Alcatraz: The new Lost?

Not sure how many have seen this, but it's actually a pretty decent show.
The Lost influences (same producers) are evident, especially in the music, and of course the casting of Hurley in the role of our lead investigator's sidekick.

Sam Neil certainly lends some gravitas in his role as the head man in black type.

It's an interesting story, as well as the overall mystery as to what happened and why, and who is behind it.

Basically, the story is based on the idea that Alcatraz was closed because all of the prisoners and guards simply vanished instantaneously. Recently, former inmates show up (unaged) and go back to old patterns, and it is up to our heroes to stop them. Meanwhile, it seems that someone is preparing these former inmates, and giving them instructions to do things.

It's on Mondays, primetime on a major network.

reply to post by Gazrok


I've also noted the similarities in style and music. I've been watching it and I want to like it... still a bit hesitant though but hopefully the delivery will be as good as the setup (unlike for example The Event) which I'm sure it will be.

Sam Neill is great and I can't help but think of his creepy smirk in Event Horizon.

Yes it is definitely "Lostish" with stories that intertwine, time shifts, a Dharma jail, underground shelters and plenty of puzzle pieces to fit together. Like Lost, I think much of the the success of the show stems from the head scratching who, what, where, how and whys. Now all we need is a smoke monster to show up!
I think it has the right ingredients for success, but like Lost, it may lose the general audience and hold a dedicated audience that digs these type of shows. I like it, but I think Hurley(Doc) needs to get a gun or take some self defense classes.
I hear they are thinking about scrapping Fringe. I like that one too, but maybe these complex storylines and character changes are too much for the general audience. But me likes a good mystery.

reply to post by Gazrok


Does anyone else notice the HUGE plot hole in this story? The inmates are coming back to this timeline in Alcatraz yet no one took the initiative to lock down the cell block that they are returning to or even post a guard for that matter. The government could just close down the Rock for "saftey concerns" like asbestos, but then there would be no show I guess...

Thanks for bringing this show to my attention. Lost was quite entertaining and IMO one of the most complex plot lines in modern TV history. Having been such a big fan of Lost, I decided to give Abrams' project Fringe a look (about a year ago) and instantly it became my favorite show. Casting and character development in these shows has been amazing. Couple that with the mind-boggling plots and you have everything I look for in a TV show.

Just finished the first two episodes of Alcatraz and it seems pretty good. It's like most crime procedural shows to an extent, yet there are elements that keep the plot progressing episode to episode. The "paranormal" aspects and the gradually building back story might deter some people who don't really immerse themselves in a show, but for me it's what will keep me coming back. Again, good find!!

I was a huge Lost fan. Is it too late to start this now? Is it as complicated as Lost? How many episodes so far?
Thanks.

My concern is that every episode is going to be the same. I know that all shows are formulaic to an extent. But these episodes just appear to be a typical crime drama with a time travel background, and I expect more than that from a sci-fi program. But aside from that, it is a well-written program. I am wondering if we will see the guards time travelled along with the inmates, and what would happen to them?

reply to post by angeldoll

There has been the 2 hour opening and 2 more episodes thus far. I watch them streaming here:
www.watchseries-online.eu...
Putlocker is a decent option amongst the stream choices

spec

reply to post by speculativeoptimist


Most helpful. Thanks so much.

reply to post by MrAndy


Give it time, I am sure as it unfolds so will the complexity. I don't think they want to lose everyone the first few episodes.
I see numerous potential directions for the plot, but I think they need more characters. Perhaps the prisoners will continue to be a part throughout the series, even after they are caught. They keep showing them.
I think they will introduce more charters too, including another sexy babe I bet.

I am wondering if we will see the guards time travelled along with the inmates, and what would happen to them?

Good question, it looks like the prison doctor made it to modern time so who knows?

Don't forget, the other staff member (the one now in a coma) also made it back, so yeah, it seems as if at least some of the staff has come back already also.

Does anyone else notice the HUGE plot hole in this story? The inmates are coming back to this timeline in Alcatraz yet no one took the initiative to lock down the cell block that they are returning to or even post a guard for that matter. The government could just close down the Rock for "saftey concerns" like asbestos, but then there would be no show I guess...

I was wondering that too, but like you said, there has to be a show, hehe...so we have to kind of forget it.

As for the formula, when you think about it, most Sci Fi has the same... Inexplicable crime of the week, with the show storyline background. Fringe has its freak of the week, Grimm has its creature of the week, Terra Nova has its crime of the week, etc.

As for getting rid of Fringe, lets face it, it is still a great show, but it did kind of jump the shark a while back....and they are really dragging out this whole Peter thing....

Well, now that I know who is behind the show I will be sure to skip it. We had to go though, what, five seasons of Lost to get that crappy ending? What a waste. I feel like Mr. Garrison in this clip about the movie Contact.

www.southparkstudios.com...

We were lucky to get half seasons of Firefly and Freaks & Geeks(most notably) yet Lost went on forever and had the lamest ending I've ever seen, book, tele or movie. Your mileage may vary and as seen from the responses in this thread people loved Lost. I thought it was tripe.

Hurley!!!

reply to post by Gazrok


OK, making a prediction here. The reason that they are not capturing them on the Rock is because they want them to go out and kill people for some kind of crazy time plot that was planned when they first disappeared as some kind of sick military project.

I saw the trailer on tv and thought, this reminds me of Lost.

Now I know why. lol

The first dude they caught had some kind of key he was looking for...will they work in Al Capone & the Birdman?

reply to post by TheLoony


I'll agree that LOST had a very crappy ending. That said though, it doesn't invalidate how good the seasons were.

Good so far, not great, but watchable. Also watchabel, but no more than chewing gum for the mind, is a new show called the Finder. Staring Michael Clark Duncan and Geoff Stults (i believe a 3rd cousing of mine- same great-grandfather).

I've been watching this show and think it is great. Although it kills me to think that we will have to go through 200+ episodes (or however many prisoners there were) before we ever get an explanation as to why or how they all vanished and returned decades later.

I wonder...will we have episodes that focus on the missing guards & other various employees of Alcatraz?

P.S. I never watched Lost, so I can't comment on the similarities between the 2 shows.

It seems (from the previews) that the next show is about a guard, but maybe a bad seed one.

Interesting revelation in this last episode though (SPOILER ALERT)....





So, we now know the two keys are actually two of three that go to a secret cell (secret because Sam Neil's character seems ignorant of it, as he's having them search for a match). The answer as to who or what is in the cell should solve a lot. The warden seemed to know.

My guess, is that maybe there is an alien take here. Maybe the captive is an alien, and/or a criminal we are holding for them (or one of them). In '63, they "beamed" everyone out and aboard to maybe try and find him?

If so, then space travel and reletavistic time could explain the lack of aging. For them, they were gone just moments, but for us, 50 years. It would explain why they can't remember what they did for 50 years (i.e. it didn't pass for them).

The big question to this one then is, why come back? Why have them get the keys? What is still in the cell?