Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Alphas

So I've been watching Alphas on SyFy and I really like this show. It has Ryan Cartwright in it (which was a big plus for me) because I loved him as Vincent Nigel-Murray in Bones and was really sad when he got killed in the last season of Bones. /sniff

Why did he have to die? Why couldn't it have been Wendell?
I love the way British guys talk.

I think that having him playing a character with severe autism brings out his true acting ability as he is obviously supressing his strong accent (a feat I'm sure that is difficult).

If you don't know what Alphas is...here's a summary:

Alphas is an action-packed thriller from writers Zak Penn (The Avengers, X-Men: The Last Stand) and Michael Karnow. In the series, five ordinary people are brought together to form one extraordinary team of Alphas -- people with the unique power to stretch the capabilities of the human mind giving them superhuman physical and mental abilities.

Operating within the Defense Criminal Investigation Service of the U.S. Department of Defense and led by preeminent neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Lee Rosen (Emmy Award-winner and Academy Award-nominee David Strathairn), an expert in Alpha phenomena, the team investigates cases that point to others with Alpha abilities. As they work against the clock to solve this new brand of crime, they must prevent their own personality differences and disparate backgrounds from interfering with their ultimate mission to catch the enemy.

In addition to Academy Award nominee David Strathairn (Temple Grandin, Good Night, and Good Luck), the ensemble cast stars Malik Yoba (New York Undercover, Why Did I Get Married?), Warren Christie (October Road), Laura Mennell (Watchmen), Ryan Cartwright (Mad Men, Bones) and Azita Ghanizada (Castle).

It's on every Monday and you guys should watch it and be Alphas fans with me :))

36 comments:

  1. Sounds like a really interesting show!

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  2. It's no surprise the dude wrote on an X-Men movie because this sounds pretty much like X-Men. Except instead of mutants they're "Alphas." It made me kind of sad to see David Strathairn doing a show on Syfy after all the good work he's done in "Good Night and Good Luck" and "A League of their Own" and the last Bourne movie and so forth. It's like when I see previews for "The New Girl" with Zooey Deschanel and feel sad that she's doing TV now instead of movies. It feels like a defeat, especially because 2 years ago she seemed like the It girl of the moment. Though maybe the paychecks are more steady this way, right?

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  3. Sounds interesting!

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  4. Haven't seen it yet. I'll have to check it out, if I ever get out from underneath my TBR pile that is...lol

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  5. I saw the first episode. The production quality is better than most syfy shows (save BSG), but yes, it feels just like X-Men.

    @Rogue Mutt - The reason Zooey is doing TV is because there are so few quality roles for actresses in movies today, sadly.

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  6. I haven't seen this program yet either. Will be on the lookout for it.

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  7. I watched the first few episodes but it just didn't click for me because it seemed like a weak X-men ripoff. I probably should give it another chance because most shows like this take a 4-5 episodes for the writers/actors to really figure out how to portray the characters.

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  8. I've been watching ALPHAS too. Last night's show was particularly intriguing. Still, in some ways, it does feel like a repackaged (albeit better) HEROES to me.

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  9. I watched the pilot and was underwhelmed. If enough people say it's great I'll start watching. But I felt like it was missing something.

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  10. @Phil: I agree completely! Even after almost 100 years of movies the best parts are still for men--straight white men.

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  11. I'm in! I moved recently and lost all my DVR settings...so putting a new show on there that is all for me will be fabulous! (Most of what I record is for the kids, hence I can tell you all about all the newest kids shows; but often have no idea what is going on in adult TV land.)

    thanks for the intro to what I'm sure will be a fantastic show!

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  12. Looks like an interesting show.

    To comment on movies versus TV, I've seen a fair few actors and actresses opt for TV in the family years--it is nice to have a predictable, routine schedule and less travel for a while, as compared to the feast or famine travel to the site movie thing, so I think some people actually choose it rationally.

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  13. You need to start getting paid for your reviews; you could sell tax increases to a Republican.

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  14. Argh! Why did you tell me he dies?!?! We're not that far up in Bones, yet! Bah! Bah! Bah!
    That's the main draw back to watching everything once it's released on dvd... I have to try really hard to keep away from anything that will spoil the season that we haven't watched, yet. Now, I just have to make sure not to let it slip to the wife.

    I'll look into Alphas. Once the season is over, of course.

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  15. I know another blogger who keeps talking about this show, but now I can't think of who it is. Damn!

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  16. I only get the major networks. :()

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  17. Haven't seen it. Don't watch much television, but I remember someone else talking about this show and it sounded interesting. Love David Strathairn.

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  18. This sounds like a pretty a good show. It reminds me of a show called Superhumans that used to be on with a similar concept but with real-life people. I wish that show was still on..

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  19. I watch this show, and really enjoy it. Sure, the premise has been done before, kind of, but what hasn't?

    As an English gal I'm ashamed to say that I had no idea that Ryan Cartwright was English, so he must be doing a good job with that accent.

    As far as TV vs movie work goes, if I was an actor I think I'd much rather be in a decent TV show than a rubbish film :-)

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  20. I also felt bad when that guy died on Bones. Glad he has another job. Alphas sounds like a good show.

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  21. I've been watching the show and it really is fun and intriguing. But you gotta figure that anything with the likes of David Strathairn in it has got to have some quality writing going on.

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  22. @Rogue Mutt - Straight white men who are played by closeted actors. Most actresses would rather go to TV for a fully-formed role than play the wife, girlfriend, or mother in a movie. Mary Louise Parker is amazing on Weeds, but can't get any film roles except as Bruce Willis's girlfriend in Red or the mom in Spiderwick Chronicles. Even Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar, admitted that she came back to TV because she wasn't getting any good film roles and to spend more time w/ her daughter.

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  23. I've caught a few of the shows because it's preceded by Eureka and Warehouse 13.

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  24. I never heard of the show.

    I love British accents too. Some people are amazing with their gift of adopting different accents. I couldn't hide mine if I tried.

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  25. And yet Ryan Cartwright's character is the most annoying (although hated seeing him killed off in Bones.

    I've been watching it since the beginning (although I only recently caught up, as I started three weeks behind). It's okay. I'm not that thrilled by it.

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  26. I hope that it does not conflict with Chuck ( I mean timewise). It does sound very interesting. I was in England for two years, could not get their accent, but now I love it too.

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  27. Looks amazing. That's for the heads up.

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  28. Okay, this will be next in my list of must-downloads :)

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  29. Ah, something new to watch! Sounds like a great show.

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  30. Can I watch syfy online? Wanders off to find out.

    I had to comment on the Mr. Nigel-Murray (its just fun to say). I cried, and wish it had been Wendell too. Vincent was way cooler and more interesting. The accent helped, but I loved all the random trivia he spouted.

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  31. I'll have to check out the show. Since the wife and I cancelled cable we are always looking for good shows that stream online. I checked syfy and it looks to be available. Thanks for the heads up.

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  32. D'OH!! Another Bones spoiler... I guess I should be used to it by now. LOL. Yes, we're pretty behind with TV shows here in Aus, but I am more than most because I never watch them on actual TV...instead I wait for them to come out on DVD!

    Just found you via the Sci Fi group in the Campaign - we're in the same one. Nice to meet you! :)

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  33. I couldn't get into Alphas! I tried, I really, really tried, but I just couldn't! But I will watch that episode because I love him and miss him as well on Bones. He did not deserve to get sniped.

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  34. I watched the beginning of the first episode, and it intrigued me... I forget what I got distracted by.

    And Trisha, you've never met Michael?! He's only like the coolest ever!

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  35. Great show indeed. Alphas is really good and weak at times. Favorite character is Gary Bell too.

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