Coming Home. Spoiler Free Advance Review: Resurrection - “The Returned”

Season 1, Episode 1

Air Date: Sunday, March 9, 2014, 9/8c on ABC

Rating: ★★★★★

Landon Gimenez and Devin Kelly

Young Jacob (Landon Gimenez) wakes up in the middle of a field in a small village in China with no idea of how he got there. Immigration Agent Martin Bellamy (Omar Epps) is tasked with the job of finding out who Jacob’s parents are. Bellamy finally gets the 8-year-old boy to open up and tell him where he lives. When they arrive at the home of Henry (Kurtwood Smith) and Lucille Garland (Frances Fisher), Bellamy informs Henry he has found his son. There’s only one problem — Jacob has been dead for 32 years.

Originally titled Forever, I admit to having no interest in watching Resurrection. I am not a big supernatural, science fiction, or fantasy guy. I never got into shows like Supernatural, Under the Dome, or even Lost. So when I heard about Resurrection, which is based on Jason Mott’s novel The Returned, I simply had no desire to watch it.

When the promos began, featuring the song “Coming Home” sung by Skylar Gray, I admit I started to get curious. Since the previews are extremely vague as to what Resurrection is about, other than people who should be dead mysteriously show up in the town of Arcadia, Missouri, I realized I wanted to know more.

FRANCES FISHER, OMAR EPPS, KURTWOOD SMITH

Frances Fisher, Omar Epps and Kurtwood Smith

What hooked me is the scene that plays out in almost every promo where Bellamy shows up at Henry’s door saying he found Jacob. Henry explains his son is dead but then notices Jacob hiding behind the fence. Jacob shouts, “What’s red and green and goes a million miles per hour?” Without even thinking about it, as if he had done it a thousand times before, Henry responds, “Frog in a blender.”

What makes that moment so powerful is the look on Henry’s face; saying the answer to the riddle brings back a flood of memories about his deceased son and in a split second, his look turns from quizzical to pure shock wondering whether, against all odds, this could be his son. I knew then that I was sold, at least as far as the pilot is concerned, which is appropriately titled “The Returned.”

OMAR EPPS, FRANCES FISHER, KURTWOOD SMITH, DEVIN KELLEY

Omar Epps, Frances Fisher, Kurtwood Smith and Devin Kelley

“The Returned” focuses on Jacob’s return and while we are never given the how or why, we do learn Jacob isn’t the only dead person returning to Arcadia. The lingering question is what is Resurrection? Some have questioned whether it is a spiritual message while others have questioned if it is more science fiction. ABC lists the series as a “fantasy drama.” Resurrection reminds me of the 1986 Disney film, Flight of the Navigator, during which a young David Freeman (Joey Cramer) is knocked unconscious and wakes up only to find out it is eight years later. Turns out an alien craft had taken him and returned him to the exact same spot years later. I am not saying that is what happens in Resurrection; I am only relating what the new series is reminiscent of.

The storyline of “The Returned” has several holes and you have to leave logic at the door before watching Resurrection. The very premise of the pilot is difficult to believe but the underlying story is so beautifully written and acted, it captured my imagination, making me willing to look past it and simply enjoy the ride.

Landon Gimenez and Frances Fisher

I am not a spiritual person and to be honest, even after seeing the series premiere, I have no clue how to describe Resurrection. Part of me can’t wait to find out where the writers take the story, while the other part of me is afraid to see more, especially if aliens suddenly come down from the sky.

Resurrection is a heartfelt series that is worth checking out, particularly to see what direction the writers take the show. Only time will tell whether they will be able to keep it at the level of “The Returned.”

Tune in to the series premiere of Resurrection on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 9/8c, only on ABC.

For more information on Resurrection, visit the official website.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.