Official Synopsis:
Geena Davis lights up the screen as President Mackenzie Allen, earning a Golden Globe® award for Best Actress in the show's inaugural season. Experience the first ten thrilling episodes of the captivating drama, starring Davis, Emmy® Award winner Donald Sutherland and an acclaimed cast.
When the President of the United States dies in office, his independent Vice President ventures into territory no woman has ever entered before. Now, the nation's first female Commander In Chief must balance the pressures of running the country and the responsibility of raising a family - while facing a sustained torrent of underhanded attacks from the Speaker Of The House (Sutherland). It's an exhilarating blend of suspense and drama that O, The Oprah Magazine calls, "realistic and riveting!"
Our Take:
Commander In Chief is a tragically sad example of what's wrong with television today. I don't mean the show, either; no, Commander In Chief is actually a top-notch drama. What I'm talking about is the current climate of ratings, advertising dollars, and cancellation.
Commander In Chief debuted to monstrous ratings; a surefire hit for ABC. And it's easy to see why, too; I haven't seen Geena Davis in a role this good in years. With an able supporting cast, the show comes off like a less convoluted West Wing, with a twist. But then ABC replaced show creator Rod Lurie for being behind schedule, the show was put on hiatus more than once, virtually disappearing from the network for months at a time, and then, as ratings dwindled towards the end of the season, the show was mercilessly cancelled.
This is a critically acclaimed show that debuted to stellar numbers that, through the network's basic ineptitude, was killed. But how about a second season? Use the summer off-season to nail down all the loose ends, get the show running smoothly, and relaunch it. My guess is the show could have become a regular ratings winner. A female president? Talk about catering to the lucrative female market. Instead, the show was axed. What a waste.
Well, for fans of the show, or those who were curious about it, the first half of the season is now available on DVD. Commander In Chief: The Inaugural Edition Part One includes the first 10 episodes of the season. Unfortunately, it comes without any extra features, which is sad considering the show's tumultuous path to success and subsequent failure and the fascinating documentary that could have come out of it.
Commander In Chief is a strong show that, like its network brethren Invasion, was cancelled before it was really given a chance to see what it could do. It's a good show with outstanding performances by Geena Davis and Donald Sutherland, so it's definitely worth checking out.
Overall Picture:
Show: B+
DVD: C
- Mike Spring
Editor
|
|
