If you are bored of watching the same old weepy saas-bahu joint family soap operas which leave you mentally drained out then it would be a good idea to switch on to AXN and watch Pacific Blue on Tuesdays 9.00 pm.
Pacific Blue stars Jim Davidson, Paula Trickey, Shanna Moakler, Mario Lopez (no relation to Jennifer!)and a host of not so well known actors. It’s a serial on cops who patrol the streets on bikes....no not motor bikes but cycles. How can cops catch criminals riding on bikes?? That was the question that came to my mind too but its a serial set in Santa Monica and on Venice beach.Once you see the serial you realise that it does make sense to have cops on bikes because it’s easier to chase criminals on bikes when they are running through small by-lanes of the town.
Now each episode has a different story and there is atleast one sub-plot which runs along with the main plot. Generally the sub-plot involves human relationships and complexities in their relationships. The main plot, of course deals with catching a criminal and that means there are lots of bike chases, fights and scuffles. So in about 45 minutes you get to see good action, thrills and some pretty good emotional content too. Of course the basic premise is good triumphs over evil and the criminals are always caught in the end but many times I have noticed that the climax does come to a very fast end. Nothing wrong with that except that for 45 minutes the serial shows the tension building between the cops and crooks. Sometimes, the pre-climax levels are built up pretty well but somehow the climax tends to come to an end pretty soon leaving you feeling a little cheated of the action. The sub-plots are pretty interesting too dealing with problems of teenagers, marital difficulties, drugs and relationships. Unlike our soaps the problems are sorted out in just one episode of 45 minutes and thats the charm of the serial. It does’nt keep dragging on and on and issues are settled once and for all and a entirely new episode begins the next week.
Technically the show is pretty accomplished like all other hollywood TV shows. The production values are superb and the huge amount of money spent on making the serial shows in the form of the slick action and production values. The chases and action scenes are very well photographed and executed and the background music adds to the effects. Well produced but the direction sometimes does’nt manage to hold your attention for the entire 45 minute duration. The scripting is pretty simple and there are’nt many twists and turns in the show. Each episode follows the pattern of cops on the trail of crooks and how they catch them and a sub-plot where two or more individuals go through some crisis in their life and how they get over their problems and in the process become better and stronger human beings.
The cast of the show consists of some very good looking actors and actresses who are quite good in the acting department. of course the simple script does’nt demand too much in terms of performance from the actors but still they deliver quite decent performances.Jim Davidson and Mario Lopez do their jobs efficiently and look good too.The stand out in the show according to me is Paula Trickey. Not only does she act well but she also looks smashing in the show. Of course she has a hour glass figure to boot but then all the actors have good physiques in the show.Shanna Maokler comes a close second to Paula with a good performance and pretty looks. The women in this show, I feel have better parts and they overshadow their male counterparts too.
Pacific Blue is a light entertainer and if you are bored of the weepy family dramas on hindi channels then tune into AXN on tuesdays at 9.00pm and watch this show.