As someone who enjoyed the BBC original this show was always going to have a challenge in meeting my expectations and it did a pretty good job.The pilot episode pretty much follows the original with the same characters and set of circumstances that send detective Sam Tyler back in time to 1973 only this time he is in New York and not Manchester!
The show kicks off with an impressive moment as Tyler, disorientated by his surroundings, looks up and sees he is standing in the shadow of the twin towers ... 'No Way' he utters. Clothes, music, cars, hairstyles are one thing but it was this shot that told us he had indeed traveled back in time. Or had he? This is the key premise of the show. We know Tyler was knocked down by a car in 1973 but has he really traveled back in time or is he in a coma with people from 2008 trying to communicate with him as he listens to the radio of turns on the TV. This is just the same as the original and that's OK. This show didn't have to be wildly different to succeed. The vast majority of the American audience tuning in will not have seen the BBC version and so this will be a fresh idea and ABC have done a great job in recreating 1973 New York.
There is a solid cast in play with Harvey Keitel taking on his first major TV series and backed up by Michael Imperioli and Gretchen Mol. Jason O'Mara did a decent enough job as Tyler without blowing anyone away, we shall see how he progresses in the role. The real reason I have set a Season Pass for the show on Tivo is to enjoy what ABC have done with the recreation of such a different era. I lived and worked in New York in the 21st century which was literally as the titles suggest like being on another planet compared to the 70s. The network doesn't seem to have gone cheap on the sets and have given the show an authentic air which will keep us coming back for more.
This isn't HBO or even FX so let's dial down our expectation for the grit factor (which is a shame as a premium channel could have really had a ball with this premise) but for 45 mins each week let's enjoy the sights and sounds of a New York that is long since gone.
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