83 reviews
This is a show that shows all the same sort of promise and excitement that Prison Break showed a few years back. Sadly, with the network axing it before we even get a sniff of a conclusion, there is little point in watching this.
Over zealous American Network bosses doing what they do worst - judging shows on the dollar bills in their pockets. No wonder the USA doesn't have the same cult shows that the UK produces so regularly. It helps to keep up the poor reputation of American Television though.
If you have nothing better to do, then watch this - but I warn you, you'll be disappointed when the series ends abruptly and leaving you wanting more.
Over zealous American Network bosses doing what they do worst - judging shows on the dollar bills in their pockets. No wonder the USA doesn't have the same cult shows that the UK produces so regularly. It helps to keep up the poor reputation of American Television though.
If you have nothing better to do, then watch this - but I warn you, you'll be disappointed when the series ends abruptly and leaving you wanting more.
- rittings-117-442485
- Jul 31, 2012
- Permalink
Interesting that so many people are comparing this unfavorably to "Lost". I actually hated "Lost"
well, past the third or fourth episode, anyway, when it started collapsing under its own weight and stopped making any kind of sense at all. "Alcatraz", I liked
I already knew it had been canceled and wouldn't have an ending when I started streaming episodes, like with "Carnivale", but it was good enough that I knew I really wanted to see as much of it as was ever going to exist. Generally the supernatural and/or JJ Abrams isn't my cup of tea, but I thought this show was extremely well done. The cast is top-notch and the premise really grips the viewer. I'm sorry they never got a chance to wrap it up.
I liked the show. yeah, it had its ups and downs but after all it was a very entertaining show. acting were pretty good specially Jorge Garcia and Mr. Sam Neil.
of course since we haven't seen the ending we cant say how the producers gonna get us to the final encounter with the warden and are they successful to do the job or not but from what we've watched, id say that would be a great final head on. but shamefully we will never have the chance to watch it. sometimes i hate the capitalism for these kinda results! in a non-capitalist economy, this great show would make it to the end no matter the majority of viewers like it or not (and prefer to watch some silly show like teen-wolf instead) but in USA, if the idiots have got the upper hand, the stupid shows like vampire diaries n teen wolf ... will go on n on and a good show like Alcatraz simply got cancelled. what a shame!
- bobbie_mayfield
- May 19, 2015
- Permalink
Before the pilot episode aired, there was a lot of hype generated by the degree of marketing the producers of the show invested in, towards its success. Naturally I was excited too, the show possessed that spark of intrigue and mystery that I so desperately craved. However, upon watching the first few episodes, I was disappointed upon discovery, that the show was merely your stereotypical and unoriginal crime thriller. Despite the paranormal twist, the show incorporates similar elements from other crime dramas like 'NCIS' and 'Criminal Minds', where the protagonists piece together puzzle pieces to find themselves a killer and save the day. I can only hope that the storyline loses that boring and unoriginal linearity as it progresses, but the ugly truth is, I've already given up.
I can't understand why all this hate, this is a great show. Abrahams (as i think it is spelled) gives exactly what he promises, a show with an interesting plot to follow, some good characters and a mysterious conspiracy for which the more you learn the most you want to stick with it until the end I loved lost, I loved its style and that is exactly why i will continue to watch this series, hoping not to stop before it is supposed to. Watch it, give it some time, lost wasn't all that great from the start. I am sure that after 2 or 3 episodes you will be captivated. J.J did it again and i am sure that this sci-fi genius has many aces up to his sleeve. All of you who don't believe, think of lost and fringe, and if you haven't checked them yet, don't waste any time. Stop hating,start watching and i am sure you will be pleased
- mpouraklas
- Feb 9, 2012
- Permalink
This is the second Lost-type show to spin up this year and it's not the best. It borrows heavily from cop/buddy movies ("He killed my partner! I want revenge!"), Prison Break, Quantum Leap, and typical present day Vancouver syfy/horror serials for the pre-teen bunch. The characters, especially the escaped criminals, are more like comic book caricatures than real people. It uses the same techniques as Lost and Once Upon a Time to slowly reveal its mysteries. Unfortunately it doesn't have any profound or compelling theme motivating the story, like redemption or the nature of good and evil in people. The acting in the regular cast is good, partially because most of the actors (Neil and Garcia) have already played characters exactly like the ones they're doing here. The main problem with the show is that, like in Prison Break, each new tidbit of the big mystery they reveal makes it seem just that much more cheesy and far-fetched, instead of inspiring or enlightening. It's just not special.
- russmillerwy-957-682439
- Jan 16, 2012
- Permalink
Hey all..
I have read some reviews here on the site for this show. And people are giving this 5 stars and has only seen 17 min or the first 2 episodes. Come on guys make and review when you at least have seen 5 or more episodes. Its a slow start but this show is getting more interesting further it goes! Maybe they could have found a better Female cop for this show but overall the acting is good and the story is getting better and better. I will look forward to see where this series is going!
Sry for the bad grammar but i am from Denmark :-)
I have read some reviews here on the site for this show. And people are giving this 5 stars and has only seen 17 min or the first 2 episodes. Come on guys make and review when you at least have seen 5 or more episodes. Its a slow start but this show is getting more interesting further it goes! Maybe they could have found a better Female cop for this show but overall the acting is good and the story is getting better and better. I will look forward to see where this series is going!
Sry for the bad grammar but i am from Denmark :-)
- supermaling3
- Mar 10, 2012
- Permalink
- nancy-ji97
- Feb 28, 2012
- Permalink
...not that that's a bad thing.
Besides the fact that Sam Neill really should give up on any hope of mounting a believable American accent, the premise of the show is intriguing enough -- before Alcatraz ended operation as a prison, all of the inmates and staff vanished, kind of like a Philadelphia experiment on an island gone even more than wrong.
The execution (ha! funny pun, not), at least in the pilot, perhaps didn't do as much justice to the plot as I would have liked, but at the end of the pilot I was left wanting more, despite Sam Neill's dodgy accent. The rest of the acting was competent, and the entire program seemed a bit reminiscent of previous time-travel sci-fi shows such as 7 Days. It has good pacing and you're unlikely to be bored by it.
It will be interesting to see where it goes from here.
Besides the fact that Sam Neill really should give up on any hope of mounting a believable American accent, the premise of the show is intriguing enough -- before Alcatraz ended operation as a prison, all of the inmates and staff vanished, kind of like a Philadelphia experiment on an island gone even more than wrong.
The execution (ha! funny pun, not), at least in the pilot, perhaps didn't do as much justice to the plot as I would have liked, but at the end of the pilot I was left wanting more, despite Sam Neill's dodgy accent. The rest of the acting was competent, and the entire program seemed a bit reminiscent of previous time-travel sci-fi shows such as 7 Days. It has good pacing and you're unlikely to be bored by it.
It will be interesting to see where it goes from here.
- brandonsullivan91
- Jan 17, 2012
- Permalink
I love the cast it had me watching it without taking my eyes away. I got the storyline but I could see where others may not. It is a first run of the show so therefore you must give it sometime, but I really liked it. The cast was not bad and the direction was great. I don't know if the show will get to 5 seasons but it is a great show. Its very unique from someone like me that only likes Sons of Anarchy, Modern Family. I will be adding this to my list of shows to watch. Many things going on at the same time as the story develops the first time. It has some CSI mixed in with some Castle mixed in with some Law and Order in my opinion at least.
- floridaprofessional
- Jan 16, 2012
- Permalink
(-) The series started well, but with a very quick and not convincing empathy between Sarah Jones (Rebecca Madsen) and Jorge García (Diego Soto); besides the acting of this two lacks of something that i not quite understand. The music may not make much sense, sometimes adding to much music can be uncomfortable even when we know it is part of the process.
(+) There is a good performance by Jeffrey Pierce (Jack Sylvane) and an acceptable of our Jurassic friend San Neil (Emerson Hauser). The prison looks great, it was about time we get a series of this particular place, although i don't think we're going to see Al Capone.
P: Hurley goes from island to island.
(+) There is a good performance by Jeffrey Pierce (Jack Sylvane) and an acceptable of our Jurassic friend San Neil (Emerson Hauser). The prison looks great, it was about time we get a series of this particular place, although i don't think we're going to see Al Capone.
P: Hurley goes from island to island.
- veitiajesus
- Jan 19, 2012
- Permalink
The show was written by J.J Abrams, who also wrote LOST, my favorite TV show of all time. The show LOST features Jorge Garcia, so seeing as he was acting in Alcatraz, I gave it a go. This is now my new Monday event. The show is cleverly written, and J.J Abrams has not let me down with this show. You definitely should start watching it on Fox's website if you haven't seen the first few episodes, just to get caught up.
If I gave this show a rating out of 10, I'd give it a 9.8, mainly because the selection of music is wonderful and features great variations of popular Hollywood themes. The music is written by Micheal Giacchino, the same person who wrote music for LOST.
This show has MANY similarities to LOST, and I hope you enjoy this show as much as I do.
If I gave this show a rating out of 10, I'd give it a 9.8, mainly because the selection of music is wonderful and features great variations of popular Hollywood themes. The music is written by Micheal Giacchino, the same person who wrote music for LOST.
This show has MANY similarities to LOST, and I hope you enjoy this show as much as I do.
- jason98798
- Jan 27, 2012
- Permalink
- Bluebonnet100
- Feb 15, 2012
- Permalink
I am definitely addicted to the show. I recorded the first three and watched them back to back. I couldn't get enough. I think they'll have to change the writing up soon to keep people coming back, but so far, it's really good. I think the cast is fantastic. The chick cop is hot, Jorge Garcia is amazing, and Sam Neil is awesome, as usual.
I found it The Event-esque, so I'm hoping it doesn't plummet after 5 episodes and they keep it fresh. Because Abrams (spelling?) produced it, I have high hopes. I could see this series sticking around for 4 seasons or more. Check it out and give it a chance!
I found it easy to follow the story line...
I found it The Event-esque, so I'm hoping it doesn't plummet after 5 episodes and they keep it fresh. Because Abrams (spelling?) produced it, I have high hopes. I could see this series sticking around for 4 seasons or more. Check it out and give it a chance!
I found it easy to follow the story line...
- mkenyon719
- Jan 27, 2012
- Permalink
- ShelbyTMItchell
- Jan 17, 2012
- Permalink
- dazbull823
- Jan 20, 2012
- Permalink
- aaalllrrraaammm
- Mar 11, 2012
- Permalink
I got into the show more or less by accident, and because my nature of not wanting to give up on something right away once I've start it, I ended up watching the entire 1st season.
I know plenty have done so already, but I have to compare it to Lost because of one reason, and it's not the time jumping aspect of it: Lost had me hooked from the opening scene all the way through the first 3 seasons. Right away, from that first stare of Jack's eye, his run through the jungle, the mayhem on the beach, I knew it would be an interesting show to watch. With Alcatraz I never got to a point of really caring what will happen. I never got invested in any of the characters. Another review here said that the show would have been much better had it stayed in the 60's all the time, and I have to agree. The scenes from that era are all great. You're immediately questioning the wardens motives along with his lackeys, and the back stories of the criminals promised much more potential than any of the stories for the present day people. And did I mention the warden? Must say, I think Jonny Coyne does an awesome job with his character.
In the present day parts of the show, everything is much more cliché. You have the tough female lead, the not so tough but brilliant side kick, a shady boss, the good mentor with a gray story of his own... And then you have the crime of the week which you can be 100% certain will get solved, already simply because the episode names suggest who's turn it is to be processed. Basically, it all plays out like any other crime drama on TV at that point, except you already know who the bad guy is. I don't think it's the fault of the actors really that the show doesn't take off. They're just not given an interesting back story to develop from. Let's be honest, the good cop trying to understand her past and having to chase the black sheep of the family in order to do so is not exactly ground breaking story telling.
Also, like another review stated, it is somewhat weird how little interest the task force shows in trying to figure out "how and why" the bad guys keep popping up from the past, instead they're always focusing just on catching them and putting them back in their cage. That doesn't feel like a good game plan. It's like always just putting a bucket on the floor when it rains instead of trying to fix the leak in the roof.
The somewhat strong rating of the show here on IMDb would suggest that it could get a second season, and the last episode does leave enough of the plot unsolved for it to be possible. But I doubt I'll be tuning in for another go at this one.
I know plenty have done so already, but I have to compare it to Lost because of one reason, and it's not the time jumping aspect of it: Lost had me hooked from the opening scene all the way through the first 3 seasons. Right away, from that first stare of Jack's eye, his run through the jungle, the mayhem on the beach, I knew it would be an interesting show to watch. With Alcatraz I never got to a point of really caring what will happen. I never got invested in any of the characters. Another review here said that the show would have been much better had it stayed in the 60's all the time, and I have to agree. The scenes from that era are all great. You're immediately questioning the wardens motives along with his lackeys, and the back stories of the criminals promised much more potential than any of the stories for the present day people. And did I mention the warden? Must say, I think Jonny Coyne does an awesome job with his character.
In the present day parts of the show, everything is much more cliché. You have the tough female lead, the not so tough but brilliant side kick, a shady boss, the good mentor with a gray story of his own... And then you have the crime of the week which you can be 100% certain will get solved, already simply because the episode names suggest who's turn it is to be processed. Basically, it all plays out like any other crime drama on TV at that point, except you already know who the bad guy is. I don't think it's the fault of the actors really that the show doesn't take off. They're just not given an interesting back story to develop from. Let's be honest, the good cop trying to understand her past and having to chase the black sheep of the family in order to do so is not exactly ground breaking story telling.
Also, like another review stated, it is somewhat weird how little interest the task force shows in trying to figure out "how and why" the bad guys keep popping up from the past, instead they're always focusing just on catching them and putting them back in their cage. That doesn't feel like a good game plan. It's like always just putting a bucket on the floor when it rains instead of trying to fix the leak in the roof.
The somewhat strong rating of the show here on IMDb would suggest that it could get a second season, and the last episode does leave enough of the plot unsolved for it to be possible. But I doubt I'll be tuning in for another go at this one.
- jens-wegar
- Apr 21, 2012
- Permalink
Or Fringetraz if you like.
Even to the point of using the same location for a chase scene in the Pilot ep that was used in Fringe S4E1. And, the return of Jason Butler Harner (Richard Steig in the Pilot ep of Fringe). Comic Book Writer/Store Owner Jorge Garcis (Of Lost) and SF Detective Sarah Jones join with secretive FBI guy Sam Niell in what looks to be a Fringeresting show. Just waiting for Olivia Dunham and Walter Bishop to show up.
IN 1963, over 200 Inmates and their Guards vanish from AlcaFringe without a trace. In 2012, the inmates start showing up... One by One.
Who took them? Why? In Typical JJ Abrams fashion, we're not gonna find out unless we watch the show. Pretty good TV Tactic, works for me.
There is some crossover here from Fringe, some of the Production team is the same. Ultimately a show is a combination of the Writing, the Acting, and the Production. The Acting talent is OK so that is covered, and the production team has been proved in several shows. So it's the writing that I'll use to judge the show.
So Far, we have the Fringian process of 1) Reveal Conundrum 2) Solve part of it 3) More questions come about by answer of initial conundrum.
Yah, sure "We've seen this before" - But NOT in this combination or with this quality. Also, the filming of some exteriors in The City, and I've lived in SF so I recognise some of the places. Wherever they are shooting the rest of the shots, makes a Good SF - They blend pretty well. And also I understand they were allowed to shoot IN Alcatraz as well- So, as I have watched the first 2 and a half 'sodes, there is a viable, believable illusion of this all happening in 1963 and 2012 in the city of SF.
I hope they do make some kind of reference to Events in Frings, maybe even a crossover ep in both shows. So Far, JJ Abrams wins with 2 good shows on the air, Frings and Alcatraz. Makes me want to go out and rent the entire run of Lost and then Alias when I am done with that - JJ is a great filmmaker, I respect him cos he just does not quit, even when Fringe is not quite done squeezing out every last Impossibility, JJ comes up with this. From what I understand this show is a collaboration. From what I see it works and well at that.
I love these actor and actresses that are used in these productions, I see them all the time, many of them in JJ's feature Films and other shows.
I've just watched the first 5 eps, took a while but it peaked my interest. It's building into something good, and now I've got 2 good shows to watch each week. It's a good start, now I'm hooked - Not as fast as I was hooked on Fringe, but this show has a lot of Promise.
Even to the point of using the same location for a chase scene in the Pilot ep that was used in Fringe S4E1. And, the return of Jason Butler Harner (Richard Steig in the Pilot ep of Fringe). Comic Book Writer/Store Owner Jorge Garcis (Of Lost) and SF Detective Sarah Jones join with secretive FBI guy Sam Niell in what looks to be a Fringeresting show. Just waiting for Olivia Dunham and Walter Bishop to show up.
IN 1963, over 200 Inmates and their Guards vanish from AlcaFringe without a trace. In 2012, the inmates start showing up... One by One.
Who took them? Why? In Typical JJ Abrams fashion, we're not gonna find out unless we watch the show. Pretty good TV Tactic, works for me.
There is some crossover here from Fringe, some of the Production team is the same. Ultimately a show is a combination of the Writing, the Acting, and the Production. The Acting talent is OK so that is covered, and the production team has been proved in several shows. So it's the writing that I'll use to judge the show.
So Far, we have the Fringian process of 1) Reveal Conundrum 2) Solve part of it 3) More questions come about by answer of initial conundrum.
Yah, sure "We've seen this before" - But NOT in this combination or with this quality. Also, the filming of some exteriors in The City, and I've lived in SF so I recognise some of the places. Wherever they are shooting the rest of the shots, makes a Good SF - They blend pretty well. And also I understand they were allowed to shoot IN Alcatraz as well- So, as I have watched the first 2 and a half 'sodes, there is a viable, believable illusion of this all happening in 1963 and 2012 in the city of SF.
I hope they do make some kind of reference to Events in Frings, maybe even a crossover ep in both shows. So Far, JJ Abrams wins with 2 good shows on the air, Frings and Alcatraz. Makes me want to go out and rent the entire run of Lost and then Alias when I am done with that - JJ is a great filmmaker, I respect him cos he just does not quit, even when Fringe is not quite done squeezing out every last Impossibility, JJ comes up with this. From what I understand this show is a collaboration. From what I see it works and well at that.
I love these actor and actresses that are used in these productions, I see them all the time, many of them in JJ's feature Films and other shows.
I've just watched the first 5 eps, took a while but it peaked my interest. It's building into something good, and now I've got 2 good shows to watch each week. It's a good start, now I'm hooked - Not as fast as I was hooked on Fringe, but this show has a lot of Promise.