The River (ABC Series)

[Shadowscythe85]

I'm going to give it chance since it is only an 8 epsiode series. Can't wait too long to reveal stuff when you got such a short series length to get to the end.

 

[DarthIndy]

I thought it was cool. The dolls seriously freaked me out.

 

[DarthNeil]

It had some interesting moments-- great to watch it on the PVR so you can rewind and watch the crazy stuff with slo-mo... I enjoyed it.

 

[Shropt]

I've only watched the first 45 minutes or so but I already can't stand the documentary crap. They didn't even try to make it a realistic documenatary as every "interview" is WAAAAY too scripted. I couldn't imagine a multi-season show filmed this way.

 

[Michael Crawford]

It was interesting - it's nothing like Lost, although that's a very easy, lazy comparison for any new mystery show. What it does look like is a ghost of the week show, wrapped up in the search for Cole.

Spoiler

First episode we get the ghost in the walnut (which really bugged me big time). This was not a strong episode in terms of resolution - catching it again and tossing it in the water? Lame. In the second hour we get the drowned girl wanting her mother, sort of a Night Gallery in the Amazon. But again, the episode got off track - they were looking for Cole, moving into the jungle, have trouble with the girl, and just head back to the boat? Huh? Why didn't they press on? And why did they then leave again on the boat? Weren't they supposed to be looking for the militia he was talking to? It felt like the ghost of the week premise was taking too much precedence over the search for Cole, to the point of making it moot.

And why did they damage the flying camera? Didn't make sense to me - you made a point of showing it off, which implied you'd use it somehow in the story, then before you do you damage it?

There were some appropriately creepy moments in the first hour - they used the multiple camera trick well - but the actual story was pretty weak. Not just the resolution, but how they came upon answers. The dragonflies are a cute touch, but let's hope it doesn't get overused. The second hour was improved, although I'm not sure how well a ghost of the week mystery will work. I can see them running into evil shaman's, various spirits - if you only need 6 more ghosts or ghost related monsters, it's pretty easy. Hell, Scooby Doo did it for years.

One thing I did thing was going to be a problem - they've created a bit of a problem with building any real tension over the characters. In the second half, you knew the person threatened wasn't going to die - they can't, because there's only 8 of them in the party, with no obvious way to add more people. They had one obvious red shirt, but now everyone else seems almost a lock til the end - they might be able to kill off one or two near the end, but they can't wack them with any regularity without any way to replenish.

One final complaint - I thought they blew it by going with a traditional approach to tv horror, and throwing in commercials at the moment of greatest tension. "Oh my god, she's being pulled down by something! What's going to happen! Oh, it's time for a Verizon ad..." That technique is a tension killer, and they need to break that marketing ploy for the sake of the show. Break for commercials when they have minor moments, but it should be a cardinal rule that they don't go to commercial when they are in the middle of what should be a scare moment.

So overall, liked the second hour better than the first, with only 6 more episodes for this 'season' I'm willing to give it another hour or two.

 

[Natrix]

Best part of the show.

 

[The Ween]

I liked it. You have to remember that this is on regular network tv and not cable so it's not going to be intense.

I sometimes wonder if people expect too much now and are disappointed easily.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I've only watched the first 45 minutes or so but I already can't stand the documentary crap. They didn't even try to make it a realistic documenatary as every "interview" is WAAAAY too scripted. I couldn't imagine a multi-season show filmed this way.

I think that was my biggest problem with it. It was presented in that lost footage style, but for that to work, the people onscreen have to appear at least somewhat natural. There wasn't one moment where it felt like "real footage." Everyone in the show is very actery, for lack of a better word.

 

[Michael Crawford]

I don't think it's 'lost' footage, but they haven't actually said one way or the other yet.

 

[Shropt]

I think that was my biggest problem with it. It was presented in that lost footage style, but for that to work, the people onscreen have to appear at least somewhat natural. There wasn't one moment where it felt like "real footage." Everyone in the show is very actery, for lack of a better word.

"Actery", that's the word I was looking for.

I didn't really want to say it's a bad show (though I've only seen the first 3/4 of the first hour) but I think it would have been better if they just went with the traditional filming technique.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

"Actery", that's the word I was looking for.

It's not bad enough that I used a made up word, but I also managed to misspell it.

 

[SixMillionDollarMan Guy]

I liked it. I thought the possessed dolls scene was creepy. Only six episodes left so I'll watch it to the end.

The dolls scene reminded me of an episode called "Island of the Dolls" from Destination Truth.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

The dolls scene reminded me of an episode called "Island of the Dolls" from Destination Truth.

Me too. When Josh Gates was watching one of the dolls and the eyes opened.

 

[K07]

So you're saying I didn't miss anything?

I forgot about the premiere tonight. I might try to catch a re-air or something.

I forgot to and from the feedback here, doesn't sound like my kind of show. I stopped watching "Once Upon a Time" and I think that already is a better quality show overall than from what I've read here.

 

[SixMillionDollarMan Guy]

Me too. When Josh Gates was watching one of the dolls and the eyes opened.

That show is pure entertainment for the Josh Gates snarky comments.

Of course the cheez factor is over the top and they'll never find anything but I've been hooked on that show since day 1.

Same goes for Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files.

 

[Nuka Cola Kidd]

So I just got around to watching this.

It's awful. Utter garbage.

In different hands and with a slightly altered premise, it could of been great. It's to gimmicky to last.

 

[blue_rogue]

My girlfriend and I just got done watching the first 2 hours and we both thought it was pretty stupid. It's not even scary, it's laughable.

We weren't going to bother watching any future episodes but since we saw there were only 6 left we're going to watch the rest just out of morbid curiosity.

 

[marker2037]

I'll watch the rest too. It's nothing great, but since it's short I'll finish it.

 

[Boba Ben]

I thought it was alright.

 

[Shropt]

I finally got around to watching the second half of the premier. The second episode was definitely better than the first. The previews for the rest of the season actually looked pretty good too. I think I'd watch this to simply see scenes from the dad but otherwise I don't like anything else about it.