‘Space’ Crew Faces Pair Of Missions
FOX’s “Space: Above and Beyond” takes flight with a pair of episodes tonight at 8 and tomorrow at 9.
The 21st Century drama premiered in September as a space adventure, but it quickly became more character driven. The results have been mixed. I get the feeling that the series is produced by committee. The dialogue swings wildly from intelligent and natural to brainless blabbering.
Special effects seem to suffer from similar inconsistencies. When the action is in space, you may see air combat sequences on par with “Star Wars.” Last week, however, a ground battle looked and sounded like it was made in someone’s garage.
I like how the series offers strong female roles for Kristen Cloke as Shane Vansen and Lanei Chapman as Vanessa Damphousse.
But “Space” lacks the sophistication of a “Star Trek” or the grittiness or adult science-fiction appeal of “The X-Files.”
Tonight, the 58th Squadron is assigned a dangerous role in a scheme to fool the enemy, which has broken a code and decoded plans for a major Earth counteroffensive. Guest star Gail O’Grady (“NYPD Blue”) is the Marine officer in charge.
(Speaking of guests, if you tuned in last week you would have spotted an unbilled appearance by “The X-Files” David Duchovny as a sinister pool shark.)
Tomorrow, the 58th sees more action, but is inadvertently abandoned on a barren planet where the elements are as deadly as the enemy.
FOX has two more original episodes of “Space,” but a spokeswoman this week said they haven’t been scheduled. We’ll know next month if the show will be picked up for a second season.
Highlights
“Unsolved Mysteries,” NBC at 8: Angela Maher was a college freshman who founded her high school chapter of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving). The woman charged in her hit-and-run auto death failed to appear at a pretrial hearing last year and is still at large.
“Boy Meets World,” ABC at 8:30: Cory (Ben Savage) is jealous when he sees his ex-girlfriend Topanga (Danielle Fishel) kissing another boy. Meanwhile, Eric (Will Friedle) is accepted to a college that doesn’t exist. Repeat. Show replaces “Muppets Tonight” that had been scheduled for this time slot.
“Diagnosis Murder,” CBS at 9: Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) is on the case when one, then two of three authors of a Hollywood tell-all are murdered. Fitness guru Susan Powter and radio personality Rick Dees guest star.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 9: A report on the so-called “obesity gene” sheds light on why some people can’t seem to lose weight and others stay slim despite eating everything in sight.
Cable Calls
“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” (1994), SHO at 8: Robert De Niro likes a challenge, but this one proves too much. Kenneth Branagh directed and stars in the faithful adaptation of Shelley’s tale of science gone amuck.
It’s long, it’s violent and so unlike the story as popularized in the Boris Karloff movies that you may be disappointed. Helena Bonham Carter, John Cleese and Aidan Quinn co-star.
“Obsession” (1976), A&E at 6 and 10: Brian De Palma ripped off Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” in this thriller about a New Orleans businessman (Cliff Robertson) whose wife and child are lost to kidnappers.
He becomes obsessed with an Italian woman (Genevieve Bujold) who bears a striking resemblance to his abducted bride. De Palma’s way with the camera keeps this one interesting most of the way.