First off, the show is good, and the reviews don't seem to indicate that. The cast is fantastic, the episodes are well written, and plot thickens with every episode. It's probably more of a guys show than girls, but i can see the cool girls liking it. (If you watch American Idol with your wife every week, good luck!) I feel the best part of a the show is the alacrity of plot development. Every show starts out with no real direction, then 180's to a complicated plot, then throws a 3rd or 4th plot in the mix to confuse you, then it all comes together, but still leaves the overall plot exposed. (If you watch the show, you'll know what that meant.)
22 Reviews
A master of the screen
jonmccann23 April 2011
I should start by highlighting that I am biased, Patrick Swayze is a legend in my eyes and his untimely death robbed the world of a hugely talented actor, may his soul rest in peace.
I don't think bias is necessarily a bad thing though, of course that is for you to judge. This TV series was cut short at the news of Patrick's death, which while understandable, maybe the biggest mistake ever made. Its an amazing show. If you think that weekend TV such as law and order, csi etc is good viewing, you will be blown away by this show. The script is nothing short of a masterclass, it takes you to the very last minute of every episode and never has you guessing what's going to happen, because, well simply you just don't want to, it leaves you wanting more.
Its gritty and realistic and while sometimes pushes the boundaries of what may be believable for some, Sir Swayze always makes it feel real. The tension builds from the first episode and rumbles all the way through, so you're never disappointed. If you like hard hitting feel good TV, this is ideal for you, and if you like Patrick Swayze, this is a must see TV series.
I don't think bias is necessarily a bad thing though, of course that is for you to judge. This TV series was cut short at the news of Patrick's death, which while understandable, maybe the biggest mistake ever made. Its an amazing show. If you think that weekend TV such as law and order, csi etc is good viewing, you will be blown away by this show. The script is nothing short of a masterclass, it takes you to the very last minute of every episode and never has you guessing what's going to happen, because, well simply you just don't want to, it leaves you wanting more.
Its gritty and realistic and while sometimes pushes the boundaries of what may be believable for some, Sir Swayze always makes it feel real. The tension builds from the first episode and rumbles all the way through, so you're never disappointed. If you like hard hitting feel good TV, this is ideal for you, and if you like Patrick Swayze, this is a must see TV series.
It's good, but that's not really the point.
davoshannon7 July 2009
Makes you wonder how many fast and loose agents are out there. In the past one such in the CIA thought Pol Pot was a good idea. But, that too, isn't the point.
And Travis Fimmel gives a good performance from the start as he begins to trust the lunatic he's teamed with. And later in the series shows a style that'll get him re-casted without too much problem.
But three cheers for Patrick Swayze. Always liked Roadhouse, yes, the fighting, but particularly the music. Friend of mine had this problem, and stayed in his bedroom 'til the end - which is certain. Swayze shows tremendous heart by doing what he's always done, and in this case with an inner edge.
This will go down in cinema/TV history as a hell of a swansong.
15th Sept. 2009. Heard the news. My condolences to Patrick's family and friends.
And Travis Fimmel gives a good performance from the start as he begins to trust the lunatic he's teamed with. And later in the series shows a style that'll get him re-casted without too much problem.
But three cheers for Patrick Swayze. Always liked Roadhouse, yes, the fighting, but particularly the music. Friend of mine had this problem, and stayed in his bedroom 'til the end - which is certain. Swayze shows tremendous heart by doing what he's always done, and in this case with an inner edge.
This will go down in cinema/TV history as a hell of a swansong.
15th Sept. 2009. Heard the news. My condolences to Patrick's family and friends.
The Beast is my new favorite show
kaybowski21 March 2009
I can't understand how you could possibly think The Beast was a lousy show. Patrick Swayze is awesome in this role and Travis Fimmel brings a surprising strength to the show as Swayze's new partner. Each show reals me in even more and I can't wait for the next episode to find out where the two are next. I like the way the The Beast is filmed and enjoy seeing Chicago and its' various neighborhoods showcased brilliantly. It is refreshing to have a new crime drama that sets itself apart from all the other Law and Orders, CSIs, etc (so tired of those shows, ick). The story behind the story is what really interests me and it is fabulous to see Swayze's comeback. I root for Travis as well because not only is he easy to look at, he is turning into quite the actor.
Watch the show, it is totally worth it! Disregard the other comment. Seriously.
Watch the show, it is totally worth it! Disregard the other comment. Seriously.
Continuing Series
charlesf-423 September 2009
This is one of the best series I have ever seen (I'm 66). With Patrick's passing it may be that they do not continue the series. In my opinion this would be a major mistake. He worked so hard to make this series what it is. They need to take a long hard look at how to work his passing into the story line and using the actors already in the series continue the storyline. Travis Fimmel (Ellis Dove) plays his part so well and could continue the fight for justice for Charles Barker (Patrick Swayze). Lindsay Pulsipher (Rose Lawrence) so fantastic in her role, who is studying law could become a lawyer along the way and support Ellis in the fight as well as others that were Barkers friends. This series has so many exciting ways it could go and continue being as good and exciting as the first season. I hope you get busy and get some scripts written and get going on the second season. Every person I see on TV comments on how hard Patrick Swayze worked on this series even with his health problems. I believe it would not only honour his hard work to continue the series but also honour him as well. Please keep it going!!! Why not put his younger brother "Don Swayze" into the role. He would fit perfectly and he could be worked in as a younger brother already in the FBI and partnering with Ellis to continue the fight! This series is just too good to drop!
The beast
realpoetry1925 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is really a great and awesome new show, i like the way they created the episodes are always entertaining, and i love watching my dear Patrick. Great to see him back on the screen and with a totally new acting style. God bless Patrick and all the others on the show. I pray to God that you can make all the shows that you desire and that this show has the best rating like many other ones. Patrick I pray too that you get better and make us happy with your awesome and amazing performance.
My dear Pat, I love 'the beast'
Elena Toledo
My dear Pat, I love 'the beast'
Elena Toledo
Episode 3 Nadia
peterquennell17 March 2009
Kudos to Christine Moore for how she put together the Nadia episode of The Beast on A&E with Patrick Swayze. If she ever needs a demo reel of how extraordinarily good she can be, this one surely is it.
An astonishing bit of directing, and best of all it surfaced the remarkable actress Angela Gots (who I never seen before except without recognition in a House episode) in the role of a lifetime.
I see she has worked in movies and TV for 8 years and repeatedly shown flashes of extreme brilliance in small parts, but this is where she really gets to let it all hang out.
Nadia is a really driven character - a Rumanian woman driven to "traffic prostitution" in the United States in hope of tracking down her baby which her family had sold to illegal American adopters when the family were desperate for cash. And she achieves her comeuppance in taking down the villain of the piece - wow does she get her comeuppance!
Everything about this Christine Moore episode is just perfect. Script, casting, locations, lighting, music, and on and on. And she picked Angela Gots and directed her, in this astonishingly compelling and fearless performance - her scene in the warehouse is a classic.
May they both go to showbiz heaven for that.
An astonishing bit of directing, and best of all it surfaced the remarkable actress Angela Gots (who I never seen before except without recognition in a House episode) in the role of a lifetime.
I see she has worked in movies and TV for 8 years and repeatedly shown flashes of extreme brilliance in small parts, but this is where she really gets to let it all hang out.
Nadia is a really driven character - a Rumanian woman driven to "traffic prostitution" in the United States in hope of tracking down her baby which her family had sold to illegal American adopters when the family were desperate for cash. And she achieves her comeuppance in taking down the villain of the piece - wow does she get her comeuppance!
Everything about this Christine Moore episode is just perfect. Script, casting, locations, lighting, music, and on and on. And she picked Angela Gots and directed her, in this astonishingly compelling and fearless performance - her scene in the warehouse is a classic.
May they both go to showbiz heaven for that.
Different cuts?
es_sj18 January 2009
I saw the airing on 15 January 10:00 - 10:52 PM EST (this unusual time slot is what was scheduled). It was tight, well edited, grim, brilliant. I went to watch it with a friend and his cut was completely different. We both recorded another upcoming showing (17 January 6:00 - 7:00 PM EST and PST).
The showing on the 17th was far inferior; out of order, dumbed-down, slowed down, important points left out, and truly disappointing after the brilliant cut I had seen.
And if you are going to craft a show like this, don't decapitate it by blanking out every other word! Which versions did people see? Did anyone else catch two different versions of this? Which did you like better?
The showing on the 17th was far inferior; out of order, dumbed-down, slowed down, important points left out, and truly disappointing after the brilliant cut I had seen.
And if you are going to craft a show like this, don't decapitate it by blanking out every other word! Which versions did people see? Did anyone else catch two different versions of this? Which did you like better?
A good show with potential...
Zerocool108922 January 2009
Now in this new A&E TV show... Patrick Swayze plays veteran FBI agent Charles Barker, and for sometime he has been working with a young protégé named Ellis Dove (Travis Fimmel). As more cases have to be solved, and more crime has to be addressed, Ellis comes to find out that he was actually recruited as a double agent to investigate Charles Barker's unorthodox work style, and activities.
And so far that is the plot.
Now after watching the first episode I will admit that this show is very good. Now I know some people will say that this show just looks typical, and it looks like your standard one hour drama, but to be honest with folks.. I believe it's better than most standard drama's that are currently running. I mean this show is very gritty, and ballsy. And I must say that this show really echoes the film Training Day (2001) with Denzel Washington, and Ethan Hawke. So if you saw that film then you can really get an idea on how this show flows.
Now getting to the characters....Patrick Swayze does a great job as Charles Barker. Now I know for Swayze to play this role, it's going to be kind of hard to reach the heights of his past roles in such films like Dirty Dancing, Road House, and Point Break. But Patrick Swayze pulls it off as Charles Barker, and he's really convincing as this unorthodox FBI agent.
Travis Fimmel does a good job. Now I've never heard of Travis Fimmel until I saw him in the first episode of The Beast, and like I said he did a good job. It's not the best acting performance, but it's not the worst I've seen. I just thought he did good.
And overall this show is good so far. I think it has potential. I believe it's different from your standard drama's that are currently running now like CSI:Miami, Without A Trace, and The Closer. The Beast is a drama that really pulls in your focus, and it's a good drama with the mix of some action, good mystery, and entertaining crime/corruption elements.
And so far that is the plot.
Now after watching the first episode I will admit that this show is very good. Now I know some people will say that this show just looks typical, and it looks like your standard one hour drama, but to be honest with folks.. I believe it's better than most standard drama's that are currently running. I mean this show is very gritty, and ballsy. And I must say that this show really echoes the film Training Day (2001) with Denzel Washington, and Ethan Hawke. So if you saw that film then you can really get an idea on how this show flows.
Now getting to the characters....Patrick Swayze does a great job as Charles Barker. Now I know for Swayze to play this role, it's going to be kind of hard to reach the heights of his past roles in such films like Dirty Dancing, Road House, and Point Break. But Patrick Swayze pulls it off as Charles Barker, and he's really convincing as this unorthodox FBI agent.
Travis Fimmel does a good job. Now I've never heard of Travis Fimmel until I saw him in the first episode of The Beast, and like I said he did a good job. It's not the best acting performance, but it's not the worst I've seen. I just thought he did good.
And overall this show is good so far. I think it has potential. I believe it's different from your standard drama's that are currently running now like CSI:Miami, Without A Trace, and The Closer. The Beast is a drama that really pulls in your focus, and it's a good drama with the mix of some action, good mystery, and entertaining crime/corruption elements.
Gritty drama - not for milquetoasts
Amadio27 May 2009
It seems that only interpersonal emotional dramas gather the votes. The Beast is emotional, but it is not Little House on the Prairie. Swayze as maverick FBI agent is ably abetted by his new partner, well-portrayed by Travis Fimmel, in catching the bad guys and finding out 'who-dunnit' in an event 15 years prior. The characters are hard men who suppress their emotions to get the job done, yet this is who they are. Why this show has low ratings? I can only guess that there is not enough emotional interaction among the characters, and female interest is definitely low. Yet this is what makes the show gripping. Who will snap? Who will betray and who will be betrayed? Are the 'good' guys really the good guys? Even the bad guys are not what they seem at times. This is action drama that revolves around Swayze, who, health issues in real life or not, delivers a driven performance as if each case might be his last. If you don't like The Beast and don't want more of it, what are you doing watching cop shows? Go back to your reruns of Friends and Seinfeld, instead.
OK, but it's not a keeper
ctomvelu-124 January 2009
Caught an episode of THE BEAST last night. Patrick Swazye plays an FBI agent with a young partner. They are based in Chicago, one of the nation's most corrupt cities, so there's always plenty of crime for Swayze to investigate. In the episode I saw, he needs to get his hands on a drug kingpin who is currently incarcerated. He cuts corners a lot, and is what we would call an antihero if this were a movie. The episode was well executed, gritty, and revealed the seamier side of life in Chicago. Swayze is OK. The youthful partner is generic -- as is the case with all second bananas on crime shows like NCIS and WITHOUT A TRACE and COLD CASE. Will the show last? Probably not, regardless of Swayze's health (he has pancreatic cancer). It just doesn't feel as "authentic" as LAW & ORDER, which all new crime shows are measured against. It vaguely reminds me of David Morse's HACK or that old Edward Woodward show where his enforcer-for-hire character stalked the streets of NYC, righting wrongs that could not be handled by the police.
Not a critic or a fan but this is a great show
xvionxvion22 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Patrick Swayze is awesome in this TV show , though this was a movie at first ,it got a lots of twist and turns not know where the story is going but it is excite . they a part about the agent hit the pipe that too closes to real life .people get hook on that for real sometime it take just one hit to be addicted
most TV show and movie you can tell what going to happen which get really boring this show should get a chance with a season i notice people knocking the show so am writing a quick comment to defended the show
so don't blow this off .judge for yourself
most TV show and movie you can tell what going to happen which get really boring this show should get a chance with a season i notice people knocking the show so am writing a quick comment to defended the show
so don't blow this off .judge for yourself
The Beast
garyj-1525 August 2013
Predictable, very bad stories, Mr Swayze looks ill, how do they expect us to believe he is a tough cop? Casting flaws; Victoria Tennant as a 10 yr old kid mother? Did not like it AT ALL
When action happens, there are no people in the streets! Did someone really liked it? Bad stunts Worn out cases Slow scenes I already wrote what I think of the series and this thing still wants me to write more to be able to make a post, there is not anymore to write about that boring series. I have to keep writing until I fill 10 lines of comments, hard to do The only good thing about the Beast is that it only has 1 season
When action happens, there are no people in the streets! Did someone really liked it? Bad stunts Worn out cases Slow scenes I already wrote what I think of the series and this thing still wants me to write more to be able to make a post, there is not anymore to write about that boring series. I have to keep writing until I fill 10 lines of comments, hard to do The only good thing about the Beast is that it only has 1 season
the beast has been unleashed
edwbur1 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
finally a show thats brand new. all these other cop shows are all the same. this one is fresh out of the box. the first thing that made this show great was Patrick swayze who plays charles barker. hes a kind of FBI agent were he gets answers just not by the book. we need a character like that. a character thats tough but cares. he has a dark past and through the whole season people keep coming to his partner Ellis. wanting him to investigate his partner because they think hes dirty. his partner does and doesn't think so. but we all know he isn't. also this show does different kinds off cases that other shows do. there bigger and more fun to watch. to bad Patrick swayze died. he was a great actor and i would of loved to see another season of the beast. season 1 is out on DVD now. buy it.
Great Action Series
maxikompel2 June 2011
It is a Great Series of action, it has very interesting stories of crimes. Is the last work done by the great action actor Patrick Swayze,(he gives life to a veteran FBI agent with a very particular personality, and very interesting). With Travis Fimmel, he isn't very much known, but on my opinion he will have a great career in the future. Their characters have a strange relationship in the series, they are both cabs but they don't treat at the best way themselves. I really recommend it, either they had to stop it at the middle of the 1st season it is great and i give it a 9.
Greetings maxi0305
Greetings maxi0305
You eat the beast or the beast eats you.
bluesman-2030 August 2012
The Beast is that one great cop show that has everything. It's got Renagade agents and Dirty agents out for themselves.s got great stories which have a strong impact . But most of all this show leaves a impact with the viewer. It's not a normal cop show, The plot is simple enough. Charles Barker is a F.B.I Agent who's been so long undercover that the Feds are beginning to think he's turned. Or worse yet that he's become a double agent working both ends against the middle and selling out his fellow agents also undercover. So they hand pick a young agent Ellis Dove. His job is to work with Barker and report on him. Turn in any evidence he can use on him. However Barker Hand picks Dove to work for him as his partner. Barker is so good of a agent that he's obsessed with bringing the bad guys down . It doesn't matter if it's a Arms dealer or a drug dealer or a mafia hit-man Barker when he goes under cover becomes That Cover. Ellis falls under Barker's spell and soon becomes his biggest ally. Meanwhile the F.B.I is pushing Ellis Dove to give them the evidence to shut Barker down for good. Ellis Dove is trapped in a world where he can't trust anybody. And the next move he makes could be the one that gets him and Barker killed. Ellis soon becomes paranoid knowing only that Barker is what he says he is a Agent out for justice. Patrick Swayze was not one of my favourite actors. But his job in this series is so good. He makes you forget Ghost and Dirty dancing. Swayze is so unlike his other roles that watching him in this is a total surprise. Patrick Swayze died after shooting the first 13 episodes. He left on a grand note and left a great tribute to his talent. The Beast is worth watching just for him. And him alone.
Sublime Swayze Swan Song
Bob-4514 September 2012
Patrick Swayze first impressed me with "Dirty Dancing" and I had hoped to see him helm a spate of musicals. After nearly losing hope, I had the pleasure of watching Swayze again in "Ghost" and was impressed by his soothing mix of masculine sweetness. Given the enormous success of these two films, plus his impressive stint in "North and South," I surely expected a spate of impressive Swayze movies. Alas, then came the insipid "Next of Kin" (ruined by a "Hollywood" ending), the turgid "Point Break" and the sleazy "Road House". I was apparently one of few who enjoyed "FatherHood," but I was really beginning to give up hope that Hollywood would EVER take full advantage of Swayze's dramatic abilities. Ironically, but fitfully, along comes "The Beast" to give Swayze a chance to REALLY demonstrate his "acting chops," just as his boyishly handsome looks wasted away to cancer, with "The Beast," which is also the darkest, grittiest "cop show" I have seen since "The Shield".
While I admire this 13 episode homage to the Swayze persona, I really wish the producers would repackage this excellent series with a new leading man. Certainly, any number of fine actors could play rogue FBI agent Charlie Baker; Liam Neeson, Denzil Washington, Russell Crowe, Michael Chiklis, Hugh Laurie, Jamie Bamber, Timothy Oliphant, David Morse and Will Patton come immediately to mind.
NOTE TO PRODUCERS: If you DO decide to revive "The Beast," either for theaters or RV, PLEASE retain the style and music of the original series, as both are superb.
I give "The Beast" a solid "8".
While I admire this 13 episode homage to the Swayze persona, I really wish the producers would repackage this excellent series with a new leading man. Certainly, any number of fine actors could play rogue FBI agent Charlie Baker; Liam Neeson, Denzil Washington, Russell Crowe, Michael Chiklis, Hugh Laurie, Jamie Bamber, Timothy Oliphant, David Morse and Will Patton come immediately to mind.
NOTE TO PRODUCERS: If you DO decide to revive "The Beast," either for theaters or RV, PLEASE retain the style and music of the original series, as both are superb.
I give "The Beast" a solid "8".
an example of the best of American television series
HelenMary16 January 2013
This television series, sadly cut short after one season due to the untimely and lamentable passing of Patrick Swayze, would I am sure have been a massive hit. It is dark, gritty, tense and different from the usual clean-cut you-know-which-side-you-are-on cop shows littering Americam and British TV. Swayze plays Charles Barker an undercover covert assignment cop, who takes on the big cases and seems to have the moral flexibility that is required in law enforcement sometimes to get the right moral result. His partner Travis Fimmel plays the wet behind the ears but riding the learning curve under the mentorship of Barker. Together with his pretty face, which opens a lot of doors, and determination to impress Barker, and Barker's die hard attitude, things get done. Each episode is a good, interesting case, out of the ordinary but the overall story arch is whether Barker despite his good results and intentions is as bent as the proverbial nine bob note. And you really don't know.
Dove (Fimmel) is constantly courted by the FBI to snitch on Barker's dealings in order to ascertain once and for all whether he is just as crooked as the guys he's putting away and the angst for Dove's conscience is what drives the back plot. Ultimately Dove is a do-right-guy and is often shocked at Barker's methods, which seem a little far-fetched to get away with but he's a veteran, is slick and experienced but obviously does have secrets that he's hiding.
This is good TV. It's not all guns blazing, gratuitous sex and violence, cars blowing up and ridiculous plot culmination. People don't fold under routine questioning and hold their hands up and say - "Yes okay I did it." It's far more complex than that, and the viewer will have moral quandaries to negotiate. What would you do in so and so situation? If you want brainless entertainment, this isn't for you.
Great television. Whilst it was a great show, and ended high and off a cliff (hanger), I'm glad it wasn't continued. I read somewhere that Patrick was undergoing treatment during filming but refused pain medication as it made his performance more gritty and determined. Dedication to the craft, and it shows. His passing is still sorely felt and this television series is prime example of why he was a shining light in Hollywood and will not be forgotten - stunning acting in the episode "Mercy". Fimmel I hope goes onto bigger and brighter things as he's a very talented actor himself, and I'm sure will be glad he had the chance to work with a professional such as Swayze.
Dove (Fimmel) is constantly courted by the FBI to snitch on Barker's dealings in order to ascertain once and for all whether he is just as crooked as the guys he's putting away and the angst for Dove's conscience is what drives the back plot. Ultimately Dove is a do-right-guy and is often shocked at Barker's methods, which seem a little far-fetched to get away with but he's a veteran, is slick and experienced but obviously does have secrets that he's hiding.
This is good TV. It's not all guns blazing, gratuitous sex and violence, cars blowing up and ridiculous plot culmination. People don't fold under routine questioning and hold their hands up and say - "Yes okay I did it." It's far more complex than that, and the viewer will have moral quandaries to negotiate. What would you do in so and so situation? If you want brainless entertainment, this isn't for you.
Great television. Whilst it was a great show, and ended high and off a cliff (hanger), I'm glad it wasn't continued. I read somewhere that Patrick was undergoing treatment during filming but refused pain medication as it made his performance more gritty and determined. Dedication to the craft, and it shows. His passing is still sorely felt and this television series is prime example of why he was a shining light in Hollywood and will not be forgotten - stunning acting in the episode "Mercy". Fimmel I hope goes onto bigger and brighter things as he's a very talented actor himself, and I'm sure will be glad he had the chance to work with a professional such as Swayze.
10/10.. but ADD CANADA
kelseybeson9 May 2022
B-movies hit the small screen.
Tridentmovies25 January 2009
This review is based on an early impression (episodes 1 and a small part of 2, before i switched it off) and so i realize there is the possibility of improvement down the road. Although judging by what i've seen so far, i seriously doubt the people involved with the show would know how.
Whereas the synopsis of the show sounded interesting in a "The Shield" sort of way, the execution of it is quite dire. A couple of FBI-agents, one experienced and shifty (Patrick Swayze) and a rookie (Travis Fimmel) are teamed up to work together on cases. The first two cases involved sales of weapons and drugs. There is no real point going into the plots of the episodes as they play out pretty much exactly as you would expect. There is a subplot involving internal affairs wanting the rookie, who's name is Dove, to cooperate with them in keeping tabs on the experienced agent, called Barker. It is implied that Barker might be involved in some dirty business even outside of just bending or even breaking the rules.
This show comes across as being as mediocre as you could imagine. And that's only when it tries to be good. The camera-work is horrible. Aside from being a bad student of the "NYPD Blue" school of shaky-cam, the picture often looks blurry, and depressingly under-lit or dark altogether. It is as if the producers hired an amateur and told him "give it your best shot" with a digital camera. It tries to look hard-boiled and gritty, but it just looks annoying, especially because thanks to the limits of television it simply isn't allowed to be as gritty as it may want to be. As a result it just comes off as a poseur of a show.
The show, from what i've seen, is horribly clichéd and the music score is utterly predictable in what mood it wants to set a scene in as well as when it swells up to give a scene or shot fake tension or emotional resonance. The acting ranges from mediocre (Swayze) to downright awful (Fimmel) with both of them channeling performances that have been done millions of times before by much better actors. Fimmel in particular is a twitchy, constipated-looking hybrid of Matthew McConaughey and Leonard DiCaprio, and seems selected to play the part for no other reason than to give the female audience a "hunk" to root for. The guy twitches and smirks his way through the show and we are supposed to think it is "acting".
The characters they play are as hackneyed as they get, without almost an ounce of originality in behavior. The experienced guy knows all and makes the rookie do his bidding, and the rookie apparently has no problem putting his career on the line by defying internal affairs in favor of loyalty to a guy he hardly knows, except that he in fact DOES break a large number of rules and laws, which makes the investigation by internal affairs completely logical. There is no reason whatsoever for Dove to potentially sacrifice his career for this man and yet he does. Why? Because the plot requires that internal affairs be "wrong" or mistrusted by default as they always tend to be in cop shows, and the rookie to show "loyalty" to his fellow agent as if it somehow more honorable than remaining honest as a law enforcement agent. Dove inexplicably seems to think that not the bureau but his partner has given him his job and puts food on his table, otherwise there is no logical explanation why a rookie would put his job on the line for a near-total stranger. To make a long story short: the writing, much like almost everything else, stinks to high heaven and offers neither anything fresh and original, nor anything of quality even in its redundancy. Plenty of shows offer the same thing that has been done many times before, but at least they do it with quality. "The Beast" is just a TV-version of every bad B-movie in the action-section of the video-store.
The only positive thing that could be said is that at least the action on display is adequate (i liked the RPG in the pilot) and if mediocrity is no hindrance in wasting some time i guess you could do even worse than this show.
With "Flashpoint" for instance. But that's another story.
Whereas the synopsis of the show sounded interesting in a "The Shield" sort of way, the execution of it is quite dire. A couple of FBI-agents, one experienced and shifty (Patrick Swayze) and a rookie (Travis Fimmel) are teamed up to work together on cases. The first two cases involved sales of weapons and drugs. There is no real point going into the plots of the episodes as they play out pretty much exactly as you would expect. There is a subplot involving internal affairs wanting the rookie, who's name is Dove, to cooperate with them in keeping tabs on the experienced agent, called Barker. It is implied that Barker might be involved in some dirty business even outside of just bending or even breaking the rules.
This show comes across as being as mediocre as you could imagine. And that's only when it tries to be good. The camera-work is horrible. Aside from being a bad student of the "NYPD Blue" school of shaky-cam, the picture often looks blurry, and depressingly under-lit or dark altogether. It is as if the producers hired an amateur and told him "give it your best shot" with a digital camera. It tries to look hard-boiled and gritty, but it just looks annoying, especially because thanks to the limits of television it simply isn't allowed to be as gritty as it may want to be. As a result it just comes off as a poseur of a show.
The show, from what i've seen, is horribly clichéd and the music score is utterly predictable in what mood it wants to set a scene in as well as when it swells up to give a scene or shot fake tension or emotional resonance. The acting ranges from mediocre (Swayze) to downright awful (Fimmel) with both of them channeling performances that have been done millions of times before by much better actors. Fimmel in particular is a twitchy, constipated-looking hybrid of Matthew McConaughey and Leonard DiCaprio, and seems selected to play the part for no other reason than to give the female audience a "hunk" to root for. The guy twitches and smirks his way through the show and we are supposed to think it is "acting".
The characters they play are as hackneyed as they get, without almost an ounce of originality in behavior. The experienced guy knows all and makes the rookie do his bidding, and the rookie apparently has no problem putting his career on the line by defying internal affairs in favor of loyalty to a guy he hardly knows, except that he in fact DOES break a large number of rules and laws, which makes the investigation by internal affairs completely logical. There is no reason whatsoever for Dove to potentially sacrifice his career for this man and yet he does. Why? Because the plot requires that internal affairs be "wrong" or mistrusted by default as they always tend to be in cop shows, and the rookie to show "loyalty" to his fellow agent as if it somehow more honorable than remaining honest as a law enforcement agent. Dove inexplicably seems to think that not the bureau but his partner has given him his job and puts food on his table, otherwise there is no logical explanation why a rookie would put his job on the line for a near-total stranger. To make a long story short: the writing, much like almost everything else, stinks to high heaven and offers neither anything fresh and original, nor anything of quality even in its redundancy. Plenty of shows offer the same thing that has been done many times before, but at least they do it with quality. "The Beast" is just a TV-version of every bad B-movie in the action-section of the video-store.
The only positive thing that could be said is that at least the action on display is adequate (i liked the RPG in the pilot) and if mediocrity is no hindrance in wasting some time i guess you could do even worse than this show.
With "Flashpoint" for instance. But that's another story.
This one really is a "Beast"
al2gtr-116 January 2009
Was looking forward to seeing Travis Fimmel again, but I couldn't even get to the first commercial. What a stinker. Lousy dialog, dumb script, and implausible action sequences. The scenario has Travis acting so stupid and irresponsible that you know, in reality, he would never be accepted into the FBI or any other academy. Two very watchable male stars going entirely to waste. I don't expect this one to last long, but who knows?
Travis, let your hair grow a little. I love Patrick Swayze, and he does his very best in this, but in view of his current health situation, this program is depressing and I am wiping it off my "to watch" list even if future episodes are better written.
Travis, let your hair grow a little. I love Patrick Swayze, and he does his very best in this, but in view of his current health situation, this program is depressing and I am wiping it off my "to watch" list even if future episodes are better written.
This show is so bad
phaedra330 April 2009
It's not worth it to write a novel about this show, to put it simply, the show lacked a lot and Swayze looked very ill, which served as a distraction each time I tried to watch. The submission guidelines insist that I come up with ten lines of text to qualify for submission, which is hard to come up with since on the whole this offering of television entertainment was completely lackluster. I even got together with a few friends to see some of the first few episodes, since in my area, the cable service offered preferred viewing so that two to three episodes could be viewed at once sitting, and we wound up turning it off midway of the second episode. Swayze's acting was overblown and the Travis Fimmel character was simply an idiot with a gun. I just couldn't imagine sitting through a full season of this and not surprised this show received low ratings.
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