American Gothic
Sep. 17th, 2003 11:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakI'm in Yoda-esque "old friends, long gone" mood. One show I loved, which never got more than a single season, was American Gothic. Considering that writing and cast were superb and the premise original, I never understood why it got cancelled. Emotionally, that is. Rationally, I suppose one obvious reason would be the complete lack of square-jawed heroes and cute sidekicks to identify with.
The main character, magnificently played by Gary Cole, was Lucas Buck, Sheriff of Trinity and possibly the devil. (My own theory about Lucas was that he was human, but not completely so.) Of course Stephen King (and others) had done the evil-Southern-Sheriff gig before, but in a hero versus villain scenario. It's a little bit more complicated in American Gothic. Lucas' opposition consists of decent-but-haunted-by-his past doctor Matt (whom he manages to drive insane), journalist Gail (whom he seduces) and Matt's replacement, Billy, who joins the show at a late point. His real opponent, however, is a girl whom he kills in the show's premiere, Merlyn; throughout the show, Lucas and Merlyn, much more powerful as a ghost than she was alive, battle it out about Merlyn's half brother and Lucas' illegitimate son, Caleb. It appears to be quite the medieval Everyman scenario, with Lucas as the devil and Merlyn as the angel on Caleb's shoulders, both trying to win him for their side… except that Caleb isn't exactly Everyboy, and Merlyn discovers a potential of ruthlessness in the name of good that in one episode borders dangerously on Jasmine of AtS fame.
Characters like Lucas' deputy Ben, who witnessed him murdering Merlyn and as a result is full of self-loathing and guilt because he can't break with Lucas (out of a mixture of fear and some genuine affection mixed with the hate), or Caleb's teacher Selena Coombs, who is Lucas' long-term mistress, get their own mini-arcs as far as character development goes in the course of that one, great season. The crucial relationship of the show, between Lucas and Caleb, is the most interesting father-son drama I saw till we got grown-up Connor and Angel, and the kid who plays Caleb is the most gifted child actor this side of Haley J. Osment. Their scenes together really spark, and when it all comes to a head in the season's finale, it takes your breath away.
We'll never get an American Gothic movie, or sequel. But I keep hoping for DVDs…
The main character, magnificently played by Gary Cole, was Lucas Buck, Sheriff of Trinity and possibly the devil. (My own theory about Lucas was that he was human, but not completely so.) Of course Stephen King (and others) had done the evil-Southern-Sheriff gig before, but in a hero versus villain scenario. It's a little bit more complicated in American Gothic. Lucas' opposition consists of decent-but-haunted-by-his past doctor Matt (whom he manages to drive insane), journalist Gail (whom he seduces) and Matt's replacement, Billy, who joins the show at a late point. His real opponent, however, is a girl whom he kills in the show's premiere, Merlyn; throughout the show, Lucas and Merlyn, much more powerful as a ghost than she was alive, battle it out about Merlyn's half brother and Lucas' illegitimate son, Caleb. It appears to be quite the medieval Everyman scenario, with Lucas as the devil and Merlyn as the angel on Caleb's shoulders, both trying to win him for their side… except that Caleb isn't exactly Everyboy, and Merlyn discovers a potential of ruthlessness in the name of good that in one episode borders dangerously on Jasmine of AtS fame.
Characters like Lucas' deputy Ben, who witnessed him murdering Merlyn and as a result is full of self-loathing and guilt because he can't break with Lucas (out of a mixture of fear and some genuine affection mixed with the hate), or Caleb's teacher Selena Coombs, who is Lucas' long-term mistress, get their own mini-arcs as far as character development goes in the course of that one, great season. The crucial relationship of the show, between Lucas and Caleb, is the most interesting father-son drama I saw till we got grown-up Connor and Angel, and the kid who plays Caleb is the most gifted child actor this side of Haley J. Osment. Their scenes together really spark, and when it all comes to a head in the season's finale, it takes your breath away.
We'll never get an American Gothic movie, or sequel. But I keep hoping for DVDs…
no subject
Date: 2003-09-17 12:45 pm (UTC)The one scene I'll never forget is Lucas in the jail with Caleb's "father" whistling the theme song from the Andy Griffith show. Eerie.
And cocky Lucas telling a reporter "that's Buck, with a B."
no subject
Date: 2003-09-17 12:54 pm (UTC)Ahhh, thank you, I had almost forgotten that line.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-17 02:43 pm (UTC)Selena's yellow corvette and her dripping candle wax on Buck. Gail's vision of the monster within her.
The photography and production design were lovely. And it was a brainchild of a Hardy boy! That kind of blew my mind, that Shaun Cassidy had a hand in it.
Shaun Cassidy...
Date: 2003-09-17 11:32 pm (UTC)Some more images from a rich treasure: Merlyn putting her hands in the river and filling it with blood (and later taking this back). Buck outside the boarding house, watching Caleb. Selena's father, the Reverend, spilling wine all over Caleb during the later's first communion. Ben and dead Merlyn dancing. Caleb chasing Gail through the house. Lucas and Caleb in the end, shot from above, after Merlyn's sacrifice.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-18 09:10 am (UTC)