Discussion of Drive 2 part premiere Aired 15/4/07 and 16/4/07 on (Fox)

[nerd4hire]

It's a 2 parter. We got a 2 ep night in Canada. I don't know how Fox will do it, but they're spreading 2 parts over 2 nights. The first airs Sunday.

I won't spoil you, but here's a couple of little general description blurbs.

The first ep we saw in Canada was called "The Starting Line", and introduced the participants in a mysterious, illegal cross-country car race.

The second ep, I think, is called Partners, and offers more detail on what's going on as well as showing alliances being built among the participants of the race.

As I said, I could spoil the Hell out of you, but I won't. I'll simply say it seriously rocked.

But let's get this out of the way first. It's like The Amazing Race. It's like Cannonball Run. It's like It's a Mad, Mad, World. It's like Lost. Blah, blah, blah. Nonsense. It's not like any of those things, because they're simply tools Drive spins off. Those tools are not what Drive is really about. What is it about then? I have no idea. I know with Minear's previous stuff you connect with the characters more and more as the series proceeds, and even if all plot devices aren't unique, the story plays off them into fresh feeling situations with hints of deeper layers. That's good enough for me.

This time though, I think Tim's got a series even Fox can't screw up. This one will connect with the mainstream audience. If Fox cancels Drive, I'll start suspecting a consiracy bigger than the one behind the mysterious cross-country road race in Drive.

 

[Randy Giles]

Yes, this show officially RULES. Tim Minear officially cannot create a show I won't like.

The first episode was amazingly intense. Intense in the way Lost hasn't been for a while, intense in the way Alias was in it's first few seasons, intense in the way I guess 24 fans feel.

I love almost all of the characters and want them all to win. I don't love the fact that not a single person drives a Mustang. (What's wrong with them?!)

I do think FOX wants this show to succeed. When it comes to Minear's other shows, you have to look at it like this: they liked Wonderfalls and wanted it to be their "next big thing" until the writers wanted to do a tender lesbian scene, and that's when they decided not to premiere it behind AI. (I recall Bryan Fuller saying that in an interview). They seemed to be supporting The Inside but then basically killed it when they decided to premiere it after the season was over and without putting it behind something more popular. As for Firefly, they just thought viewers would be too stupid to enjoy the episodes in their correct order, I guess. *shrug*

But at least they've been promoting Drive endlessly and acting like it's a special "event". I do think they want the show to be successful and I sure hope it is. Maybe this will lead to another Tim Minear show next midseason. 😀

 

[goldenboy]

You get the sense that both FOX and Minear have learned a little bit from the past. Tim knew he was gonna have to suck people in the first few minutes of a new show - and they pulled it off, I think.

I was waiting for a mindblowingly complex, virtuoso racing scene which never really came. But most of the characters are distinct, fleshed out already. And the race seems even more complex (and nasty) than I was expecting.

Some genuinely funny scenes too. Wendy the abused mom is like the comic relief here. But Vi and her dad have their moments, and that nasty Ivy chick...

Alex and Corinna (almost) stealing that Race minion's car was brilliant. (I don't know what you're supposed to call the bad guys.)

 

[goldenboy]

Wow, this review is brutal, heh.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/14/a...l?_r=2&ref=television&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The reviewer seems to think it's all some kind of giant, soulless car marketing infomercial, lol. I find her take on the show and the characters a little bizarre - like she hasn't seen any American TV in a decade or two. It's slick yes, but a little soon to write it all off, IMO...

I do agree the score is pretty bad. The pop songs are fine I guess.

 

[Joamna]

I just watched the premiere, and I do really love this! I didn't really have much expectiations when I started watching it, or I thought I would like it ok I guess, but this was a very happy suprise. I was cought from the first moment and couldn't take my eyes off the screen.. Can't wait for more, but really I think I'd want to see this marathon-style, not waiting a week between episodes, but I don't think I'll be able to wait for the rest until the whole season has aired.