Alcatraz (TV Series) Pilot (2012) User Reviews

Pretty Good Out of the Gates

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 24 February 2012]

The Pilot of most series, exceeds Production. I've been watching it, this is not true for this show, Production Value is high for each episode so far.

The Pilot Ep asks a lot of questions, how in blazes did these guys get to 2012 from 1963? Why are they following some kind of Agenda. What IS the Agenda.

Although Abrams has his name on the Credits, this project is one of his many Collaborations. But there still is the quality Storytelling here, same as Fringe.

What ultimately keeps people watching week after week, especially in Soap Operas, is that they are made to Care about the Principle Characters. Well, after seeing this Pilot ep- I CARE about these people. I like them and I care about them, even though Sam Neill is a Jerky.

Although I still like Fringe about 500 times more than this show, I will watch this show rather than TerraNova or other Bilge. It's a good collaboration, a good idea for a story, and has high potential.

Plus I love that they are using some of my favourite Character Actors that I last saw on Episodes of Fringe. Ergo, "Alca-Fringe" as I said in my review of the overall series.

Sadly mediocre

[jumbopasatebos · 5/10 · 31 January 2012]

Alcatraz is the latest J.J.Abrams production, his second series this year after "Person of interest". The pilot features direction from veteran TV director Nick Cannon and a leading role from Sam Neil. The production value is high and it shows. Sadly the problem lies within the story itself.

The premise is somewhat muddled to begin with. Some Alcatraz prisoners disappear from the past, only to appear in our age, without any explanation or reason. So a task force is made lead by Mr.Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill), police woman Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) and Dr.Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia). Their aim is to gather up these criminals and, at least for Mr Hunter, enclose them in a modern version of Alcatraz. All that is hastily explained in the pilot in order to lead us to a typical forensic show with a "twist". Also, the show is rather based on coincidence. Sarah who just happens to have a partner dead while chasing a criminal from Alcatraz, happens to be at a crime scene then bumps up to the Dr who happens to have info on the institution and so on. If you compare it with the meticulous structure of let's say "The Killing" (different kind of show but, for me, an exemplary series) it stretches believability up to a ridiculous point and instead of fascinating it just creates confusion for the sake of confusion.

As for the acting part everybody is OK but, sadly, nobody excels. In contrast with "Fringe" there are no fascinating performances, especially when it comes to John Noble's brilliance there. Sam Neil looks like acting in an auto pilot and mostly just stands there smiling without doing much. Sarah Jones is also OK for her part but does not seem like the kind of actress that will pull the series into the future.

So, overall, for the level of expectation that I had and for all the talent involved here this pilot was pretty shallow and mediocre. The story has premise but if they develop it in a standard "procedural" manner I expect it to fade away soon. For now it left me more with a taste of "Six degrees" than "Lost" or "Fringe", I am afraid.

Lack of Chemistry Hurt the Pilot and Show as a Whole!

[ShelbyTMItchell · 5/10 · 27 December 2012]

I like Sam Neil first off. Very underrated but the guy knows how to play such a jerk. Like this show as the head of the Alcatraz task force. Whom knew from the very beginning a young detective played by Sarah Jones. Would be interested despite denying that he wanted her there in the first place.

But you know that he did as he does not have any help yet from the Alcatraz in recapturing all the prisoners and guards.

But still you don't know if he is a good guy or a bad guy or both. As he and his assistant, named Dr Lucy as she has two different names. Sorry if I forget the two names as she and Dr Diego Soto played by ex-Lost alum Jorge Garcia. Are the only ones that I care about. As they have character development and are more sympathetic ones in the show.

Sarah Jones is OK but if it was an older actress, she would not tolerate Neil's arrogance and would stand up to him. As Neil's character is more of a bullying guy with a badge.

It is the lack of chemistry that not just hurt the show. But really hurt the series and that is why it was short lived!