Jasmine Sahu is well suited with this new American drama exclusive to Dave.
Lois Cameron explains why this series is much more than your average cosy period drama.
The last episode of this series sees Sherlock and Moriarty attempt to solve the final problem with devastating consequences.
With major cast changes afoot, Jacob Martin ponders whether Being Human can live up to its own scarily high standard.
In a television season where TV writers seem to be pre-occupied with inventing the next 24, Lost or Two and a Half Men, No Ordinary Family is a refreshing fusion of genres which ticks all the boxes that would appeal to a mass audience – family drama, crime, supernatural powers, conspiracy and comedy. But in this vortex of concepts, we’re left feeling there’s something lacking in this delicate balance.
No Ordinary Family gets a lot right – the casting makes us believe in the reality of the Powell family: Michael Chiklis (The Fantastic Four, The Shield) as the self-doubting Jim and Julie Benz (Dexter, Buffy) as the ambitious, brainy scientist Stephanie whose marriage is on the rocks, with surprisingly likeable teenage kids Kay Panabaker playing the bright Daphne and Jimmy Bennett the struggling but sweet JJ. The moments of family bonding are easily the best written and most satisfying, playing up the natural chemistry these actors have and using their superpowers as a way to bring them closer.
The supporting stars deserve a mention too – Autumn Reeser (some may remember her as Taylor Townsend from The O.C.) is spot-on as the geeky but adorable lab sidekick to Stephanie, while Romany Malco plays off Chiklis’ character extremely well and drives a lot of the action. Indeed, the harmony of the cast is enough of a reason to keep coming back, and what’s encouraging is that unlike some of its contemporaries and predecessors (i.e. Heroes, FlashForward, The Event), No Ordinary Family understands how to handle a big premise like a family with superpowers, and it doesn’t get drowned by the endless possibilities of its concept. It keeps the action focused on the family and their close acquaintances – this is No Ordinary Family’s strongest suit. It’s worth mentioning that the special effects are of movie quality too – which is always to be appreciated in a weekly TV series with a much smaller budget.
Though I’ve definitely seen enough to have me invested in these characters and their story, in trying to do so much at once No Ordinary Family is never really sure tonally what it is. Are we watching a light family drama where they have superpowers, or a superhero story that just happens to be about a family? Or is it some third option where scientific conspiracy meets domestic life? The emotional family moments draw you in and have you empathising with the characters, but you’re ripped away from that emotion as you watch Jim fight crime. You get interested in the fluffy high school storylines only to be plopped into a high-tech lab with sinister employees. Just as you settle in to one mode, you’re dragged into another – and this can get frustrating, since you’re often left longing to see more.
Hopefully, this won’t be a long-lasting problem. If No Ordinary Family is fortunate enough to get a second season pick-up (US ratings are encouraging but not solid enough to be a sure thing), the brains behind it can breathe a sigh of relief and really take it in one particular creative direction – because there is a lot of promise here for it to not merely be no ordinary TV show, but an extraordinary TV show.
See the third episode of No Ordinary Family next Tuesday at 8pm on Watch.
You must log in to submit a comment.
