AWESOME ENGINE » the middleman

September 4th, 2008 by Brack

So twelve episodes later, how was The Middleman TV show?

For starters, it was one episode too short. Its first series was cut short by one episode, and it suffers a little from it. The last few episodes are obviously building to something involving Wendy’s boyfriend Tyler and his new employer Manservant Neville, but we aren’t getting that now. And what’s worse, we may never get it. It’s not been canceled outright yet, but it probably needs some kind of DVD action to survive.

Which is a shame, as it’s Torchwood with the all crying replaced with a sound stage artifice of the sort that is too rare in this single camera world of tomorrow that we live in today. Occasionally it was too cute for it’s own good, but it was a good reminder of how weird, and wonkily sexy, adventure television can be.

The Middleman - Episode 1 - Sanction

June 19th, 2008 by Brack

Let it be said, I am not a man afraid of whimsy. Indeed, I am willing to embrace it. And so this adaptation of Lost scribe Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine’s comic book series was right up my alley.

Temping artist Wendy Watson gets attacked by tentacle monster during a dull day at work at A.N.D. Laboratories. She manages to wound the creature before The Middleman intervenes and saves her. Impressed by her composure in the face of weirdness The Middleman ends up recruiting her as his partner. Their first mission as duo is a strange case involving mobsters and genetically engineered gorillas.

Whereas most modern sci-fi is coloured in drab grays, blues and browns, this is a primary colour world of square jawed pulp action. The closest current series to the look and viewpoint of the show is Pushing Daisies, though The Middleman’s budget doesn’t quite amount to same unified level of hyper-reality that Pushing Daisies manages. Rather, it has more in common with 60’s science fiction programming, many have pointed out similarity in tone to the Adam West Batman series and the show itself makes reference to The Avengers’ starting credits when Wendy joins The Middlemen. It has a low budget, make-do pep to it’s step. There’s also Preston Sturges, Howard Hawks, Due South, The Tick, and Venture Bros comparisons to be made.

But forget all that, here’s all you need to know:

It’s Torchwood without all the crying.

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