Network: Fox
Premier Date: Sunday, April 15, 8:00 PM e/c (airs regularly Mondays at 8:00 pm)
Starring: J.D. Pardo (Sean Salazar), Emily Stone (Violet Trimble), Nathan Fillion (Alex Tully), Riley Smith (Rob Laird), Taryn Manning (Ivy Chitty), Melanie Lynskey (Wendy Patrakas), Kristin Lehman (Corinna Wiles), Kevin Alejandro (Winston Salazar)
Website: Drive
Driving down the road at a reasonable 72 mph you may notice a few cars that pass clocking in at 85 mph or better. You may wonder whom this person is that needs to get to the finish in such a hurry. Tim Minear, who I am quite comfortable labeling a genius and wordsmith, has created a show for Fox that postulates a possible answer. ‘Drive’ is a story of a legendary race that began with the birth of the automobile. It’s a slick and wild ride, but it has some major problems. Smartly written characters, an unorthodox and disjointed editing style, and it’s on Fox. The network that loves to bring us intelligent television only to put it out to pasture before it’s time.
This is the second attempt for ‘Drive’ to come to our television screens. Last year a pilot was produced that started on the road, smack in the middle of this race. The revamped version adds character to the story by starting us off with the players being broken from their daily routines to join up in a race for their lives. Allowing Minear more freedom to add to his characters and story can only be a good thing. Hopefully Fox’s faith in the show translates into something as smart and fun as Tim’s work on ‘Firefly.’
While there is a sizable cast, and storylines can get muddled, director Greg Yaitanes does a good job of keeping a decent narrative flow. Most of the racers are in it for the rumored $32 million prize at the finish. For Alex (Nathan Fillion) and Wendy (Melanie Lynskey) the stakes are much higher. Alex has discovered his wife (the briefly seen but still as enchanting as ever Amy Acker) has gone missing, and with a phone call from the organizers of The Race he is told to get to Florida. Upon arrival he meets the highly enjoyable Mr. Bright (Charles Martin Smith), who provides a hint to the prize awaiting him at the finish line. His wife. Wendy has just given birth to her son Sam when she gets the call. In an attempt to get away from her abusive husband and help out her child, she is in The Race to win. It’s something that is tested on the second leg when she's tasked with killing Ivy (Taryn Manning). Wendy is told if Ivy is in her vehicle when it passes the next checkpoint, Wendy will be the one eliminated. Instead of murder, Wendy allows Ivy to join her in the Caravan, thus meeting the criteria spelled out by Mr. Bright. The best piece of dialogue in the entire two hour premiere happens as Wendy looks at the chattering Ivy and says, "Maybe I should have shot you."
There are other great characters in the show as well, some more interesting than others. A few I wouldn’t mind seeing “eliminated” within the next few episodes to be honest. If you don’t like Fillion’s trademark smirk and quips, maybe you’ll take to the father and daughter team. In case the cast isn’t attractive enough for you, there’s a young Iraq war veteran (Riley Smith) and his gorgeous wife (Mircea Monroe). Granted, there isn’t much to say about that story yet, but there’s room for shallow reasoning behind liking a character. No matter what, if given a chance we’ll see all of these characters grow and become as intriguing as each of the others.
As for the race itself, well it’s not exactly the Daytona 500. Early on Alex meets up with two mysterious figures. Corinna (Kristin Lehman) hides herself in the back of the beat up pickup truck Alex is in, and it’s not long until we meet an acquaintance of hers. The intensely serious Bill (Brian Bloom) runs them off the road and appears to mean Alex harm. At least, that’s the assumption since the man carries a gun. These two have secrets about the race, and Corinna has a history going back 27 years with the organizers. She has chosen to tag along with Alex because she feels he has the best chance of getting to the finish line and getting his wife back, in any way possible. Corinna was taken and stood at the finish line as she watched her parents die trying to get to her. It’s something not easily forgiven, and she has information that may help her get the revenge she seeks. Of course, we can never take a character’s word at face value. Corinna herself lied and changed her story numerous times throughout the 2-hour series premiere. The only character we seem to be able to trust is Alex, but he has a mysterious past as well. Ah questions and riddles, it looks like Fox is offering it’s own take on the mystery drama.
‘Drive’ isn’t as intriguing as Minear’s best work for Fox, the poorly supported ‘Firefly.’ It’s a show more for everybody, but Minear does his best to turn the conventions on the their side and get some fresh juice from now standard story structure. It’s too easy to try and pigeon hole ‘Drive’ into a clone or a mash-up of different shows already on the air. To be truthful, there is an element of that. What Tim Minear offers is simply a compelling and intriguing hour of television to make you want to watch week after week. The recast may have been even better than the story rewrite. While Fillion isn’t as free flowing with witty commentary as he was playing Mal, there’s still plenty to love. Even a few humorous moments that are quite simply funny because Fillion knows how to deliver those moments better than anyone. Melanie Lynskey’s Wendy is a treat to watch as well. Her simple lines are given a little twist with her delivery, which always seem to have a sincere quirkiness to them.
While nowhere as good as his previous work, ‘Drive’ is much more mainstream in it’s appeal. Let’s hope that translates into a second season. Tim Minear deserves it after all he’s given fans.
