USA Networks’
Dead Zone returned with tragic consequences as a major force of good, and a major force of evil, both departed the hit show in its sixth season.
Changes to the
Dead Zone's casting were foreshadowed last year when producers admitted they were convinced that the series would not get another season, thus allowing many of
Dead Zone’s stars to begin shopping for work.
Your Take
Ce3b Jaw said:
dude...sarah is depressed...she lost her husband... shes not in her complete senses to deal with things rig...
Spenser Adams said:
The new Season absolutly stinks. The pace of the show has taken a snails pace and the direction is absolutl...
yvonne said:
I think you confused a few things. Bruce took the job offer and Purdy is gone for now, since he can't live ...
As far as a general sense of place, the episode finds the characters at a critical moment in the over-arcing plot. Stillson is now vice president, with the help of Michael Janus, but Purdy (David Ogden Stiers) is determined to redeem himself and his church. Meanwhile, Johnny (Anthony Michael Hall) has visions of a wake for Walt (Chris Bruno). All the while, Bruce (John L. Adams) weighs a job offer that would take him out of range as well.
The episode moved along quite well, showing a maturity in the suspense that can be a little tenuous when you have a lead character who can see the future. Ultimately, Walt does die in a fire at a church. It turns out that Purdy inadvertently caused this when he told Janus that he was cutting ties with Stillson and pushed Janus over impaling on a candleholder.
With his handy psychic powers in tow, Johnny was able to deliver one last message to Sarah from Walt who seemed to know that Johnny would be having a vision of the incident at some point.
When Johnny shakes Stillson’s hand, reluctantly, at Walt’s wake he sees a future that depicts a peaceful Washington DC. It seems, for now, that the apocalypse has been averted; a fact which Johnny feels unshackles Bruce, who as Johnny’s sole confident in the Apocalypse feels a responsibility to stay. Phew, thought we lost Bruce for a second too.
Since Dead Zone, by all estimations, squeaked into a sixth season, it is surprising to see it beginning with a sense of hopefulness as far as the Armageddon plot is concerned. I anticipated the show to begin tightening up to that subplot leading up to a potential season finale, but there are still ten episodes to go, so only time will tell. For now, it looks like Sarah, Bruce, and Purdy will be sticking around. It’s truly sad to see Chris Bruno go, not only because he was terrific as Sheriff Walt Bannerman, but also because he directed, by my estimation, the best episode ever made of Dead Zone, “Independence Day.”
Overall it was effective and encouraging return for the Dead Zone, even if it was at the expense of a beloved character. Next week brings a new Sheriff to town, Anna Turner, who looks to be more of an antagonist for Johnny. Can you say love interest?
- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Copyright 2007 USANetwork)