Now and Again, on CBS
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For quite awhile, I had this review under "too something," because I felt the series was tragically short-lived. It got a full season, but it absolutely should have lasted longer than that, because it ends on a pretty major cliffhanger. So it really sucks that that was never resolved. However... before I had any such category as "too something," I had the review somewhere else. I can't remember where, maybe "drama," maybe "science fiction," maybe something else. Possibly even "quirky," which is where I eventually decided to move it to. Because I've never been entirely comfortable calling it "too something"; I just feel like the show was too good for that, and besides, I remember it a lot better than I do most of the shows in that section. There are any number of categories in which it might fit; aside from those I've mentioned, "action/adventure," "superhero," and probably other genres might be apt. But I decided to go with "quirky" because... well, just because I want to, okay?

Anyway, it's about an insurance agent, Michael Wiseman (John Goodman), who fell to his death in front of a subway train. The government secretly recovered his brain and put it into an artificial human body (Eric Close) created by Dr. Theodore Morris (Dennis Haysbert). This body was exceptionally strong, fast, and agile, practically invulnerable, a marvel of modern science. And yet, Dr. Morris couldn't synthesize human intelligence, which is why he needed a living brain. Meanwhile, Mr. Wiseman's wife, Lisa (Margaret Colin), and daughter, Heather (Heather Matarazzo), were left behind to grieve for Michael, not knowing what had become of him (or at least his brain). And Michael couldn't stop thinking about them or wanting to be with them, despite the rules against it. No one from his past life could know the truth, or they'd be killed or something. Oh, there was also this guy named Roger Bender (Gerrit Graham), who used to work with Michael at the insurance company, and was his best friend. Michael did occasionally have contact with these three, though he called himself Mr. Newman, and they didn't know who he really was. Meanwhile, Michael spent most of his time training, under the supervision of Dr. Morris and a team of security agents. He wasn't often allowed to leave the building where he lived, and was always being observed. Occasionally he went on a mission, and there probably would've been more of that if the show had lasted more than one season. Hard to say, though.

Anyway... this show was just... um... well, it was pretty damn cool. Great writing and acting, great concept, always plenty of drama and comedy and stuff going on. Some episodes moved me to tears. It was just brilliant. Dunno what else to say, but I hope to see it again someday, and maybe write up a better review.