Waoh, now this is MY kind of television show. First, I like knowing "Day Break" has an ending in sight (unlike "Invasion") and it won't get cancelled. Unlike Lost, all the questions will be answered by the end of the season. It is not slow. It has a skosh of "science fiction." It has plenty of action. And best of all, I only have to commit to 12 weeks of watching it.
(And as far as I can tell, the show's title is 2 words Day and Break, not one, Daybreak)
Of course, you have either heard the concept of "Day Break" compared to "Groundhog Day" or you have noticed the similarity yourself. OK, now it is time to get over that. "Groundhog Day" is to "Daybreak" what "Gilligan's Island" is to "Lost."
I won't call this a flawless show, or even the best show ever. But it delivers on the elements that made me enjoy shows like "The X-Files" "24" and the short-lived "Invasion" (not to mention the Harrison Ford movie "The Fugitive").
I had always heard that Taye Diggs was an excellent actor, but none of his television shows were ever on long enough for me to watch them. That changed last night on "Day Break." There are a few moments where he seems to have not found his character (the interrogation room) but for the rest of the show, I bought into his Brett Hooper character. All credit goes to Diggs. If he couldn't convince us that this day was happening over and over, then the whole show is for nothing. He does it, and well.
Detective Hopper is re-living the same day over and over. He has been framed for a murder he did not commit and the baddies are after him and everyone he loves. He doesn't know why this is happening. I really don't want to explain the concept further, I think anyone can learn what they need to know on the ABC "Day Break" website.
The first part of the show moves a little slow, but not in a way that is out of place. I noticed the show did not spend a lot of time on character development. In the first 20 minutes we meet his partner Andrea, his ex-partner Chad, Hopper's sister Jennifer, the girlfriend Rita and several mysterious baddies.What? Who are these people! The reason the show doesn't spend a lot of time telling you about these characters is because the writers know that they can develop each character a little more each time Hopper's day starts again. Clever!
Once we pass the 20 minute mark, this show just plows ahead and never stops.Action and mysteries are everywhere. Hopper is no Jack Bauer, but in just the 1st two episodes he's beaten up, thrown off a building, hospitalized, shot twice and nearly bleeds to death. Look out Jack!
I hate to say it, but watching Day Break made me realize how horribly slow Lost has become this season.
If you watch, be sure to leave a comment. I would love to hear what you think.
As for me, it works and I am sticking with it. This should be fun (and I need some of that these days....)