The day has come – Sarah Michelle Gellar has made her small screen return in her new show – Ringer (The Ringer? Ringer? It just feels like it needs a ‘The’ on there somewhere… Just me? Okay…). Now as a diehard Buffy fan, there were few things that could keep me from watching this – plague, zombie apocalypse, my twin trying to murder me… So, what’s my verdict. Well I have to say, the end scene did put a smile on my face. Which is always a good sign. But I’m still a little unsure. Perhaps being a massive Buffy fan is a bad thing… Did I expect something of the same calibre? Maybe not. You only have to watch the grudge to get over the misconception. But I guess its still TV, and it is SMG – so maybe it was in my head that this would be out of this world good. It wasn’t. What we did have though is some potential, a few twists and some pretty good acting. Let’s break it down.
Twins. Identical twins played by the same actress. On paper it should be a bit of a challenge. And I think it will be. SMG needs to create these totally separate layered characters. And I don’t mean ‘good twin’, ‘bad twin’. That would be too easy. I want to believe in these two totally separate people. Siobhan, I’m guessing, has some sort of grudge (lol) against her sister Bridget. Why else would you send a masked man in to strangle her to death? I’m guessing it involves the reason Bridget is so remorseful to her sister, and the picture of Siobhan and a little boy that Bridget found in the jewellery box. But I don’t think its that simple. Bridget is getting this glimpse of Siobhan’s life – and its less than happy. An affair, a failing marriage, a pregnancy, a less than lovely step daughter and a basically a life she doesn’t want to live in any more. Then Bridget enters back into her life and she realises she may have a way out. Kill two birds with one stone – literally. Killing Bridget kills the person she so clearly still hates, and herself. Giving herself the perfect opportunity to start afresh with her new baby.
Here’s the confusing bit. Gemma rang Bridget in order to get her to come to the loft – were there was clearly a trap laid out for her. Why? She has no reason to help Siobhan, if we assume she does really know who her husband is sleeping with. And if she knows that ‘Siobhan’ is Bridget, well then she has no reason to harm her. *Breath* Yes its a confusing one.
So we are left with these questions. Why did Gemma set Bridget up? Why does Siobhan want the world to think she’s dead? Why didn’t Siobhan just let the gangsters kill Bridget (when she was being Siobhan) because it probably would have happened eventually? What is the reason Siobhan hates Bridget? Why does Siobhan suddenly seem like a psychopath?
Well I’m sure we’ll find out! One way or the other. Although SMG says there is a three season plan for the show. I’m hoping more happens because I can’t see my questions taking 3 seasons to work themselves out. And quite frankly I don’t think I’d keep watching that long if they did. My round up? It has potential. There’s definitely some interesting aspects. But personally, I think the show needs to speed up a little bit if it wants to keep me watching. As pilots go, its no Lost – but I’d still give it a solid 7/10.
Rather be mental... 