuff involving various characters.  I know it gives a human side to things, but it felt a little dragged out.  I found myself bore with many of these scene, and wishing for more of the investigation aspects.

The most interesting premise on the show is the fact the writers actually changed the premise mid-season.  The future everyone saw in their flash-forwards is not set in stone.  The future can be drastically changed.  They even go a step further with certain people having hundreds of flash-forwards and being a step ahead of everyone else.  Yet, these people have seen variations of the timeline too. 

The show also handed the ideas of destiny fairly well.  Some people on the show fight against what they know will be the future and succeed in changing it.  Others want to see their future and fight to see that future happen.  This notion also brings up the idea of multiple universes and timelines, but given the show was cancelled it never fully explored these concepts fully. 

And, that is the biggest problem with the series as a whole.  The show builds and builds to an event at the end.  You watch the show to find out the answers to the questions.  The season finale only answers a few of them and they added more questions to the mix.  That is all good for a show with another season, but ABC cancelled the show. 

The writers and producers set the show up for a second season and it ends on a cliffhanger.  This is a huge letdown, because we know there won’t be a second season.  To be fair, the producers thought the network would renew them.