FlashForward; the wrap up

So I finally got around to finishing up FlashForward. Alert readers will have noticed that the show actually ended a few weeks ago, which kinda illustrates the many problems right there.

As I've said earlier, FlashForward had a marvelous dual premise: first, what if nearly everyone in the world did know what would be happening in about nine months? (One of the minor irritations of the show was never addressing the concerns of the multiple people in the world who were asleep during the initial event and therefore missed out, unless they just happened to have unusually vivid dreams and managed to remember them after waking up and not merely dismissing them as, look, even in nine months mushrooms are not going to be talking. [Er. That was my dream last night. They were genetically alerted mushrooms although I know many of you are going to point out that even genetically alerted mushrooms a) aren't too likely to actually talk and b) probably won't have that much to say other than, "Shade. Awesome. More of that, please," but I have never claimed that my dreams are models of logic and possibility. But I digress!] The dream part might have been true, but it was never, as far as I know, actually addressed.) How many people would be desperately trying to stop those futures, and how many would be actively creating them? And could the futures be altered?

That could have been interesting enough, but the show added a second dimension: the FlashForward event killed millions (which should have created more disruption and panic than it actually did) what with cars and planes and electronics everywhere failing, and nobody knew if a second event might be coming. How do you act knowing that another event that might kill millions is coming?

If you are Olivia, YOU BECOME AN ANGST RIDDEN IRRITATION. But I anticipate.

So, awesome premise.

And after the first episode, shoddy execution that could be best described as a disorganized mess. Sideplots popped up only to be abandoned by the next episode. A woman angsted and angsted and angsted over saving her marriage, only to dump that by the next episode. (Also, for the record, "trying to save several million people from dying in another blackout" is generally considered a worthwhile reason for your spouse to risk his life, but I digress.) Unlikeable and boring characters were replaced by….unlikeable and boring characters. Rings were found and fondled by hobbits. (Ok, ok, just one ring and one hobbit, but that sentence leapt into my mind and would not be killed.) Characters headed to Afghanistan and found stunning cell phone/satellite phone reception. (The most inexplicable part of that whole plot is why they weren't using that phone to update Facebook.) Bits of medieval art were introduced in a failed attempt to keep the show, um, intellectual. Cliffhangers leapt up only to rapidly flattened. And, lo and behold, a Miracle Autistic Child appeared. He wanted cookies. I think he spoke for all of us.

I did like the kangaroo.

I can't blame the actors, or the camera work. I can blame the writers and producers, for forgetting that just having the idea isn't enough. You also need something – a tight, twisted plot; likeable or, failing that, watchable characters, villains that you love to hate, solid dialogue, creepiness, something. And although no one wants static, unchanging characters in drama (sitcoms thrive on the idea), that's not a license for having everyone act inconsistently from week to week. (The major problem with both of the love triangles in this show wasn't the love triangles, but the fact that everybody in both of them kept acting out of character. Well, and they were both fairly boring.)

Other comments about the finale: ( spoilery, not that I think this matters much. )