Alcatraz

The new JJ Abrams series premiered on Fox last night, and I was not disappointed.  I was a bit worried about giving my time to another of his series, being that I was so disappointed with where Lost ended up.  But, then I remembered what a great ride it was to get there, and I should give this new series a shot.  Plus, who didn't love Hurley and isn't happy to see him in a series again?

Doesn't hurt that I really love things related to Alcatraz prison.  I find it fascinating.  I got to tour it last year, and it's something everyone who visits San Francisco should do.  To say it's creepy is putting it mildly.

JJ Abrams is a story teller divine.  From the first minute of this series, the watcher is completely drawn in.  Guards in 1963 are on Alcatraz, and no one is there.  Poof, everyone is gone without a trace.  It's almost as if Alcatraz was never occupied by anyone.  Flash forward to modern day Alcatraz, and a group of people on the self-guided tour.  A young girl wanders off from the group and comes across a body.  Turns out, he's just sleeping.  When he wakes, he's disoriented and confused.  He's shocked to be outside, and even more shocked that he's free to walk around.  His name is Jack.

Turns out, he's a prisoner from Alcatraz.  Yet, he looks exactly the same as he did in 1963, nearly 50 years ago.  He decides to exact his revenge against an assistant warden who was cruel to him, and his brother who betrayed him.  All hell breaks loose.

One aspect of the series that I'm really enjoying is that they are focusing on multiple prisoners.  It's not just the story of Jack.  There's Cobb, a sniper, who is continuing his reign of terror in modern day San Francisco.  He reminds me of a mash up of Charles Starkweather (being all thin and geeky) and Charles Whitman, who killed many people from the tower of the University of Texas back in the 60's.  I'm sure they will have multiple prisoner story lines.  I look forward to that.

I like where this series is going.  How on earth are all of these prisoners still alive, and yet, the age they were when Alcatraz was shut down?  Who are they killing for?  How are all of these characters intertwined?  Why is there a new Alcatraz to hold the recaptured prisoners (seems kind of cruel - why is that necessary).  Is Sam Neill a good guy or a bad guy?  WHY DOES COBB KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER 47??????

I'm REALLY happy to see Jason Butler Harner (as warden E.B. Tiller).  He was the killer in Changeling and he scared the living crap out of me in that.  He's excellent and understated so far in Alcatraz.  Also nice to see Parminder Nagra, who used to be on E.R.

I think I'm going to keep the two-hour premiere on the DVR and see if I can get my husband to watch, too.