Television’s winter premiere season is officially here! We’re currently down to the very last of the new shows premiering this TV season, but Amber West and I still have our work cut out for us. And we have had so much fun these past few weeks posting dual reviews, we’ve decided to do it again! Will Amber and I agree or disagree after watching the CW’s new drama, Cult?
Who was sad when The Vampire Diaries killed Alaric at the end of last season? I know I was. Of course, even though Alaric is technically dead, we have seen him a few times this season as a ghost, hovering around his buddy Damon… but maybe not for much longer.
Why? Because the CW has given Matt Davis (TVD‘s Alaric) a new television series—Cult.
Basically, Cult is a CW show about a CW show within a CW show. Is anyone lost yet? Don’t worry; the pilot episode is just about as confusing, but it gets better.
Cult follows journalist Jeff Sefton (Davis) as he investigates the disappearance of his brother. His brother had rambled on and on to Jeff about how one of his favorite TV shows—a show about the cat and mouse game between a cult’s leader and his ex-lover/detective chasing him—was out to get him, but Jeff wrote it off as paranoia. TV shows don’t come after people, right? But when his brother goes missing, Jeff learns that the television series (also titled “Cult”) his brother talked about does indeed have a rabid fan base who might just be committing the crimes as shown on the series.
Jeff is not alone… working alongside him, and hoping to unravel the secrets behind the “Cult” TV show and its fan base, is Skye Yarrow (Jessica Lucas, Melrose Place and Cloverfield). Skye works as a production assistant for “Cult”; but like Jeff, she thinks something just isn’t quite right about the television series, the fans, or its creator/writer… which is why she accepted the position on the production staff to do research for the show in the first place—to investigate.
They can’t trust the police; the lead investigator into Jeff’s brother’s disappearance has the “Cult” symbol tattooed on her inner wrist. Additionally, anyone they find to question about the TV show or Jeff’s brother either kills themselves or talks in circles, not making much sense. And if that’s not bad enough, we, the viewers know that Jeff and Skye need to be very careful during this investigation because anyone who supports or suggests change to the writer’s direction (script/character development) or the fan base finds themselves at the mercy of the “Cult” cult members and/or its tribal leaders.
Clues keep falling into place, leading Jeff and Skye to fear the worst—something sinister is definitely going on surrounding the show and its fans. First, there’s a disc that, when uploaded, releases all of the user’s personal information to “Cult.” Skye claims this is harmless and just a fun tactic in order for the character of Billy to thank the show’s fans by sending them a video message saying, “You’re next.”
Secondly, there are the 3-D glasses that allow the user to see beyond what’s visible to the human eye, revealing puzzles, symbols, computer codes, and other patterns. There’s also the mysterious gold coin (we’re not sure of the danger associated with it yet) and the car… the car that also happens to be around off the set as well, especially where the mysterious “real-life” crimes are taking place.
All of these items not only have meaning within the TV show within the show, making them all popular series souvenirs for the “Cult” fans, but also in the “real” world—the world where Jeff and Skye live. Somehow and someway, these items will reveal the answers, but will Jeff and Skye figure it all out before it’s too late?
Because of the unique premise of a show about a show within a show, Cult has some very witty dialogue about what TV programs need to do today in order to be successful. I like that. And speaking of dialogue, there is a super-creepy message all of the characters repeat just before dying (both on the show and in the show on the show):
What the heck does that mean? What does it mean? Anyone? Anyone?
As with any new show, sometimes the casting helps to attract viewers. In addition to Matt Davis and Jessica Lucas, the new CW series also stars: Alona Tal (Cane and Supernatural) as Marti, an actress playing Kelly on “Cult”—a former member of the cult and ex-lover of the leader; Roger Knepper (Heroes and Prison Break) as Roger Reeves, an actor playing Billy Grimm on “Cult”—the leader of the cult; and a few some might recognize in recurring roles from the teen television series The Inbetweeners (Marie Avgeropoulos) and Degrassi: The Next Generation (Stacey Farber and Ben Hollingsworth).
So how does Cult rank? I’ve been anxiously awaiting this new series, and while the pilot episode confused me more than anything else, the second episode redeemed itself. Not to mention, I need to know more; I must know more. Therefore, I’m giving the new CW series the JFTV rating. There’s really nothing about the show that is all that beneficial to us, kind of like that bag of greasy potato chips we continuously dig into, but it sucks us in… like a cult.
Oh, and the CW recently moved Cult from its Tuesday night slot to Fridays… maybe that was the plan all along, or maybe this is the kiss of death. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
What do you think? Have you watched Cult? I’d love to hear from you!
Now click over to Amber’s blog and see what she thinks about the new CW series. Did we agree or disagree? Trust me; we usually have very different tastes in our television viewing pleasure….
Come back next week when Amber and I review something…
Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.
A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV):It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (NyQuil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech
Inedible TV: Exactly how it sounds…
Tiffany A White's Ooo Factor 
I can’t wait for this to start over here. It sounds really different, and it has Matt Davis in it, a big plus.
I agree, Emma! Matt Davis is a BIG plus. Plus the concept is so interesting… when does it start over there?
I haven’t seen it advertised, so it could be a while yet.
I’ve never even heard of this show! It sounds like something I’d like, though a bit confusing. But I tend to like being confused 😀 I wonder if I’ll get a chance to check it out before they cancel it. The way they’ve been going lately, I’m afraid to watch anything new. I don’t want to like it and have it ripped away after 2 or 3 episodes.
Hey, Melinda!
I think you’re pretty safe to check this one out before it’s cancelled… if it’s cancelled. I like the CW, and one reason why I like it is because the network seems to give their programs more of a chance than the “basic” cable networks do (ABC, Fox, CBS, and NBC). The CW doesn’t see the same “numbers” that the other channels do, so they tend to ride shows out a bit longer. Now, they may cancel it at the end of the season like they did Ringer and The Secret Circle last year, but very rarely do they “kill” a show before it has a chance. I say rarely because the CW did cancel Emily Owens, MD this year after not many episodes…
“Well, hey, these things just snap right off” is from a Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson. Two bears realized their muzzles snap off before they attack their trainer. Cool no?
John, Thank You!! I had no idea… and that is pretty cool! It really leads me to wonder what the series has in store for us if these followers would rather kill themselves than attack their leader, knowing now about the saying’s origin.
I tried to watch one episode and I couldn’t really get into it. And I wanted to like it! I don’t know about this one.
I wasn’t sure about Cult after watching the pilot either, Jess. I wanted to like it so much… being it’s on the CW, stars Alaric (I mean, Matt Davis), and seems very twisted… but the pilot threw me. The second episode was much easier to follow and to understand though, and I’m really looking forward to the next episode this Friday night.
I’m still not sure if I would like this one. I probably would, so it might have to be watched later.
Watching later is better than never, unless we’re talking about one of the basic networks who like to cancel shows after two and three episodes… LOL. Sorry, I’m still bitter about ABC cancelling Zero Hour already.
Thanks for stopping by, Lauralynn.
Love the show. That being said with the crapstorm I’ve been dealing with lately they’ll cancel the show right after I press the Post Comment button.
Hahaha, Tom. I feel your pain. Luckily this is the CW, so hopefully they won’t cancel… They tend to give their shows more of a chance.
I think this one is too creepy for me… I really like your reviews!
It is kinda creepy, Diana, but it’s not very gory… at least not yet. I’m excited for a new episode tonight to see if it continues to impress me. The second episode redeemed the show for me. I was really looking forward to it and then the pilot threw me.
And thank you so much! Your kindness is very much appreciated. 🙂