This American fantasy drama series has a lot of kinks that the writers are not in tune with and keeps the audience at arm’s length instead of drawing them in. The writer(s) are slow to develop the characters before diving into the first story. The show does so little establishing the characters that extensive investigation on-line was necessary to pass along pertinent information about the personas.
Dr. Lee Rosen (David Strathairn) is the man in charge but still has to answer to powers overhead. Psychiatry and neurology are the specialty he brings to the table as he oversees ordinary people with extraordinary abilities called Alphas. Not in the same league as his subjects, Dr. Rosen is the monitor that guides them with his wisdom and knowledge that bridges the gaps between normal and Alpha.
Bill Harken (Malik Yoba) is a no-holds-barred former FBI agent who is a strict follower of the rules and regulations. His alpha skill is the ability to become superhuman and bring about power and indestructibility which lasts for short periods of time.
Nina Theroux (Laura Mennell) with her sophistication and intelligence is the centerpiece that draws the eyes, and when that happens, her alpha specialty kicks in and she can manipulate anyone into doing as she wishes with no questions asked.
Gary Bell (Ryan Cartwright) in his early twenties but often childlike with no ability to set personal boundaries. His alpha ability awards him natural antennas to see TV, radio and cell phone signals which give him the power to intercept encrypted correspondence communication.
Rachel Pizrad (Azita Ghanizada) is withdrawn and has been sheltered by her parents so her social skills are less matured. Her alpha qualifications lay in her senses. She can stimulate one sense while reducing the remaining captured sights or sounds necessary for the team. When this takes place she is in effect defenseless.
Cameron Hicks (Warren Christie) is the focus of the series debut as he finds himself a target of one side while being recruited as an Alpha. He is a distrusting man whose life has been used as a punching bag from his military days to his baseball pitcher days. His alpha stems from a condition called hyperkinesis, which causes an abnormal amount of uncontrolled muscular action and for Hicks his aim is flawless with motor skills and balance that few human beings have in this combination.
I loved the Marc Bolan “Children of the Revolution” album getting air time as well as David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie” playing in the background of another scene. The production music was a little less friendly as it often came in so hard and loud that a rewind was critical to hear the dialogue. The script was layered with dialogue obscured of more dialogue leaving the viewer with less understanding of the story. At times it seems to be a collage of film that ended up on the cutting room floor. They jump into a story without letting the characters build a relationship with the audience. It is sci-fi but we should not expect less from the genre than the cheesy, over-the-top attempt to be extraordinary but instead just becomes a cinematic nightmare.
