New shows on the block

By Maheen Sabeeh

Instep takes a look at five new telly shows that deserve a watch

Ringer

It’s the comeback vehicle for one of television’s most beloved stars… Sarah Michelle Gellar, anyone? And for that reason alone, this show must be seen. And it has to be said that this is a very unusual show.
The premise of Ringer goes like this: “A young woman on the run from the mob poses as her wealthy twin sister to try and evade them, but soon discovers that her sister has a price on her head as well.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar plays the “young woman” Bridget Kelly. And then she also plays the twin, Siobhan. But within the first episode, Siobhan dies. And Bridget assumes her identity. What Bridget doesn’t know is that her sister’s life is just as complicated, if not more. And so begins the show.

There are many reasons why Ringer works. The first reason is the driving force behind the show, Sarah Michelle Gellar (who is also serving as Executive Producer to the show). She is vulnerable and moving as Bridget but cold and manipulative as Siobhan. It’s a layered performance. Plus it’s Sarah’s comeback to television after a hiatus of eight years.

The other reason why Ringer works is because of its thriller quotient. The show moves quickly with a level of mystery that keeps the viewer glued. Plus the cast supporting Sarah Michelle Gellar also stands out. Kristoffer Polaha, Ioan Gruffudd and Nestor Carbonell all add wit, charm and suspense to the show.

The good news is that Ringer has been picked up for a full-season and the creators have hinted that by the end of the first season, it will be revealed that Bridget is actually a triplet. Sounds complicated? That’s exactly why Ringer deserves a watch.

Revenge

Revenge is unlike anything on television. The pure theme of the show is in its title, Revenge. And its revenge that’s on the mind of the protagonist Emily Thorne aka Amanda Blake (Emily VanCamp).

We discover during the first episode that Emily Thorne is actually Amanda Blake. When she was a little girl, her father was framed by a rich, powerful family, The Graysons and was sent to jail and convicted of crimes he didn’t commit. And so Amanda returns as Emily many years later to exact revenge on the Graysons.

The show is set in the Hamptons and the Graysons are the King and Queen of the land, the richest family on the block, society’s ‘it’ couple. But beneath the surface, nothing is what it seems.

What makes this show tick is its smart writing, quick pace and protagonist Emily VanCamp. For the uninitiated, Emily came to the limelight some five years ago when she landed a plum role on the now-finished series, Brothers and Sisters. Revenge is her vehicle and she is doing an outstanding job. She’s calculating yet forgiving, vicious yet lovely. It’s a unique balance.

Person of Interest

Now this is a show that promises action and drama in equal dose. Prior to airing, Person of Interest garnered a lot of attention and buzz. The reason: its creator. The show is, after all, the brainchild of writer Jonathan Nolan, brother of director Christopher Nolan (Inception, Dark Knight) and the screenwriter behind iconic films like Memento and The Dark Knight.

Another reason to watch the show is that it brings back Lost star Michel Emerson to the small screen again and unites him with actor Jim Caviezel.

Michael plays Harold Finch, a computer genius who develops a machine for the government that detects crime. The government only considers information leading to major attacks but everyday crimes are considered irrelevant. Finch creates a backdoor into the program and gets the information. He then convinces John Reese (Jim Caviezel) to work for him to prevent the crimes.

For Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel, watch this show. They are both mysterious, men with secrets who work together in odd circumstances. And that makes for great television.

Homeland

Fresh off her Emmy win, Claire Danes returns to television first time since the nineties with Homeland. The show centers on Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, who returns home from Iraq after going missing for eight years. He was being held as a Prisoner of War and his return is seen by America as a victory. All but one believes him. And that one person is Carrie Anderson (Claire Danes), a bipolar, brilliant and unstable CIA analyst.

Carrie suspects Sgt. Nicholas Brody has been converted and he might be plotting against the United States. Where the nation sees a hero, she sees a threat.

Claire Danes is the reason why you want to watch Homeland. She’s absolutely incredible. She plays Carrie with conviction, substance and style and that makes Homeland one of the most interesting shows on television right now.

Hart of Dixie

Hart of Dixie has a lot going for it. For one thing, it’s a show from the executive producers of Gossip Girl. For another, it’s the comeback of Rachel Bilson, known for her role as Summer on the show The OC. She is back to television as Dr. Zoe Hart, a surgeon who fails to make the cut for a fellowship in New York. She is told to get experience as a doctor for a full year before she can come back. Confused about making the right decision, Zoe’s life gets further complicated
when she inherits one half of a medical practice in Bluebell, a small town far away from the urban life of New York City. With no other job option around,

Zoe heads to Bluebell and discovers that the man who left her the practice is her real father.

And this is where the story really picks up. Rachel’s Zoe is a modern, city girl while Bluebell is a small, Southern town where everyone knows everyone and most people aren’t open to a city dweller.
Unlike many other shows that hit airwaves this year, Hart of Dixie has made the cut because it’s got that same, small-town charm, wit and weirdness that one associated with the hit series, Gilmore Girls.
In a nutshell, Hart of Dixie is the perfect blend of comedy and drama. For some light fun, check it out.

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