"Flash Gordon" Thicker Than Water (2008)

Director:

Matthew Hastings

Writers:

Peter Hume (developer)
James Thorpe (written by)

TV Series:

"Flash Gordon" (2007)

Original Air Date:

4 January 2008 (Season 1, Episode 16)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Based On Comic Strip

Cast

Eric Johnson	...	Flash Gordon
Gina Holden	...	Dale Arden
Karen Cliche	...	Baylin
Jody Racicot	...	Dr. Hans Zarkov
John Ralston	...	Ming
Anna Van Hooft	...	Aura
Jonathan Walker	...	Rankol (as Jonathan Lloyd Walker)
Giles Panton	...	Joe Wylee
Craig Stanghetta	...	Terek
Sonya Salomaa	...	Lenu
Bob Frazer	...	Larik
Meghan Ory	...	Sarre
Sarah Groundwater	...	Young Mother
Stefan Arngrim
Karen Austin

Goofs:

Continuity: Previously Ming had stated that he had the Holographer exiled to the Banelands to stop gossip due to the way that Aura and Barin had been acting while having their bonding photos taken. However, the same Holographer is recording the hologram of Aura and the children.

Terek, King of the Deviants, (Craig Stanghetta), may save this series

If Flash Gordon is able to develop into something that fans care about...I think the addition of Craig Stanghetta to the show will be the turning point. The man has star-power...a real charisma that the show has been searching for...and it seems to be rubbing off on the other characters and actors.

And not only does young Mr. Stanghetta have it all...but the writers have introduced his character as a pivot point to turn the series in a whole new direction. Ming is finally becoming truly evil...Flash is developing a solid spine...and the show seems to have figured out it is about POLITICS more than about teen angst and romance. I think the Smallville influence was too heavy for the first 10 episodes, but with the development of the Joe Wylee character in Possession (played by the magnetic Giles Panton) and the further character developments for many of the secondary characters...I find I am enjoying the show and caring for the characters in a way I would not have expected given the first 5 episodes. If you've given up on this series....it might be time to give it another try. I just watched the penultimate episode...and the whole seasons story is shaping up into something worthwhile.