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There's lots of things that I liked about this first episode: Mark-Paul Gosselar (beefy man-cake that he is these days), creepy-as-hell old school style Nosferatu-ish vampires (here called virals), an impending apocalypse, a gorgeous black lady scientist and Saniyaa Sidney as the adorable, vulnerable, tough cookie Amy Bellafonte.
There are other, questionable things that made me raise my eyebrows and left a sour taste in my mouth. Black man on death row being recruited to be a lab rat in exchange for NOT being executed. The two white men in suits who make the pitch. A stereotypical good cop/bad cop pairing that introduces Our Hero immediately by revealing his compassionate heart in the midst of the very unsavory job that he's doing. Of course, later on, we find out he has Issues and this job that he does is either part of some kind of self-imposed penance or just an attempt at not having to feel anything. We'll take option two for Mr. Wannabee I-Am-the-Job.
So part of that distaste in the opening image and the subsequent introduction of Our Mighty Might heroine Amy Bellafonte is the way that the image references the systemic inhumane treatment of black citizens over the course of American history. Medical experimentation from the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment to the genetic rape of Henrietta Lacks, this particular set-up echoes a disturbing culture of systemic racism that insists on the dehumanization of black people for the benefit of a white society. Then there's Amy's mother's convenient death by OD. Even Amy, herself, defensively referring to her dead mother as a Crack Whore. It's not a good look, but Project Noah wanted a kid for their experiments that was without a paper trail, one that no one would miss. So ... yeahhh...
Okay ... that's dramatic, I know. It is a sci-fi show and we are also rather quickly introduced to the other Noah Project lab rats who are all largely white (including one White Supremacist with a massive chest tattoo). It takes the edge off what that opening scene invokes but it doesn't erase the impression. Rather it broadens the problem in that opening scene as it's revealed that with one exception all of the "virals" are Death Row inmates. So, government preying on the incarcerated and marginalized, a vulnerable population despite their crime. It rings out as an incredibly possible and probable reality if the world were to be faced with the need to head off a pandemic. Ostensibly, these people have consented, but the question arises, sitting on Death Row waiting for you execution, can one truly consent?
Other than that real hard initial reaction, I did actually like the episode enough to watch more. Gosselar is pretty adorable with Saniyaa Sidney. I'm a sucker for stories of adopted families and it becomes obvious pretty quickly that Amy and Brad are going to be a father/daughter team on the lam for at least this first episode or two. They have crazy, organic chemistry and despite my momentary hiccup of thinking where I rolled my eyes at another potential white-savior story line, it's one that in this configuration seems like it's going to work.
I actually really appreciate the diverse cast, despite the less savory reminders of crappy historical events. I mean the head scientist is an absolutely gorgeous and, we assume, fiercely intelligent black woman. On top of that, the white dudes don't make out so well here, either. Seeking the cure to all things, two white dudes stumbling through Latin America where they don't speak the language and engaging/interrupting something that they do not understand which ultimately leads us to Project Noah and the beginning of the end of the world. Oh, White Dudes, why you gotta be like that?
Perhaps, as expected, there was a car chase, hand-to-hand fights, and a shoot out. There was also lots of bond-y scenes between Amy and Wolgast. The whole unicorn thing was super adorable and the sweetie thing. I love terms of endearments. He's totally decided to adopt this little girl and it's pretty damn sweet. They've both got holes in their heart and the other person is just about the right size to fill. Saniyaa Sidney is AWESOME as Amy. Unafraid, but vulnerable, tough and hopeful, aware, pragmatic and realistic except for then there was a unicorn. I loved that scene. Sidney owns this show and I can only imagine her getting better and better.
There are other, questionable things that made me raise my eyebrows and left a sour taste in my mouth. Black man on death row being recruited to be a lab rat in exchange for NOT being executed. The two white men in suits who make the pitch. A stereotypical good cop/bad cop pairing that introduces Our Hero immediately by revealing his compassionate heart in the midst of the very unsavory job that he's doing. Of course, later on, we find out he has Issues and this job that he does is either part of some kind of self-imposed penance or just an attempt at not having to feel anything. We'll take option two for Mr. Wannabee I-Am-the-Job.
So part of that distaste in the opening image and the subsequent introduction of Our Mighty Might heroine Amy Bellafonte is the way that the image references the systemic inhumane treatment of black citizens over the course of American history. Medical experimentation from the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment to the genetic rape of Henrietta Lacks, this particular set-up echoes a disturbing culture of systemic racism that insists on the dehumanization of black people for the benefit of a white society. Then there's Amy's mother's convenient death by OD. Even Amy, herself, defensively referring to her dead mother as a Crack Whore. It's not a good look, but Project Noah wanted a kid for their experiments that was without a paper trail, one that no one would miss. So ... yeahhh...
Okay ... that's dramatic, I know. It is a sci-fi show and we are also rather quickly introduced to the other Noah Project lab rats who are all largely white (including one White Supremacist with a massive chest tattoo). It takes the edge off what that opening scene invokes but it doesn't erase the impression. Rather it broadens the problem in that opening scene as it's revealed that with one exception all of the "virals" are Death Row inmates. So, government preying on the incarcerated and marginalized, a vulnerable population despite their crime. It rings out as an incredibly possible and probable reality if the world were to be faced with the need to head off a pandemic. Ostensibly, these people have consented, but the question arises, sitting on Death Row waiting for you execution, can one truly consent?
Other than that real hard initial reaction, I did actually like the episode enough to watch more. Gosselar is pretty adorable with Saniyaa Sidney. I'm a sucker for stories of adopted families and it becomes obvious pretty quickly that Amy and Brad are going to be a father/daughter team on the lam for at least this first episode or two. They have crazy, organic chemistry and despite my momentary hiccup of thinking where I rolled my eyes at another potential white-savior story line, it's one that in this configuration seems like it's going to work.
I actually really appreciate the diverse cast, despite the less savory reminders of crappy historical events. I mean the head scientist is an absolutely gorgeous and, we assume, fiercely intelligent black woman. On top of that, the white dudes don't make out so well here, either. Seeking the cure to all things, two white dudes stumbling through Latin America where they don't speak the language and engaging/interrupting something that they do not understand which ultimately leads us to Project Noah and the beginning of the end of the world. Oh, White Dudes, why you gotta be like that?
Perhaps, as expected, there was a car chase, hand-to-hand fights, and a shoot out. There was also lots of bond-y scenes between Amy and Wolgast. The whole unicorn thing was super adorable and the sweetie thing. I love terms of endearments. He's totally decided to adopt this little girl and it's pretty damn sweet. They've both got holes in their heart and the other person is just about the right size to fill. Saniyaa Sidney is AWESOME as Amy. Unafraid, but vulnerable, tough and hopeful, aware, pragmatic and realistic except for then there was a unicorn. I loved that scene. Sidney owns this show and I can only imagine her getting better and better.
