Damien

Damien (2016): TV series on Fox, a direct sequel to The Omen film. Damien is now 30 and works as a war photographer. Things start to go strange, people die around him, friends, enemies, those who know about his past. The Devil Dogs are pretty busy but other deaths result from being dragged into an escalator by a tie (terrible way to lose face) or being crushed by a taxicab. There are competing cultists who want to protect Damien and also those who wish to kill him. Quite dark and violent even though Damien is an engaging character who is a reluctant Antichrist. There was only one season of ten episodes and I'm halfway through it. I suspect I'll be left wanting more. 8/10.

I liked it. I always expect first episodes to be pretty bland but I found myself invested enough to watch it straight through (no stopping for reedit breaks or from losing interest for a bit). The main actor is solid, the tension felt good and not forced or fake, and pacing was nice for a pilot. Also, A&E doesn't seem afraid of letting things get a bit graphic. It's not Hannibal levels, though it would be pretty cool if it got close to that point, but someone got messed up pretty good. It's nothing spectacular but it seems like its got a lot of promise. I'll definitely give it more than my usual 4-5 episode limit to see how it progresses because it's definitely caught my interest.

I have confidence in Glen Mazzara's creation of this series, even if the critics out there trashing it, do not. One critic went so far as to say he would never give this show another chance after viewing the pilot. What tripe and how close minded. I gave Hannibal a chance, a re-working of another well-known character, and was richly rewarded. I intend to give this series a shot, let it unfold and see how it hits me, as a big fan of the 1976 Richard Donner film from which it draws thematically and musically. What I like about the pilot episode: the modern updating, the acting, the music, and not making Damien good or bad but basically innocent until his 30th birthday (why, I will leave for you to discover), upon which he must start grappling with horrific memories of his long-past childhood.

It makes no sense for Damien to start out evil in this show, as that leaves his character nowhere to go. What I hope will be explored is if the nature of evil, whether you believe in Revelation/the Bible or not, is a growth, a given, a concept that can be overcome, or something you ultimately must submit to and revel in as your true nature. And that conflict, the gray area, is much more interesting to me. This series will sink or swim, based on its ability to draw out that narrative. And in just viewing the pilot, I think it has a lot of possibility.

Damien relies on the concept of Good VS Evil. The Protagonist we all know is the son of the Antichrist. However in human form he is shielded and protected and given good values. He has turned human but the Antichrist is trying to force him to kill. Death Surrounds him. People die wherever he goes. A Brilliantly executed show. Brilliant acting performances by Barbara Hershey , Bradley James, Omid Abtahi and David Meunier . I still cannot figure out why this show went off air,

Don't write too many reviews, but on this one had to - guess it's my way of putting out into the universe - please don't cancel! Don't know too many people who watch it, so I am concerned, but I really think it has something after 9 episodes in. Yep, it gets off to a slightly slow start (which wasn't a problem for me personally), and there are some serialized "TV show moments" in the beginning that don't quite work - the death of one main character in the first few episodes, as one reviewer wrote, did seem a little forced - it's forgivable, keep watching. If you were a fan of the original movie(s), you will appreciate the love the creators of this show have for them and how they tie everything in to a modern day story that still stays faithful to the original things to smile, laugh, and be creeped out about - the freakish deaths, the conspiracies, the cabals, the dramatic Gothic Damien 666 music, the killer Rottweilers, that feeling of dread cuz you know it's all going to hell from here. Actor playing Damien is good - does a good job of balancing his confusion and resistance about it all with the rising evil in him (lemme guess without looking, British, right?) And bonuses - Barbara Hershey blessing the show with her immense Jessica Lange-esque presence, and Scott Wilson. All in all, guys from Walking Dead produced this, and I trust their vision and direction so far. And please don't cancel lol