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rein
10-17-2008, 07:13 AM
http://www.suckshardcore.com/images/tv/crusoe.jpg (http://www.nbc.com/Crusoe/)


Where:NBC
When:Friday, 8/7c

About
Following the novel and its treasured tale of adventure, this high-action, fast-paced, thirteen-part series will combine for the first time the pace and energy of network television while remaining faithful to the author’s original classic story.

The drama explores the perils and challenges facing the world’s most famous castaway as Crusoe (Philip Winchester, "Flyboys," "Thunderbirds") and his native friend Friday (Tongayi Chirisa) struggle to survive on a desert island with little more than their wits. Overcoming marauding militias, hungry cannibals, wild cats, starvation and apocalyptic lightning storms, Crusoe dreams of the day he will be reunited with his beloved family.

Allowed to develop away from the bonds of 17th Century life, the ingenious Crusoe builds a breathtaking and altogether modern home high up in the trees to elude his enemies. Friday and Crusoe’s deep friendship is pushed to the limit as opportunities to escape their island paradise, and the people they meet there, consistently challenge them to choose between loyalty and freedom.

As the series develops, the love story between Crusoe and his wife Susannah (Anna Walton, "The Mutant Chronicles," "Hell Boy II: The Golden Army") left behind in England will unfold from meeting to marriage, as will his relationship with his mentor and patron, the mysterious Jeremiah Blackthorn (Sam Neill, "The Tudors," "Jurassic Park").


SE01 EP01 (2 Hour Series Premiere):Rum and Gunpowder
The saga starts as we meet Crusoe, Friday and the worlds they've left behind. (TV-PG V)

Even though the description describes the series as remaining faithful to the authors original story I'm not expecting Daniel Defoe's, The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years all alone in an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, where in all the Men perished but Himself. With An Account how he was at last as strangely deliver'd by Pyrates) , when I watch tonight. I am expecting more treasure hunting pirates, native cannibals, and all around action. From the looks of previews that is what I am going to get.

I'm not sure exactly how many film/tv adaptations of Robinson Crusoe there have been, I've read any where from 16 to over 50, but IMO you can never have enough. I'm hoping this one doesn't disappoint.

Goronmon
10-17-2008, 07:25 AM
The promos make this show look so corny.

Bad Buddha
10-17-2008, 09:04 AM
The promos make this show look so corny.

Corny or not, I'm going to try to watch it. I like the idea that they're trying to stick to the original story.

I hate it when some studio tries to "improve" on a classic. It always pisses me off; like singers that try to add all sorts of extra notes to the end of the US National Anthem.

DangerousDaze
10-17-2008, 09:09 AM
Somewhat to my shame, I though this thread was going to be about a processor. :(

This reminds me of the famous "bug" in Defoe's novel. In one scene, Robinson Crusoe strips naked and swims out the wreck of his ship. Once there he proceeds to fill his pockets with food. Tricky.

But yeah, this'll probably turn up in the UK at some point so I might catch it then.

Mike Kelehan
10-17-2008, 09:16 AM
Friday is where networks send shows to die. This is a great big vote of no confidence from NBC.

rein
10-17-2008, 06:01 PM
I am so pissed. My HD feed from the network will not play the voice track. All of the music and other background noise but no sound. So, looks like SD version for me.

DangerousDaze
10-17-2008, 06:11 PM
Friday is where networks send shows to die.
And does he eat them afterwards? ;)

rein
10-18-2008, 08:30 AM
My HD channel decided to include the voice about midway through and that made the second half of the episode that much better.

In the 2 hour premiere episode Crusoe has already been on the island for several years and Friday is already at his side. We get to see how Friday and Crusoe 'meet' through flashbacks. Flashbacks are used to give details about Crusoe's life prior to his being stranded on the island. They seem to be hit and miss, while the Friday flashbacks kept me glued to the television, I used some of the family focused flashbacks as bathroom and snack breaks. I am hoping they will use the flashback to flesh out a more interesting side to Crusoe's home life before he became a castaway. As they are now, they are somewhat of a distraction.

spoilers below....

Tonight's premiere was about pirates searching for buried gold. A golden cannon to be specific. Crusoe didn't do a lot to add anything new to the typical pirates hunting for treasure story but it kept it entertaining and there was a lot of action with sword fights, gun fights, and a good old fashioned catapult attack on Crusoe and Fridays "tree resort". They added a little love interest with a female pirate who becomes infatuated with Crusoe as the episode progressed. We had a some deception with Crusoe and Friday out witting the pirates but also because some Spaniards pursuing the pirates joined forces with them after learning of the buried treasure. If all of this sounds familiar, it is. The episode plays out an awful lot like a made for tv Pirates of the caribbean movie.

The thing I am left with after watching the 2 hour premiere is where do we go from here? Will it be repeated stories of Crusoe and Friday fighting off visitors? The thing I felt was missing from the premiere is a sense of an arching storyline to carry over from episode to episode. Yea, I know, getting off the island is an arching storyline but hardly one that fits an action oriented show like this one. If they can keep the stories fresh I will continue to watch/dvr but if I start getting a sense of deja vu from previous episodes will most likely let this one go.

KingGorilla
10-18-2008, 12:28 PM
I would say read the book, but the book is boring.

If this show gets people to watch Life, then I am on board.

Generation ABXY
10-18-2008, 12:40 PM
The promos make this show look so corny.

I agree; when I heard they were making the show, it sounded like a great idea...then I saw the teaser, and I lost all interest.

I would say read the book, but the book is boring.

Yes. Yes, it is. I started it weeks ago and felt my will to live ebb with each passing page.

If this show gets people to watch Life, then I am on board.

You know, I started this show, but I don't know if I actually finished the first season. I remember liking it a lot, so I don't understand why I would have just stopped watching, but I can only recall a handful of episodes. If they have it up on Hulu still, I'll go back and check it out and probably start the new ones, too.

Gwinny
10-18-2008, 12:46 PM
Will they keep the racism of the book? I thought it was grimly amusing that the first person he encounters who doesn't immediately try to kill him, he subjugates.

I'll probably record it. I think my dad is looking forward to it, at least, he mentioned it a few weeks ago.

rein
10-24-2008, 06:27 AM
SE01 EP03: Sacrifice
After attempting to fix the water source to the tree house, Crusoe loses his wedding ring. Meanwhile, Friday has an unusual dream about a young woman who is lost and yearning for the sea. Crusoe and Friday attempt to discover the truth and set her spirit free.

Crusoe moves to it's regular 9/8c time slot tonight. I hope the begin to flesh out the flashback story line a little tonight.

Generation ABXY
10-24-2008, 10:33 AM
I got through about the first half hour of the pilot, and had to stop. Did anyone else find it horribly campy?