IR TV Review: BIG SKY - EPISODE 1 (“Pilot”) [ABC]
The texture in creating a new series taking into account certain settings (like Montana) is a sense of scope combined with the quirky. “Northern Exposure” and even the original ABC series “Twin Peaks” did this with bravado. The problem with "Big Sky" especially in its “Pilot” episode which should be efficiently creating texture and setting the bar with a bang is that the progression has no sense of style or really tension. The characters are fine but bland. They are dealing with problems. They mention the pandemic. And yet there is no sense of foreboding or pressure. But even really a little The structure, without giving anything away speaks to a dark underbelly under the town, possibly involving a sect but the puzzle pieces, especially in the overarching structure, are vague. Ryan Phillipe has a periphery structure as the focus of the town's issues but he is jut living his life per se. The person almost unrecognizable is Katheryn Winnick, best known as Lagertha on "Vikings". She is interesting here but she could have picked a character with much more power. Unfortunately the character is not really memorable. Granted with a David E. Kelley series, it is a pedigree which probably drew talent in…and maybe it will build but overall it feels a little bit too by the book. While , for example, "Stumptown" was a difference beast, it had an identity. "Big Sky" doesn’t. It has the potential of being something and maybe it will evolve. But the anticipation didn’t deliver. Without giving anything away, except for a certain smash-and-grab mentality, the start is a bit of a stumble. C-
By Tim Wassberg
