The River (Pilot) Review

The pilot of the River is the most successful pilot I have seen this 2011/2012 season. In my opinion, a successful pilot must introduce characters, set up avenues for potential drama between them, set up the tone of the show, and create a blue print for the rest of the series. A successful pilot must also avoid heavy handed expository dialogue, contrived cliques, excess of confusing plot twists, and unnecessary backstory/information. Pilots are insanely difficult to write, and it definitely shows. Several months back, I made a study of the pilots from a variety of shows (we’re talking shows like Buffy, Dollhouse, Supernatural, X-files, and Fringe). At the end of my little study, the most successful pilot I watched was X-files. Chris Carter did an amazing job setting up his show. The pilot was basically a microcosm for what we would be seeing every week and throughout the entire run of the show. There are very few writers who can create a decent opener for their show, and the River has joined the ranks of rare exceptions.

The basic plot of the River is this: Emmett Cole (a cross between Steve Irwin and Marty Stouffer) has disappeared in the Amazon, and his wife, son, and documentary crew set off in search of him. These unfortunate few are lead into the deep, dark heart of the Amazon river and it is there they find things that defy explanation. I know what you’re thinking. The story is vaguely reminiscent of Lost, but you shouldn’t waste too much time comparing these two shows. While J. J. Abrams’ train wreck was all about uncovering the truth of the Island, the River appears to be more about the journey to the Source and not so much what is found there. I do not expect to receive all the answers here like I did in Lost. We are dealing with magic and the supernatural in the River, and I expect terror and awe more than an understanding of the mysteries of the universe. We cannot expect these sojourners to find the truth, but we can expect to enjoy joining them on their journey into the darkness.

The pilot was so brilliant that I wanted to give the show a round of applause before the first five minutes were up. I was just blown away by the brilliant use of “backfootage.” The documentary style could have held the show back, but the clips shown from Emmett Cole’s documentaries make it possible for this show to have a depth that I hadn’t expected. And the show did have depth. We are not dealing only with endless scares and a fast moving plot. We have characters who hate each other, love each other, and have all sorts of complicated reasons for coming along on this journey. These individuals are not merely the writer’s pawns but are characters who move the story along with their own increasingly unique personalities. I look forward to getting to know each of them better and further understanding why they have come to this place.

The River is billed as a scary show, but its not hide-your-face-under-the-covers frightening. Basically, the show is scary without being nightmare inducing. The doll tree in Part Two was especially creepy, and I just loved waiting with bated breath for the doll’s head to turn or eyes to close. If you’re used to scarier stuff than, say, Supernatural, this will be pretty light weight for you. If, however, you easily jump out of your seat, you might find this show as terrifying as the writers seem to hope.

Finally, in case you watch the River and wonder why the cast looks so familiar, it is probably because they have all been in a lot of different shows over the years. You have Terri from 24, Whistler from Prison Break, Kirk’s captain from the new Star Trek, that dude from Across the Universe, Harry from Dresden Files, and that one guy from Doctor Who’s Season Two drilling episodes. Everyone on this show seemed decently cast (with the exception of Terri who seemed much too young to be her son’s mother), and I look forward to getting to know all of their characters better as the show moves along.

Overall, The River is not subtle or a work of art, but it is fun and I hope it continues to be successful as its pilot. I definitely recommend giving it a chance.

Warning: The documentary style can be disorienting but the truly shaky camera moments are few and far between.