6 - Tuesday, February 14, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Mysterious 'River' ABC's new fantasy drama delivers in the wake of 'Lost' By RADHIKA MENON For the Daily When "Lost" debuted in 2004, it was hailed for its revolution- ary plotline and its crossover of mystery and sci-fi genres: TV had never seen anything like it. The River Now two years after the end Pilot of "Lost," "The Tuesdaysat9 p.m. River" picks up the pieces it left ABC behind, com- plete with a mysterious island in the Amazon and a shifty monster driving the main cast to misery. Though the plotline bears an uncanny resemblance to that of "Lost," "The River" can be deemed a worthy successor and not just a carbon copy. The new venture from Oren Peli, cre- ator of "Paranormal Activity," relies on "found footage," quick cuts and documentary-style format. "The River" is undeni- ably a hybrid between "Lost" and "Paranormal Activity," yet somehow, it works. Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Green- wood, "Star Trek"), a legendary nature explorer who is beloved by much of the world for his famed television show, goes missing in the Amazon. After six months of searching, he is declared dead ... that is, until his emergency bea- con goes off. His wife Tess (Leslie Hope, "24") and his reluctant son Lin- coln (Joe Anderson, "Across the Universe") travel to the Amazon in search of the lost man with a camera crew and Lincoln's child- hood friend Lena (newcomer Eloise Mumford) in tow. They encounter unseen supernatu- ral forces native to the island of "I think we're lost." La Boinna, barely managing to escape alive. The complicated dynamic between Lincoln and his parents begins to play out in the two- hour premiere. Emmet is loved by masses of people, but to Lincoln he is just an absent father. Lin- coln is noticeably hesitant in con- tinuing the search and correctly identifies Tess's motivation as guilt about an affair. Flashbacks to Lincoln's childhood show that Emmet cared deeply for his son, but the call of nature's magic and mystery were too great for him to ignore. The supporting cast mem- bers are also compelling. Jahel Valenzuela (Paulina Gaitan, "Sin Nombre") is a young girl capable of communicating with the mysteries of the island. She is able to channel Emmet's spirit in a creepy sleepwalking sequence reminiscent of "Para- normal Activity." Clark Quietly (Paul Blackthorne, Bollywood's "Lagaan"), the producer of Emmet Cole's show, is known to butt heads with Cole. Their rela- tionship is reminiscent of Jack and Locke - one's a skeptic and the other's a believer. But as "Lost" fans watched the island with a mind of its own develop into a character in itself, "The River" doesn't offer a par- allel universe. The island of La Boinna doesn't bring much in terms of complexity and mystery beyond the unknown monster. Where there were polar bears and hatches, there are now simply leaves and soil, leaving audiences intrigued about the search for Emmet Cole but less so about the island and its secrets. As a two-hour installment, the premiere was exciting and gripping. Mystery drove the plot, intriguing the audience with secrets left unexplained. There were complex characters with complex relationships and a promise of answers in subse- quent episodes. Though a two- episode debut for a show that was promised only eight epi- sodes is risky, ABC has shown belief in and commitment to the midseason replacement for "Dancing with the Stars." At its core, "The River" is based on magic and mystical happen- ings: Skeptics and non-believers should stay clear. Though the style and theme seem to be adapt- ed from its predecessors, "The River" is able to meshthe two into a refreshing and exciting show. As Emmet Cole would say, "There's magic out there." And he's right. "The River" is proving itself to be a major contender in the sci-fi arena, fitting nicely into the "Lost"-shaped hole in all of our hearts. Who to listen to? The hipster angel or the hipster devil? Tennis sets sail or melido moresol i e s'un By KATIE STEEN DailyArts Writer There's a pretty standard repertoire of post-graduation options: Grad school.- Gap year. Job. Move home. Sell your * possessions, sail for eight Tennis months and make an album Young & Old inspired by the trip. Husband Fat Possum and wife Pat- rick Riley and Alaina Moore of the band Tennis went with the last option and ended up sort of famous. Beats med school! Last time Moore and Riley were on the radar, they were known as the couple that makes short, sunny tunes about their seafaring vacation. While their 2011 album Cape Dory was a direct response to their voyage, consisting entirely of tracks like "Seafarer" and "Waterbirds," their newest LP, Young & Old, offers a more diverse, land-locked mix. Cape Dory was created as more ' travels variou, newly popula ized its self-in 'Yo lar Your All Fee begins fident album. ant, a overly change a coup get the a comi Cape D picks u slightl of a souvenir from their of frustration you won't get when - a way to remember strolling a beach. s reefs and bays. With their Subsequent tracks continue to acquired and unexpected surprise. "Origins," the album's rity, however, Tennis real- first single, is an infectious track next album couldn't be as with pounding pianos and jazzy dulgent. brass. While Tennis is seeming- ly incapable of losing its sugary sound, the band has drawnfrom a ung & d' is greater pool of influences for this album. "My Better Self" includes ided, but not a slightly hip-hop-sounding beat, and "Petition" sounds likea sped- Consistent. up disco hit straight from the '70s. Unlike the cheery hollow- ness of Cape Dory, Young & Old has a fleshed-out sound thanks ng & Old opens with "it to the talents of producer Patrick els the Same," a track that Carney (of the Black Keys). The by sounding like a con- LP seems like less ofaside project sequel to the band's first and more like an actual piece of It's easygoing and pleas- music with purpose and passion. nd Moore's honeysweet, Unfortunately, Young & Old is girlish vocals haven't pretty front-loaded. While some ed abit. The chorus appears bands may be able to get away le minutes in, and listeners with this, Tennis's 33-minute LP first hint that this won't be doesn't have any time to waste. plete repeat of what made About halfway through, the track )ory successful. The tempo "Robin" starts off sounding typi- up and the guitars become cally Tennis - bopping and cute. y grungy -there's a feeling Moore's vocals are attractive, but after a while they're sort of like looking at pictures of sunsets on beaches - nice, but the same every time, and leaving mguch to be desired. "Robin" is saved by Sus: 734) 661439 the stimulation of an oscillating guitar backing the chorus, but that seems to be the last thread OOM HOUSE Available fall. of hope. okwood. Washer Dryer. 4 prk The rest of Young& Oldconsists >2300 + utils. 734-996-1991 of cutesy bell noises, twee garage tTH CAMPUS 1-2 Bdrm.!? rock and choruses composed front/Heat/Water/Parking. ! principally of Moore's "ooh"-ing, v.HRPAA.com 996-4992! which we've been hearing the entire album. It's as if Tennis is patting itself on the back for ajob well done and reminiscing about past successes without realizing there's still half an album left. But L ET S the most frustrating part is when Moore begins complaining. In ASING 1 RM in a 2 bdrm apt "High Road," she belts out "para- ral Campus: Seeking male roo dise is all around but happiness is ncludes private bed & bath, never found." So, you vacationed urn., flat screen HDTV, for eight months at sea with the ycr, fitness ceter, 24/7 onainte gtmnh tsawt h lonthly cast TBD but includes man you love and then returned and wkly cleaning. For more home to become well-received tact meyerd33@4gmail.com. musicians that play shows like Lollapalooza, and now you're sad? Sorry, no sympathy. The album concludes with "Never to Part," an OK song that's * .P WANTED pretty boring, except for some random electronic additions. And TENDINGe* $300/DAY PO then Young& Old is abruptly over. A L. No exp. nec., training Tennis was wrong with its first GE 18+ 800-965-6520x125 track's title - it doesn't all feel the same as Cape Dory. There are CARE/HOME HEL plenty of similarities between D: Mornings before school. the two LPs, but as a professional ive. tassavat@comcast.net -9484 band, Tennis is certainly improv- lug. Looking for Housing? Do you love the outdoors?! Radrick Farms is now accepting applications for Fall 2012-13 Caretaker positions! -Seeking Graduate Students (must be enrolled for the -Please send cover letter, resume & duration ofthe appointment) 3references to: -Work at least 14 hours/week in exchange for Sanhita Shanbhag housingatCaretaker'sHouselocatedongolf - Administrative Specialist course.RadrickFarms Gdf'dourse 4875 Geoddes Ed. -Must have the ability to drive a utility vehicle & Ann Arbor. 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