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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A fresh update of a classic, 10 July 2001 Author: 4-Kane from Arlington, MA
The 2000 version of the '60s Fugitive TV series was one of the very few remakes that was actually good and refreshing. Tim Daly was a fine Dr. Richard Kimble (the man wrongfully accused of murdering his wife), but no one could ever hold a candle to David Janssen's portrayal of the doctor on the run. (Ironically, when this remake debuted in 2000, it had been a full 20 years since Janssen's untimely death.)But believe it or not, when I first heard about plans to remake the old Fugitive, I was convinced that it wouldn't last. And guess what? I was right! Whenever a classic TV show gets remade, the remake is usually a ratings failure. You know the old saying: "Been there, done that!" And I think that apathetic response played a role in the new Fugitive's premature cancellation. In addition, the series aired on Fridays (one of the least watched TV nights). It did, however, garner strong ratings on its first two weeks on the air, only to have those ratings trail off afterwards. Therefore, the show was axed after only one season.Worst of all, the last episode ended with a cliffhanger! (WARNING: Stop reading here unless you want it given away!) An FBI man, supposedly tracking the one-armed man, shoots Lt. Gerard, and then corners Richard Kimble and the one-armed man. As more shots ring out, the screen goes black--and THAT WAS IT!!! No one really knows for sure if Kimble and/or the one-armed man were actually shot and killed. Nor do we know for sure whether Gerard lived or died.It's a real shame that the cancellation of the new Fugitive wasn't confirmed until after production had officially wrapped for summer hiatus. And unless the series is miraculously brought back or followed by a post-series TV-movie, we may never know what actually happened to the unfortunate doctor.
4 out of 5 people found the following review useful: definitely worth watching, 13 October 2000 Author: Sunflower-4
Why do some people think that this show can't possibly be enjoyable just because we already know that Kimble is innocent and the one-armed man did it. I knew that when I paid to see the movie, but I still paid to see it. The end result has never been the reason why I've watched the movie or the original show. If I only cared about the ending then I would have just waited until the movie came on television and watched only the end of it. I certainly wouldn't have sat through it three times in the theater. Or I would have just watched the final episode of the original show and forgot about all the other episodes. It's the chase that makes the show worth watching. It's seeing all the things that happen to Kimble as he travels from one city to the next. It's seeing this good and compassionate character help the people that he comes into contact with. This series is different from the original. There's more action. The role of Gerard is different, but that's quite all right with me. I love the original show, but I don't want to see the story told all over again in the exact same way as it was before. The show has cool action, great drama, and also very good acting. It's definitely worth watching.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Well..., 16 January 2002 Author: ignatiusloyala
This TV series is not really very refreshing to me, but I found it enjoyable at least. The whole thing is well done and the acting is great, and these are the reasons I saw it from the first episode to the last. However, I am a bit disappointed by the last episode. Couldn't the producers make the fate of the fugitive clearer? I mean, all of us are in the mist and have exactly no idea what has happened to Kimble and that one-armed man!?
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Wow!, 3 November 2000 Author: hickey_d from Dublin, Ohio
This is a really nice tv series! This is my first 'Fugitive' film/movie/series I have seen, and it's so suspenseful. Tim Daly does a great job with playing Dr. Richard Kimble... he creates so much suspense. You never know what will happen next, and he always seems to get away at the last minute! It's great, and worth a watch! The hour it's on goes by very quickly, that's for sure!
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: This Looks Familiar, 14 April 2007 Author: possumopossum from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Okay, the original FUGITIVE television series with David Janssen was probably the greatest series ever put on television. The movie with Harrison Ford was also a great movie. But did we have to do this again? Especially since the series finale to this one sucked the big green weenie. And it seems like Kimble's motives for killing his wife (which he didn't) just keep getting weaker every time they recycle this series. He is convicted and sentenced to death just because some witness saw him and his wife playfully wrestling in the park? GET REAL!!!!! There were some good things in this series. Tim Daly did an admirable job of playing the good doctor. He seemed more emotional, especially when he heard about the death of his father. I like that they made Gerard a driven character, obsessed with his work because he couldn't save his wife from an automobile accident. That was kind of a nice touch. And the actor who played the one-armed man in this version bore an eerie resemblance to Bill Raisch.Unfortunately, the bad ruined the show completely. Why did they have to turn PC on us in this show all of a sudden? Sorry, but there are some things in this show that just didn't set well with me. And the last episode? I can't say enough bad things about it. First of all, Kimble is totally out of character in that episode. He injects the one-armed man with some time activated poison or something and says it will kill him in a matter of hours and tries to drag him to Gerard to make a confession. Kimble would never resort to killing anyone, no matter how angry he got or what kind of a tight spot he was in. Then this rogue cop shoots Gerard, and shoots...who? Kimble or the one-armed man? We don't know. The screen fades to black before we see the bullet hit anyone. And that's it. Over, verendet, kaput, finito. I have commented before on television's tendency to amuse itself by giving us cheap shot endings to series finales, so I won't reheat that hash here. All I will say is this is why I don't watch television often and instead watch videos and DVDs. I have quite a sizable collection now of great movies and a few shows from television's glory years. And this series, or this version of a great series will most assuredly not be among my collection. This is an insult to the folks who were the original creators of the show. I can't believe Roy Huggins let them get away with this. Not worth rating.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Didn't think I would like it, but I did, 10 October 2000 Author: TC-4 (markviilin@aol.com) from Dunstable, Ma
I am a fan of the David Jansen Fugitive and I don't like remakes. In other words, why make it again when it is already made? This series is so good with the great acting by the 2 stars and the location filming like the old Rt#66 show that I really enjoyed it. One thing I miss is the naration at the end by the late Bill Conrad. I think that someone like that, with a rich voice, would help the end of each show. Otherwise I hope it is a success.
It's not too late for a follow-up movie (one with a decent ending), 27 September 2005 Author: Sydney Myers from United States
I'm writing this on behalf of all the "Fugitive" TV show fans who were as disappointed as I was at the abrupt ending to the 2000/2001 show. Some think it was suppose to be seen as a cliff hanger, while others think the story was concluded although in an extremely disheartening way. It's not too late to continue the saga even if it just means a single episode or TV movie. Like so many others I am completely baffled at the media's obsession with ridiculous reality shows, while intelligent programs just keep getting pulled off the air. "The Fugitive" was a well-acted, action-packed, FUN show that had a larger audience than the network seems to recognize. So how 'bout it guys? Is there any chance for a REAL conclusion to this exciting show? Even Gilligan's Island had 3 made for TV movies long after the show ended. THANKS so much and I hope that others who read this will also put in their two cents worth. Regards..............
about the final (don't read if you want a surprise), 13 August 2004 Author: altrove2002 from Italy
The final is really unusual! I have to warn you if you are a "common" TV watcher who don't like "strange" finals. I just finished to see this series here in Italy. Well.... finished? The last episode of the series is a cliffhanger, because CBS cancelled the show before the end. So, enjoy it because the series is VERY good, with good actors and plots, but forget to see how it will finish! The last episodes gone to black screen leaving you with a lot of question to what happens. This is just to warn you... I am really disappointed to this, but however the series was enjoying and after a couple of minutes you start to laugh about this... well, this is the first series I see that finish this way! My mom didn't think it's sooo funny anyway :)
Top notch action, acting and production baby!, 15 October 2002 Author: Rhys McG from W.Australia
even thou this excellent and thrilling show lasted only one season (each episode cost an average of $2 million to make) it proves that remakes can prove better than the originals.Tim Daly and the suspenseful storylines make this one of the best shows around. Most people would recognize him as the best and only good voice of Superman in the WB cartoons. Gerard is great too as well as the one armed man and the rest of the cast.Pity that the finale doesnt give us the final answer. As it is one of the best finales you will ever see! Good luck for everything else you do in the future Tim Daly.
All gloss and no substance, very Bruckheimer like, but still entertaining, 29 May 2001 Author: millennia-2 from In shame (2005 update)
"The Fugitive" is no classic, but it was a good series nonetheless. I caught the first dozen or so episodes of the season, then just lost interest because of the repetitive plotline and bland characterizations. The individual episodes were great, it's just that they were so similar to each other! Ever seen the same movie more than three or four times and just got sick of it? That's what happened with this series...However, it was still entertaining, with a good score, tight direction and strong performances by the two leads. However, due to mediocre ratings and a high cost ($2 million average per episode, making it the most expensive series on TV), CBS axed it after just one season. And yes, there was a series finale rather than just finishing it without a conclusion, but it probably would've been better without the finale... (possible spoiler), as Dr. Richard Kimble, played by Tim Daly, was just shot in an alleyway, clearly a last minute add on after the series was killed.
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