(S01E01 / S01E02) Anna Johns called Day Break "Groundhog Day meets Diehard." Before I read that, I was thinking Groundhog Day meets 24, because we are talking about 24 hours in a man's day that are very important -- essential, even. I would even throw some Traffic and Crash into the mix-- maybe because of the cinematography and direction. I admit that I had preconceived notions going into this because I have seen Groundhog Day so many times.
One of the big differences between Day Break and the Groundhog Day rules (I am fully aware that one is a drama and one is a comedy -- I am just talking now about the framework with which each main character experiences the day over and over again) is that the marvelous Taye Diggs' Officer Brett Hopper sustains from one day to the next whatever injuries he has sustained the previous day. This raises the stakes for his character (and the show is going for 11 weeks-- until Lost comes back February 7-- so if things don't go well...) because Hopper can be injured, can be killed. Bill Murray's weatherman Phil killed himself in many ways and had a much more existential dilemma. Hopper doesn't have time for contemplation because people are literally dying all around him.
Lucky for the people around him, nobody else seems to die from one day to the next. He sees his girlfriend Rita die, but he wakes up with her the next morning. His biggest fear and simultaneous biggest hope is that tomorrow will happen, rather than repeated todays.
Clearly the show's mantra (Note to the writers if you happen to read this: Please don't hammer this into us too much) is that decisions have consequences. Why don't you just call the show The Butterfly Effect and get it over with? We know that small actions lead to unforeseeable consequences-- like when Hopper saves the woman from getting hit by the bus by being in the right place at the right time. At least the show has a sense of humor enough for him to start muttering things on his third day, "I've gotta bet better about that," when he notes her lying in the hospital because he wasn't there to save her. Or, "I'll get here earlier tomorrow," about the mysterious package in his mailbox. The show does raise questions about all of our influences in the world, doesn't it? If we choose not to get coffee in the morning, is somebody going to die? Probably not, but how do we know? We don't have the luxury (or torment) or having to second guess every decision we make, but Hopper does.
At first glance, it seems that the show might have a finite number of options. However, I think I was looking at it from the two-hour movie feature box. The show has definitely laid the groundwork to explore small deviations in Hopper's day. He knows already that he can't run away from his fate. Like the legendary Oedipus, the road he takes to escape his fate leads him right to it. The Garza Goons (as I have dubbed the guys who manhandle Hopper and who are framing him for the murder of the Assistant District Attorney Garza) are buff, bald Cassandras, ominously warning Hopper about consequences. He believes they somehow have the answers as to why he is living this day over and over again.
I expect that as the season goes on, we will find out more and more about Hopper's past, his rocky relationship with his possibly shady partner Angela, his ex-partner Chad (I'm guessing the ex in partner matches the ex in wife, because Rita used to be married to Chad). And we already know that Chad Mr. Internal Affairs, is crooked and in with the Garza Goons.
So, fasten your seatbelts and hang on for the ride. I think this show has promise and I'll be interested to see what they do with it. So far, I am pleased with the sense of humor the writers have displayed, and some unexpected directions (like killing Angela).
What did you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-16-2006 @ 7:43AM
Shawn said...
I liked the show...not sure how it will stand up over the weeks, but it was interesting at least for 1 week.
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11-16-2006 @ 8:06AM
Dryben said...
So is this going to have a 12 week run and then be over?
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11-16-2006 @ 8:47AM
corbett said...
I liked these first two hours, and I'm left wondering what exactly is going on with Hopper. (I keep wanting to say Hooper for some reason). Anyway, I just hope in the end it doesn't turn out to be something that amounts to him waking up the hospital because he actually didn't get out of the way of the bus when he saved the woman, and everything about his day boils down to dreams while in a coma. But no matter how it ends up, so long as they keep Hopper as shirtless as he was last night, that might be enough to keep tuning in.
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11-16-2006 @ 8:58AM
jeremiah said...
I was pretty impressed with the show. I don't know how long it could have easily taken in another hour of the show last night. Not many dull moments!
I was thinking more Back to the Future but my friend also said butterfly effect. I guess that is fresher in our minds.
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11-16-2006 @ 9:31AM
Walt said...
So he's going to remain shot in the side for the remainder of the series? Lovely.
The first two hours were only moderately confusing, but I suspect as time goes on, it will get progressively so. Look for people to call this show a "mess" by the six or seventh hour in.
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11-16-2006 @ 12:46PM
Design said...
This is going to be a good show. There are many things he looks to fix when the NEW day comes. Twice he saw the lady who push out of the way of the bus, after she was hit by the bus.
If the writers and Diggs who is a producer for the show, keep the rest like the premiere. I'll be watching.
I just love this kind of show.
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11-16-2006 @ 10:40AM
MrsEldubya said...
I had high expectations for this show because I adore Taye Diggs. He does have the acting chops to pull off the subtle humor along with the action sequences. But the show wasn't quite as good as I hoped but good enough to keep me coming back. I thought each hour episode was going to be one day so it moves rather quickly considering we've been through 4 days now, right? Maybe they will slow it down some so we can get more information now that the have established what is going on.
Anyway, I think this is a worthy show to watch while waiting for Lost to come back. My husband enjoyed this more than lost but then he loves 24. I'm also glad to get something worth watching instead of reruns of Lost.
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11-16-2006 @ 10:42AM
cm said...
Ithought it was O K. not bad but not good, but i will give it a chance.
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11-16-2006 @ 12:41PM
UvulaBob said...
Isn't Bret's ex-partner's name Chad? Or am I going crazy?
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11-16-2006 @ 1:13PM
Measure said...
I love the idea behind the show, and I even love the 13-episode format (if you count the pilot as two eps), but I am concerned as to how they could ever make a second season. The only way I could see it working is by using completely different characters, or going hardcore Science Fiction, which would offer a few different ways to continue the story.
Anyway, it looks like this show will be great filler for the Lost break.
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11-16-2006 @ 1:36PM
TedSez said...
Don't forget about the brilliant "X-Files" episode "Monday," which was basically "Groundhog Day" meets a bank robbery (long before "The Nine" was ever conceived, of course).
This single episode accomplished more in one perfectly timed hour than "Day Break" possibly could over the course of an entire season.
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11-16-2006 @ 3:14PM
Sam said...
Dude, I think you meant Cassandra, not Cassiopeia.
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11-20-2006 @ 11:11AM
Jonathan said...
Again, awesome review Jen! Like i said last time, you should write more reviews(you're better than Bob but don't tell him :P)! I hope you'll be the one doing the entire Day Break reviews.
Personally i loved it! And the fact that it's only a 13 ep run makes it even better. We won't be getting any 'filler' episodes that's for sure. And the fact that Hopper keeps his injuries is kick ass! I'm hooked already and can't wait for next episode!
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11-16-2006 @ 5:25PM
Gary Z said...
I thought the "what happens to him stays with him" twist is interesting, like how he wakes up shot day three...
Although, that could lead to momento type "epidermal stickie notes"
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11-17-2006 @ 9:12AM
Darren said...
I've read a few reviews on Google News, and I think the critics are just way too harsh. It is a good concept, but they just seem to toss the show aside as too confusing. I guess they never saw Lost.
I wrote a review on my blog, and like I said there, you just have to buy the premise and go along for the ride. Day Break can be fun, if you don't think too much.
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11-16-2006 @ 11:33PM
David L said...
Not a bad first two episodes. Only thing that drove me up the wall was when Taye Diggs was trying to explain to his girlfriend what was happening and she was completely lost. I so badly wanted him to just say, "You know that movie Groundhog Day we saw on TBS the other day? Its exactly like that".
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11-17-2006 @ 4:36PM
Clint said...
I missed it, and I heard it was good...anyone know when or if the pilot is on again?
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11-17-2006 @ 8:11PM
rom said...
clint, you can watch it on abc.com
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11-18-2006 @ 12:22AM
Clint said...
I wish I could watch on ABC.com but its only for people in USA...I am in Ontario, Canada. Any other ideas out there!
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11-21-2006 @ 5:18PM
Tony C said...
Usenet? BitTorrent?
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