Long Awaited Television Series Returns in January 2009
Barack Obama's inauguration is not the only exciting thing occurring this January. Three great shows return to TV and hopefully they will bring more excitement to the airwaves than what was seen this past fall.
First up is 24 which returns after a two year absence for its seventh season. The television-movie 24: Redemption filled in some of the time between season six and seven in a story that had Jack Bauer fighting rebels in the fictional African country of Sengala. Previews for the seventh season tease the return off thought to be dead ex-CTU agent Tony Almeida who was not given the silent tick treatment when he "died." While some might have been worried a two year absence from TV could have damaged interest in the series, I believe it will only help the show regain some of its lost glory. The 24 formula was getting tired which is partially why season six felt so off. However, I believe the absence will only make the show seem fresher and perhaps the extra time allowed the writers to perfect the season's story. The two night, four hour season premiere begins on Janurary 11.
Battlestar Galactica returns to TV on January 16 to conclude its final season, but Sci Fi has done a horrible job handling this show. In drawing out the series like they have by breaking up the final season into two parts, they've completely killed its momentum. They probably figure that no one new will watch the season and only loyal BSG viewers will tune in for the conclusion of the human-Cylon conflict. But they are probably right. Part 1 of last season ended with the Planet of the Apes-esque discovery of Earth as a barren wasteland. In Part 2, we will discover the identity of the final Cylon and who will win the battle for what is left of Earth. No doubt the reveal will be a disappointment much like the whole mystery of the final five Cylons. Regardless, Battlestar Galactica has been an amazing show and hopefully the the final episodes will live up to the genius that has been most of the series.
Season five of Lost begins on January 21. Last season, six survivors of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 made it off the island, but their lives became anything but joyful. The last image we were left with was of John Locke dead in a casket under the assumed name Jeremy Benthem. Season five is about those six returning to the island and hopefully John Locke can come back to life too. Season four was a return to form for what has been an enjoyable, but sometimes uneven series. Jack, the survivors' de facto leader, has quickly become an annoying character and the Han Solo-esque Sawyer was stupidly sidelined for most of last season. The deliciously evil Ben Linus and the time traveling Desmond weren't even in the first season, but have quickly become the most interesting characters with the best episodes featuring them. Hopefully the new season will have plenty of good material for Sawyer, Ben, and Desmond and hopefully some more mysteries of the island will be solved like what's the deal with that giant foot statue?
