When the term Sci Fi is used these days, we mostly think of spaceships, aliens and androids. That's a shame. Sci Fi has a long pedigree and isn't always about bloody space! ReGenesis was a show that delivered the type of sci fi that is, sadly, mostly ignored in this day and age. It explored how the science of today can run rampant, how seemingly positive experiments can go wrong, how politics and the military/industrial complex DO work hand in hand. (OK, we do see that in other shows, but not as realistically as here). From the get go, ReGenesis set a high mark for its dramatic portrayal of disease outbreaks and bio engineering run amok. Deftly, if sometimes over used, personal relationships between the main protagonists of the NORBAC team, weave nicely amongst the science of the show and the casting is without a doubt one of the best I've come across in a show of this or any other genre. Tackling many issues of disease outbreak/control, bio terrorism, political and military paranoia and genetic engineering it has gota be up there as the numero uno of 'What if..?' dramas. The characters within NORBAC are superbly realised throughout all four seasons and each brings a brilliant point of view/specialist area/personal drama to the over all feel of what could easily have been an over the head with facts based show.
Peter Outerbridge as main protagonist and head of NORBAC, David Sandstromm brought the kind of gravitas usually seen in high end, big budget drama and film. His character is complex yet all too human. He may be a genius scientist but he has problems relating to his family, likes to maybe drink a little too much and wants to bed any woman with a pulse! It was a shame that his character seemed make the lateral leap that solved everything and non of the other characters were given their '15 minutes' of scientific fame and allowed to take centre stage in this role within the organisation and thusly the story arcs. Outerbridge was, though, inspired casting. As the series and the show itself progressed, the not so simple marrying of Science drama and human drama was brilliantly staged during stories concerning his rebellious daughter, the loss of his mother and his fathers subsequent demise as well as the interpersonal relationships within the lab itself. On the science side, his characters fight to use good science to right bad science, investigate strange diseases and biological attacks and handle the different interests involved through politics and the military/industrial complex were very very believable. When he was frustrated, I was frustrated! The cast as a whole were awesome but extended merit must also go to Dmitry Chepovetsky's Aspergers syndrome suffering character, Bob Melnikov. This character was inspired, heart wrenching at times and above all, informatively written and acted concerning this strange affliction. Played with relaxed assuredness by Chepovetsky with just the right amount of ticks and mannerisms, all the while giving us grounding in his scientific speciality and the way Aspergus 'sufferers' can maintain and impart vast amounts of information. Empathy is teased from you rather than wrenched, as Bobs' condition dictates and Dmitrys' acting imparts.
Yes, the show did suffer from over use of its 'scientists at work' montages (yes yes, pipettes, petri dishes, centrifuges, DNA graphs WE KNOW!) and abruptness, it's major downfall. Some seemingly potential pandemics withered at the peak of the stories dramatic climax, leaving you with a slight 'Huh? But...'. And don't get me started on the ending of season two! There were so many important plot points left like gaping small pox wounds!!! They did tackle it in an interesting way through season three, points for that, but they just left too many bits totally unanswered and at times left me thinking we'd slipped through a hole into another 'same but different' universe. I do believe some of this may have been due to the way in Maxim Roy, who played NORBACs' manager, Caroline Morrison, left the show. In the finale where we see all the past characters involved in a montage, there is not one shot of her. This leads me to believe she departed on not so good terms and left them unable to film a proper resolve of the rather good thread that had permeated the first two seasons.
Saying all that though, the way they realised the end of the show was quite brilliant and totally unexpected.
I can't recommend this show enough. There aren't many like it ( I can only think of two, Asimovs' Probe and the English gem, Doomwatch). Superb acting, great writing, totally relevant science, real human dilemmas and interaction sublimely inter weaved with the high drama of the threats of viral outbreak, bio-terrorism, genetic engineering and the problems of politics/money via big pharma and a paranoid military (The killer crows and the air force was a great poke!). Watch it, enjoy it and relish a show unlike nearly everything you've ever seen!
Peter Outerbridge as main protagonist and head of NORBAC, David Sandstromm brought the kind of gravitas usually seen in high end, big budget drama and film. His character is complex yet all too human. He may be a genius scientist but he has problems relating to his family, likes to maybe drink a little too much and wants to bed any woman with a pulse! It was a shame that his character seemed make the lateral leap that solved everything and non of the other characters were given their '15 minutes' of scientific fame and allowed to take centre stage in this role within the organisation and thusly the story arcs. Outerbridge was, though, inspired casting. As the series and the show itself progressed, the not so simple marrying of Science drama and human drama was brilliantly staged during stories concerning his rebellious daughter, the loss of his mother and his fathers subsequent demise as well as the interpersonal relationships within the lab itself. On the science side, his characters fight to use good science to right bad science, investigate strange diseases and biological attacks and handle the different interests involved through politics and the military/industrial complex were very very believable. When he was frustrated, I was frustrated! The cast as a whole were awesome but extended merit must also go to Dmitry Chepovetsky's Aspergers syndrome suffering character, Bob Melnikov. This character was inspired, heart wrenching at times and above all, informatively written and acted concerning this strange affliction. Played with relaxed assuredness by Chepovetsky with just the right amount of ticks and mannerisms, all the while giving us grounding in his scientific speciality and the way Aspergus 'sufferers' can maintain and impart vast amounts of information. Empathy is teased from you rather than wrenched, as Bobs' condition dictates and Dmitrys' acting imparts.
Yes, the show did suffer from over use of its 'scientists at work' montages (yes yes, pipettes, petri dishes, centrifuges, DNA graphs WE KNOW!) and abruptness, it's major downfall. Some seemingly potential pandemics withered at the peak of the stories dramatic climax, leaving you with a slight 'Huh? But...'. And don't get me started on the ending of season two! There were so many important plot points left like gaping small pox wounds!!! They did tackle it in an interesting way through season three, points for that, but they just left too many bits totally unanswered and at times left me thinking we'd slipped through a hole into another 'same but different' universe. I do believe some of this may have been due to the way in Maxim Roy, who played NORBACs' manager, Caroline Morrison, left the show. In the finale where we see all the past characters involved in a montage, there is not one shot of her. This leads me to believe she departed on not so good terms and left them unable to film a proper resolve of the rather good thread that had permeated the first two seasons.
Saying all that though, the way they realised the end of the show was quite brilliant and totally unexpected.
I can't recommend this show enough. There aren't many like it ( I can only think of two, Asimovs' Probe and the English gem, Doomwatch). Superb acting, great writing, totally relevant science, real human dilemmas and interaction sublimely inter weaved with the high drama of the threats of viral outbreak, bio-terrorism, genetic engineering and the problems of politics/money via big pharma and a paranoid military (The killer crows and the air force was a great poke!). Watch it, enjoy it and relish a show unlike nearly everything you've ever seen!