TooCynicalToSpeak

Okay, I admit, I only saw one episode of this so I'm not exactly an expert but in my opinion this show is a mess. The story behind it is interesting, more or less original and has a lot of potential for a fresh looking, dark and good TV series. It has room for complex characters, and a brooding-like struggle for the main character Morgan. But in The Collector all this potential is wasted on a sloppy script, bad acting, and a generally poor look. The characters, as well as the main one are pretty much flat and the episode itself very predictable. Maybe I just saw a bad episode, but I have a feeling that I can watch the rest of them and not have a pleasant surprise to see I'm wrong. Which is too bad, because it could've been a good show.

I'm not a big John Doe expert, I don't live in the US and the show came here a little late so basically I've seen only the Pilot but I feel that even from this standpoint I can make a relevant claim. The episode was nice, but all too regular. In fact, for a Pilot episode it failed to achieve several important elements that are required or at least recommended. A Pilot is supposed to introduce the show – give the viewer all the relevant information without swamping him with too much details and events. I know that the atmosphere is supposed to be a bit murky as John himself does not have any pertinent information about himself but still in this case there were undeterminable gaps in time, almost no introduction of the other cast members but yet scenes that were displayed as though we have already grown accustomed to everyone. There weren't enough important details and too many things that should've come later on. If only one character is at the center of a show after seeing the pilot the viewer should already get a pretty good idea about the character. That's not delivered in this case, we're shown only small bits about his internal turmoil though I can only imagine that a person in his condition would not be able to think of anything else. And yes, it does bare more than a slight resemblance to The Pretender, only, unlike what's been written here before it's not more interesting or more earnest in the least. Dominic Purcell does a nice job, he's believable- in better circumstances the viewer would be compelled to throw all their sympathies toward him, but honestly sometimes it seems like the guy is about to hyperventilate at any moment whereas Michael T. Weiss is sweet, touching and convincing. The mystery intrigue-like part of The Pretender is interesting, consistent and gripping and I doubt that any of John Doe's cast can imitate Andrea Parker's performance. So there's no comparing it to The Pretender, definitely not to anything the great Joss Whedon would conjure up and most definitely not the The X- Files (as I've seen many have been doing while commenting). In fact I don't think I'd even be as presumptuous as to compare it to Dark Angel. Don't get me wrong, I'm still gonna watch the second episode. In fact I'm probably going to watch them all because it does seem like a fine show, one that everyone who likes the genre and the type can definitely enjoy on perhaps more levels than one. (And by the way, how does he know he sees only B&W if he can't remember ever seeing colors?)

I don't have any serious issues against this series. I do think it's nice and I know for sure that I didn't give it a fair chance, I rejected it from the very beginning, but with reason. This show is just a cheap (figuratively and quite possibly literally) and unworthy imitation of The X- Files. Two educated people, one an open-minded believer and the other one skeptical but willing to give things the benefit of the doubt and ask the right questions. Both of them investigating "Miraculous Phenomenon", which is basically another way of saying The Paranormal. Okay, so most people won't find this imitation thing a problem. But I happen to be a wholehearted fan of The X- Files and I just think why see this if you can see the original. Mysterious Ways is enjoyable and certainly not bad for the genre lovers, but it is much less interesting, eloquent, innovative (I can go on forever). I do think it's cute that they're trying. The effort is definitely noted.