Lone serial killer gathers bunch of people to the remote island, cuts the island from the world and than starts killing them one by one. This is the story plot used in the countless movies, but very rarely in the TV series (as far as I know, I haven’t seen such series before this one). Harper’s Island is more like a long movie with a lot of killings spread over the 13 episodes and with more than 20 people killed over the period of a week.

Story

It’s very hard to write original story that deals with serial killers and follow him killing people one by one, and on top having them restricted to a town or island in this case. So, don’t expect anything different with this series. Killer and over 20 victims  in a course of 13 episodes during one week. Story is set on a small island outside of Seattle during the wedding. All guests arrive together with a boat to a small town of Harper’s Island where bride’s (Trish) family has a big estate. Groom (Henry) used to work for his wife to be family. Henry’s best friend Abby lost her mother 7 years before to serial killer and the wedding was first time after her mother’s death that she returns to the island.

During first few episodes you will learn about events from previous serial killings. But, many things will remain hidden until the very end of the series keeping viewers in suspense. But, there is no time to waste and people will start dieing during the premiere episode. And until the end, at least one of the characters will be killed in each episode.

Abby and Henry

Don’t expect story to be too complicated, and it was not meant to be. It’s about pure entertainment, and finding new ways to kill someone. But the pacing and the structure will allow you to think about who’s next between the episodes and try to put all pieces together and find out who’s killing the wedding guests.

Characters

While the story is nothing new, and not very original, characters are developed nicely during the course of the series, and cast for those characters is excellent. Beautiful Elaine Cassidy is truly the star of the show in the role of Abby, and most believable and consistent performance in the series. Christopher Gorham as Henry is OK, but there was something off in his performance that bugged me from time to time, he doesn’t look the role he is portraying. Without going into the rest of the big cast, I think that cast is best part of the series. No big stars in it, but very good. I will surely keep my eye on more work also from Katie Cassidy, Gina Holden and Matt Barr.

Fans of Supernatural will be pleased to see Jim Beaver in the role of sheriff, and he is really good here also, maybe even better than in Supernatural.

Production

CBS did a great job with making the series and it surely looks expensive. Ratings were high at the start, but have fallen after few episodes. CBS moved the show to Sunday, and the ratings fall further. But, still they have aired the series. This is the only series planned, and I really don’t see any way to make more of Harper’s Island since the story is resolved. Maybe something similar would be nice to see sometime in the future.

Conclusion

Not the best of the shows, but very good in what was intended to be. You will surely enjoy the suspense and will be entertained during all 13 episodes. I have. Get the DVD Edition and check it out for yourself.

Each year there is a new TV series about lawyers and justice system in America. And those series are always welcomed and always have high ratings. These series are mostly dynamic, and in some cases very realistic with no taboo subjects in the choice of the cases for each episode. Shark is not so different from many other series with same subject, but mostly relies on the excellent cast as the main drive of the show.

Cast and main story

It would be easy to be critical of these series, and the stories in the context of the entire justice system of US, and the ways to find and explore holes in it. James Wood is in the role of the series main character Sebastian Stark who became a prosecutor after the career as the defense attorney. He also acts as a cop, forensic investigator or anything else needed because he only trusts himself and his team. He is charismatic, and charming, and egoistic and everything he needs to be. Jessica Devlin is his boss, and in this role of charming, intelligent and seductive prosecutor is Jeri Ryan, well known to TV and sci-fi fans everywhere (Seven of Nine of StarTrek Voyager). The rest of the cast is filled with younger actors in roles of the advocates in Starks team.

Shark Cast

Series is in a classic procedural form, with case per episode basis. You will be able to see a great deal of characters life outside of work, and that is something you don’t see very often in similar procedural shows with the main focus on the episode cases. Series is fast paced, driven by excellent chemistry between Ryan and Woods, uncompromising and willing to sacrifice some of the main characters for the sake of storytelling.

Production

Series is created Ian Biederman and produced by 20th Century Fox, even though it was made for CBS. And in the two seasons produced it was nominated for several awards including Emmy for music.

Conclusion

Series is full of emotions, and will make you cry as much as will make you laugh. I think that watching James Woods in this role is worth it, so grab it and watch it if you get the chance.

I must admit, I resisted for years to watch this show, because I didn’t like the idea and few episodes I watched on occasions. But, as it happens, I wanted to see some new sitcom show, and I got few recommendations for this one. And I grabbed the first 3 seasons at first, and I absolutely loved it. Two and a half man is one of the best sitcoms in the past 10 years and no wonder it’s already picked up years ahead up to 9th season already.

With a few weeks before season 7 starts, it’s a good time to watch some of the old episodes and to write the review of the very first season. I liked many of Charlie Sheen movies, but at one point he fell of the map due to many addiction problems. And than Two and a half man happen and the role of hedonistic, carefree and lazy Charlie Harper is really a great fit. The other Harper in the show, Alen is almost total opposite of Charlie and Jon Cryer is really excellent in that role. The half man in the show is Alen’s son Jake, played Angus T. Jones. Add to the mix they housekeeper (Conchata Ferrell is amazing), Charlies stalker, Alan’s ex-wife and Charlies and Alans mother and you will get one of the best sitcoms in the recent years.

Writing

Chuck Lorre, one of the creators, once again proved that he can make great comedy. I couldn’t find a single bad episode in the first season, writing is really great and with mixing the dirty humor with day-to-day situations and you will be laughing non-stop. But, still many people didn’t like this new formula for a sitcom show that is very different from the usually comedy types like Seinfeld, King Of Queens or Everybody Loves Raymond.

Production

Season 1 cast

Well, nothing new here. Standard sitcom show, and you can’t expect miracles or special effects. It’s filmed in front of the live audience, and everything needs to be on stage. There are few things done in post production, and some of it was done bad (seagulls in the second episodes).

Conclusion

I have seen the whole series 3 times so far, and i still manage to find something new to laugh. This is really excellent sitcom and well worth the time (and money for DVD sets). And since it’s already picked up for at least 3 seasons it will be around for a long time.