A Paradoxical piece of TV

Hmmmm …

I think I’m mildly — mildly — impressed.

Mildly, certainly.

I managed to miss the premier episode of new science-fiction series, Paradox, last night.

So I’m bloody grateful that the BBC’s iPlayer works on OS X.

(Ridiculous, wasn’t it? When the iPlayer was first introduced, it didn’t have full functionality, under OS X. I’m sorry, but with a name like that …)

Where was I … ?

Oh, yeah, Paradox …

As I think I’ve already said, I’m mildly impressed with Paradox.

Last night’s opener — and scene setter — sees Tamzin Outhwaite as DI Rebecca Flint sent to interview Doctor Christian King, played by Emun Elliot. Who’s received some rather disturbing pictures of the apparent bombing of a train.

That seemingly takes place some nine hours in their future.

Yes.

Nine hours.

In the future.

Something that DI Flint is — understandably — a touch sceptical about.

But, as the episode progresses, she and her team — Mark Bonnar as DS Ben Holt, and Chike Okonkwo as DC Callum Gada— find frightening clues that what’s going to happen, will happen, unless they can work rapidly enough.

And a bombing isn’t quite what they’re dealing with.

It’s a petrol tanker, with a dodgy sat-nav, a sleepy driver and a low (rail) bridge going over the tanker’s route …

•••••

Now, I’m thinking Paradox isn’t necessarily original.

Let’s face it, this kind of special forces police-team has been done, before; certainly on the big screen, by Minority Report.

That, and Knowing, certainly cover the idea of predestined fate, in a sci-fi context.

And scientist issuing dire warnings or being part of an investigative team certainly has cropped up, before now; recently, in the ITV production, Eleventh Hour, and, of course, the venerable BBC series, Doomwatch.

•••••

So I’m not thinking this is anything new.

Not yet.

But I’m thinking that this could — could — be an interesting series to catch, if handled correctly.

Lets face it, Eleventh Hour, Primeval, Demons and Robin Hood all bombed.

Here’s hoping.