Brimstone (1998–1999) User Reviews

Another "good one" that got the axe....Brimstone (1999)

[CDRDerek · 8/10 · 4 January 2009]

SPOILERS I haven't thought about this in awhile and although it's not about sci-fi (my passion), it's genre is toward the fantasy/religio-paranormal/horror direction from center - as speculative fiction goes. Definitely not as popular, maybe as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", or as fanciful as "The Dresden Files", although I don't know why. The show isn't at all preachy, either. This is another one of those shows that was canceled after the first season like "FireFly" and "Tru Calling".

The premise of the show was a cop drama, but with a hellish backstory. Ezekiel Stone was a decorated New York detective whose wife was sexually attacked. He found the person who did it and took the law into his own hands. Zeke himself died shortly afterwards, and went to Hell. Hell had a security breach and 113 of the "really bad" damned souls escaped to the living world, where many want to continue sinning as they had in their lifetimes. The Devil assigned newly arrived Detective Stone to go up into the world and catch these souls and bring them all back one at a time. If he succeeds, he'll be returned to life for a second chance at life and redemption. The Prince of Lies continually watches Zeke's progress and refreshes his motivation with threats of replacement and eternal damnation. Zeke's still in Hell, after all - just on a sort of "work release" program.

The show is dark, many scenes are at night, and it is light on special effects. The strength is the story and the acting of the three major characters.

Devil - (John Glover). Now here's an actor we love to hate. A more smarmy, and wisecracking Lord of the Damned you'll never find, but with an air of superiority and palpable menace behind the grinning eyes.

Detective Ezekiel Stone - (Peter Horton). A basically good person who was pushed over the edge and will forever suffer for it. This man is dogged, thorough and a little rough around the edges, but resigned to what his only job is in the world. Not overly intelligent and he has no special powers to do his task, but he is diligent and believes in what he's doing. He was tattooed with archaic runes and symbols - one for each of the souls he hunts. Each time he dispatches one, a tattoo goes away. Another part of his personal hell is that his wife is still alive and he sees her often, though she doesn't recognize him and he still, uh, "burns" for her. There is great chemistry on screen between this character and the Devil.

Detective Ash (Teri Polo) Smart, streetwise and sexy, this LAPD detective is seemingly forever in Zeke's face and always wanting to know what he's up to and why he always seems to be involved in strange murder cases around L.A. After a many episodes and a lot of great lines (and some sexy sparks between her and Zeke), we find out that SHE is one of the souls he hunts and has been watching and learning about Zeke for a long time, determining a way to beat him and cheat the Devil.

Brimstone: clever, thoughtful, visual and articulate. A masterpiece.

[cirqus-2 · 9/10 · 13 February 2007]

Brimstone was a great show. It had a wonderful premise which would have conjured all manner of clever story lines and a wonderfully spicy sense of humour, had the show been allowed to continue. Unfortunately this only received the one showing here in the UK and so I can't recall in too greater detail the nuances of the show - but I do remember the look of it being absolutely revolutionary for TV. The photography was exceptional and I believe they would knock out the 'red' with the use of filters to better convey the premise. On the whole I think this was just far too dark and challenging for the ordinary viewer. As the show went on it did appear to 'soften' on some of it's harder ideas which was a shame as many of the notions kicked up could really have you philosophising over it's central characters predicaments.

Peter Horton who played the part of Ezekiel Stone was tremendously worn and rough looking as the reanimated ex-cop who reluctantly undertook his task of retrieving 113 escaped souls from Hell - his punishment for having killed the man who raped his wife, and thus banishing himself to hell. A task set him by the ever brilliant and ever improving John Glover, who played the role of the Devil with such delicious glee, you wish it could result in a spin-off show for this character alone. What a thought!

The two actors together at the shows start was always a treat - as the banter between them was wonderfully written and ever so dry. Often laced with biblical referencing and oneupmanship. Thereafter all the regular supporting cast was strong and seemingly very engaged within the premise. From Teri Polo to Lori Petty. It is just such a shame that shows like this that actually have you thinking as you watch and for a long time after, are so rarely taken beyond the initial season.

I'd recommend this show above and beyond many on TV today. It was clever, thoughtful, visual and articulate.

Bad Choices Doomed Series

[Johnny_West · 9/10 · 19 December 2023]

After the first few episodes of this TV series, it seemed like every episode was mostly about how much Detective Stone missed his wife, and how much he wanted to see her again. The last few episodes were incredibly syrupy, sappy, and boring. About 40% had anything to do with supernatural adventure.

In every episode, Stone hesitates to shoot the eyes of the demon, and in every episode, the demon gets away free at least once. Stone does not look like a tough detective, or anyone that has a burning interest to get a second chance at life. Stone (Peter Horton) is mostly boring to watch. Horton looks like someone that would play a social worker or probation officer.

As a detective, Stone is not much. Everyone seems to get ahead of him, and some of his wins are by accident or freak luck. That is OK sometimes, but not when the lead character looks overmatched mostly because he is dumb and because he is not sure if he should be killing demons or letting them go. Horton should have been a very motivated guy, but he is mostly a big jerk when talking to John Glover (the devil).

John Glover acts rings around Peter Horton. When this show originally aired, I only watched for the few minutes where Glover would show up to engage Horton in some verbal sparring. Glover always had the best lines and delivered them with zest. Horton always acts like he is coming out of a coma.

I have the DVD set, and I fast forward through all of Horton's whiny miserable memories of his wife/widow, and all his boring investigations where he asks people random questions and nobody really gives him any good answers. It is just sad to watch him play detective. Besides John Glover, the few action scenes in every episode are usually fun to watch.

I liked Albert Hall as the priest (4 episodes), but he was never used effectively. Stone usually blew off the priest and treated him like crap. Teri Polo as the detective who liked Stone should have been a great recurring character, but they turned her into an evil demon, after building her up as Stone's friend. Lori Petty, who was in the last half of the series, playing her trademark role as the crazy pal. This show could have been great, but it made a lot of bad choices.

Another lost treasure

[BloodyEd · 6 May 1999]

Discerning television viewers will agree that really good shows are few and far between. Sure there's enough fast food around to keep our jaws working, but eventually we all long for a wholesome, home-cooked meal. And few things rival the satisfaction of sitting down to such a meal. Brimstone is one show that delivers this kind of satisfaction. Just when I had become used to the fast-track glitz and shallow humour of late 90's TV, Brimstone comes along and opens my eyes. It is an extremely enjoyable series. It's dark, grim, sad, but very intelligent, and often very funny. The razor-sharp innuendoes are the wittiest I've come across in a long time. The story is captivating. The dark blue shining in almost every scene is eerie, and sets the mood just right. To top it all off, we have a deliciously enjoyable bad guy (the Devil, played by John Glover), and interesting episodal villains. But, for me, who steals the show is Peter Horton. He plays the taciturn, unwilling hero so convincingly and honestly that he became a favourite of mine right from the first episode. He is MARVELLOUS. But, sadly, this gem is another scalp on the belt of the Network Butchers. The network that cancelled Brimstone have proven again that they have NO idea what quality viewing is. Their complete disregard for innovation and originality propels them into a new realm of ignorance. You will always be followers FOX, because, perhaps, you were never destined to lead. I mourn for Brimstone.

Talk about Brilliant But Cancelled!!!

[DarkHawke · 10/10 · 28 April 2006]

This was a knockout series on just about every level, from its singular look, to the writing, to the directing, and most especially to the acting! I had heard of Peter Horton previous to Brimstone only in relation to the yuppie self-indulgence fest known as Thirtysomething, which by no means recommended him highly to me. Turns out I had NOTHING to worry about. He gives Zeke Stone a note-perfect mix of soulful anguish and world-weariness, and he can still find the occasional light moment in his Purgatory on Earth. Make no mistake, though, this is a deep, dark show that deals with fundamental questions of right and wrong, Heaven and Hell. In fact, I'd recommend it to any devout Christians as a fantastic morality play. The line between light and dark is often obscured and who really deserves to go to Hell is pretty much the question each episode, but that's what made it such a compelling program. Can't finish without lauding John Glover's tour de force performance as the Devil himself. You might find yourself grudgingly liking this version of the Prince of Lies, even when he screws over Stone almost every chance he gets! I can't recommend this show highly enough, and I'm DYING to see this get to DVD! Anyone know who and how to lobby to get it?

A Real Gem of a Show.

[KoshNaranek · 10/10 · 10 August 2003]

Every so often, I re-watch my Brimstone tapes (of the Sci-Fi airings, since I didn't even know it existed when it was on FOX), and am amazed at just how good a show this is. It had a great pilot, great acting and excellent dialogue, and the cast had great chemistry together. In fact, I like every single aspect of this show (*including* Lori Petty). It's just too bad that it started out on FOX, especially FOX on Friday night.

Maybe if we're lucky, one day, Warner Home Video will release it on DVD. Then, maybe I'll be able to see "Ashes" without the pixilation glitch that's in Sci-Fi's copy, and without the damn Sci-Fi popup ads., bugs, and squashed credits with voice-overs, and more people will be exposed to this fine show. With my luck though, Warners will have improperly stored the film, and it'll have the uncorrected film defects problems seen on their Babylon 5 DVDs (all of which I'm buying, BTW, if only for the extras).

It's too bad Warners doesn't treat their shows better, and make their Season Sets as showpieces. That's what I'd want my Babylon 5, Crusade and Brimstone season sets to be, showpieces that would blow people's socks off.

KoshN

"I'm a Satanist, that's God's plan for me"

[afnaste · 10/10 · 15 May 2003]

This show was really quite amazing, I wonder if the moral majority had a hand in its premature cancellation, or if it was just too cerebral for most viewers like British series The Prisoner was. Brimstone had a very different take on the eternal war involving heaven, hell and earth. The Devil has no power on earth, so he sends a guy who's only been dead for 15 years, to hunt down 113 other dead people, some truly despicable, some just vengeful victims, some of whom have been dead for millenia and are way more powerful than Stone is, one of the oldest seems to be a shapeshifter and the Devil's lover! Destroying the eyes will send a damned soul back to hell, whether it's an escapee, the Devil, or a damned car (headlights). A trivia stab at Friday the 13th The Series maybe? I also like how Stone is covered with 113 tattoos of all the escaped damned souls, and when he returns one to hell the tattoo dissolving away hurts him physically, kinda like the pain of the absorbing another's Quickening in Highlander. How Stone wakes up every day with the same amount of money in his pocket, or another damned wakes up with a full flask of liquor, was a nice touch. And the Devil really seemed not powerful and not knowledgeable, like the escape of the 113 had never even been imagined before, this escapee roundup was something totally new in the Brimstone universe. Having 2 main characters named Ash and Stone, nice.

Still hopeful after all these years ...

[paoguy · 10/10 · 5 October 2005]

Seeing "Firefly" resurrected into "Serenity," gave me hope that perhaps one day this show will return in some form. "Brimstone" is one of my favorite shows of all time and I watch it on my old DVD tapes as often as I can.

I will never be able to figure out TV executives. This show is truly one of those foul ups that I often cite when talking about the stupid programming moves being made over the years.

I hope someone at some point in time will resurrect this show and finish Zeke Stone's quest. The first step would be making the show available on DVD. I believe it's sales would show that there is indeed a market out there for this outstanding show.

Long live Brimstone!

""Brimstone" is rough edged, smooth, original and clever- a burning 10."- Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films 1998"

[marksnakehandler · 10/10 · 5 April 2007]

"Brimstone is a burning 10."

I thought this series, as short lived as it was, is a 'gem within a gem'. It was a highly stylized drama/ fantasy flick. Hats off to the cast as they all played their parts well. Too bad audiences didn't take to the shows and "Brimstone" got canceled- I guess audiences don't have taste. Some silly blooper show was put in its place and I was fuming when I found that out.

Mainstream audiences unfortunately aren't interested in surreal and complex thrillers like "Brimstone". They want something they can understand and identify with which I, as a director, don't care much for unless I'm in the mood to take them by the hand and explain things they can identify.

Each writer has a sense of style and this can be seen in "Brimstone". There is of course the corny humor in the show which just that- corny. The seriousness of the characters is magnificent and well spun up.

But, the mainstream audiences didn't go for it. This is why I shoot movies for myself and not them. Like my films, "Brimstone" is an acquired taste and develops a cult following much like "Spike Of Love", "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me" or "Gross Total".

"Brimstone" should have been given a fair chance.

Tom Millan "Kindred Gem Films Corp 1998".

Another Show Gone

[[e-mail] · 8/10 · 1 October 2002]

Here we have a show that was good that was "rewarded" by being cancelled, one word- Why? Good story, good effects, and good actors What more do they want out of a TV series!

Great show!

[Raine-8 · 7/10 · 29 May 1999]

This is a great show,but was cancelled before its time,naturally.I especially love Ezekiel getting acquainted with life in the Nineties,like him asking about the NFL's Baltimore Ravens playing the Carolina Panthers.He's totally surprised to hear such names.

Could have been a contender

[safenoe · 8/10 · 14 September 2021]

Brimstone was a show that could have been a contender. Sad it lasted only 13 or so episodes, and it's one of those, "What if.." questions. What if the network gave Brimstone more room to grow or develop a fan base? The episode dealt with life and death and morality, and the meaning of restitution and redemption.

Stalking souls

[ctomvelu1 · 7/10 · 19 August 2009]

Veteran TV actor Peter Horton plays a detective returned from the dead who must track down certain souls for the devil, played by the wonderfully droll John Glover. Horton is a reluctant anti-hero. This supernatural show was only on the air for a very short time, unfortunately. Spedial effects are minimal, and that is just as well as the show is strongly focused on the very appealing Horton. Fans of SUPERNATURAL would certainly appreciate it. In a way, BRIMSTONE reminds me of FALLEN with Denzel Washington, and I have forgotten which came first (probably this show). Watch for it. I just caught up with it again on CHILLER.

Mostly cringe-worthy trash, unfortunately

[TonyCamonte84 · 4/10 · 6 March 2014]

Somebody recommended 'Brimstone' to me. Unfortunately I can't remember who, otherwise I would go back to ask him what the hell he was thinking. The show about a cop who went to hell, but got back on earth to catch 113 escapees from hell, is quite dreadful. It is trashy with awful cinematography, typical trashy overused 90s soundtrack and terrible special effects. It's not really well-written, and a very formulaic episodic monster-of-the-week type show.

Add to that a lot of rather bad actors and a so-and-so supernatural story, and what you get is a run-of-the-mill episodic TV show that can serve as a guilty pleasure, if you are able to tolerate a high amount of cringing and a heap of gaping plot holes. Every "twist" can be seen miles ahead, the characters are superficial at best, and still the show feels the need to spell out every single thing to the viewers, completely insulting their intelligence. If it was a movie it would star Michael Dudikoff.

This is one of the best shows on TV. Don't miss it if it comes back again.

[Don-121 · 12 April 1999]

Brimstone is (was) one of the best shows on TV. I only got a chance to catch the rerun of a few episodes in March. If FOX ever attempted to market this show, I missed it. I only found it by chance. It only took a few minutes to see that this show was different. OK, so maybe I never got through much of Milton, but I loved the universal themes of good and evil and how it's difficult sometimes to tell them apart. The creators of this series pick up on the basic premise of fallen angels and marry it to a slick detective series. The mix makes for some great moments, both funny and remorseful. This show should have been given more of a chance to build an audience before they pulled the plug.

A fun show, with lots of spirit! (See what I did there?)

[ILuvTVMovies · 7/10 · 5 December 2022]

I recently found Brimstone while looking for shows from the 90s that might have been overlooked and boy was I pleased! It was exactly what I was looking for: That 90s (pre-woke) feel, different mysteries and puzzles to solve with each episode as opposed to a single, season long plot and elements of the supernatural.

If I had to pick one thing I disliked, it would be the scenes with Lori Petty. I don't know what kind of character she was going for, but the ridiculous accent and mannerisms were completely off-putting.

She was apparently the "it girl" for a brief period of time during the 90s and decided to resort to over the top scenery chewing and phony voice affectations to try and steal the scenes. Fortunately, she's only in a few episodes so she isn't a drag on the show too much.

But overall the show is a lot of fun with great atmosphere. If you see it around, check it out!

Too bad it was canceled

[Asteri-Atypical · 1 November 2001]

It's too bad this show didn't live long enough for people to discover it.

At first glance, it seems just like another stupid fantasy show. However it's not like others of its ilk. It was well written and entertaining. Not the typical mind-numbing fare which is TV today.

Enjoy the reruns. It's a show which should have another shot but I doubt it will get the chance. If it did, it's unlikely the studios wouldn't destroy it in the next incarnation.

Could and should have been bigger than "X-Files"

[Big S-2 · 6 April 2002]

TV executives are a strange breed. They often commission a series and order a certain number of episodes from the producers. They will then proceed NOT to publicise or market said series, before either scheduling it in a prime-time slot opposite an established runner on a competing channel, or consigning it to a late-night "graveyard" slot to be screened when the world is sleeping. They will then hold up their hands in dismay and wonder why on earth their hoped-for viewing figures have failed to materialise, before abruptly cancelling the show half-way through its planned first season before it has even had a chance to build up an audience base. Such a fate almost befell the now massively popular and seemingly never-ending `X-Files', and alas DID befall the wonderful and innovative `Brimstone' which I believe would have become a huge hit if only it had been given a fair chance. This is particularly galling in view of the utter dross that DOES get renewed season after season – the singularly awful `Friends' and the massively overrated `Quantum Leap' springing immediately to mind here. The basic premise of `Brimstone' is as follows: In 1983, a New York cop, Zeke Stone, takes the law into his own hands and kills his wife's rapist. Soon afterwards he is killed in the line of duty. Because of this one `evil deed' in an otherwise good life, his soul is sent to Hell. Fifteen years later, the Devil returns him to Earth to hunt down `113 of the most vile creatures' – other damned souls who have broken out of Hell and have returned to Earth to sow more evil. The deal is that if Zeke can round up all 113 of the Devil's `wayward children', he gets a second chance at life on Earth as a normal mortal. Outwardly Zeke looks like a normal living man, and he can eat, drink, sleep and feel all human emotions. Yet he is – like the damned souls he is hunting – a `walking dead man' and cannot be hurt except by another damned soul. And the only way for Zeke to return a damned soul to Hell is to get up close and personal and take out their eyes (the `windows to the soul'). Clearly, by giving Zeke so many damned souls to hunt down (he basically rounds up one per episode), it seems that the original intention was for the show to run for 5 or 6 seasons. As it was, it managed to run for just half a season (a total of only 13 episodes) before the Men in Grey Suits at Fox pulled the plug. Unfortunately the final episode of `Brimstone' (which of course was never meant to be the final episode) was a massive anti-climax – Zeke didn't even manage to send that week's damned soul back Downstairs – and the viewer is left with a feeling of the story being left hanging in mid-air. Which unfortunately it was. Series cancelled prematurely just as an ongoing story sub-plot was getting established. The casting of Peter Horton as Zeke Stone and John Glover as The Devil was nothing short of inspired. Horton gives a superb performance as the shabby and down-at-heel detective Stone, with Glover's whimsical, humorous yet obviously `evil' Devil stealing every scene he's in. The interplay between the two leads is an absolute joy to watch, with Zeke simply wanting The Devil to leave him in peace to get on with the job of hunting down the wayward souls, and The Devil constantly popping up at inopportune moments to chide, tease and sometimes threaten the harrassed detective. Lori Petty also does a semi-regular turn as the manager of the run-down hotel that Zeke uses as his base. The show's overall look and feel is dark, gothic and not a little spooky, much of the camerawork being shadowy and brooding, giving the whole thing a very eery atmosphere indeed. The Devil's humour is likewise quite dark, and in keeping with the show, it never degenerates into silly comedy. One can only wonder about what other evil souls Stone would have had to round up in subsequent adventures, had the series been given a fair crack of the whip. As it was, we saw him round up and send back to Hell such adversaries as a Carthaginian general, a sexy but deadly 1920s plague carrier, a beautiful Medieval French temptress who sets her suitors on fire, a former SS concentration camp warder, an ancient Chinese poet who writes using the blood of virgins and – in a nice twist in Episode 3 – his wife's rapist, whom he has to hunt down and `kill' a second time. Originally Fox ordered 19 episodes for the first `Brimstone' season. And some time ago I found on the Web a short synopsis (written by the show's producers) of the six episodes that should have been made but weren't. If anybody reading this wants to know what would have happened in the rest of Season One, mail me and I'll happily send you the synopses. No doubt it's too much to hope for a relaunch of the show by another network. And a DVD or video release are probably just as unlikely. I fear that this great show will soon be forgotten by all but a small die-hard following. So if you see this show in syndication on a local TV channel, watch it while you still can. Don't miss out on this wonderful series.

More than a detective show

[firefly-24 · 20 June 2003]

Don't view with eyes thirsting for the macabre- it's more than that. Brimstone is about a guy who gets to come back from the dead, metaphorically speaking. Many of the psychological elements, take the flashbacks that torment Stone, tell us a story about a fair man who's not perfect, like any person, yet has to struggle with the frustration of the reality that is his afterlife. He's gone, but Stone won't let go. Brimstone is more of a dead man's odyssey of seeing the fruits he missed out on had he lived on, as well as his regrets often cruelly reinforced by the Devil. The chemistry between the two is phenomenal! They nearly had the makings of the `textbook classic duo', perfectly complementary, opposite polars, and ironically comedic together. Intelligent scripts with line after line of worthy quotables, the dark tone of the pictures dictating its Hellish imagery, and the cleverness of the creators to add love to what would otherwise be a typical Sci-Fi flick make this motion painting a true cult classic!

Wonderfully character driven show

[pfok90 · 14 April 2005]

Sometimes, a television show comes along that goes against the grain. It doesn't play to any requirements to be successful...it allows the public to judge for itself whether they like it or not. This is TV on the edge. This supernatural story ultimately comes down to the relationship between the two main characters, one a tortured soul, the other his tormentor.

Despite the cracking storyline from week to week, the underlying story is remarkably developed. The true beauty of the show is each episode can be seen as a 'stand alone' or as a wonderful slice of religious science fiction. However, the series from start to finish leaves you with the feeling of hope for its main character.

Not Mindless Pap

[Darguz · 12 November 2004]

Which is, unfortunately, mostly what succeeds on TV these days. Shows such as Brimstone are just too intelligent, and go over the head of Average Joe TV Viewer (or Average Joe TV Executive). With all the proliferation and specialization of TV channels these days, maybe some day we can have an "Intelligent TV Channel" where shows like these can flourish and those too dim to "get it" can just remove it from their channel rotation.

Black humor is under-appreciated, and intelligent black humor is just beyond too many people, unfortunately. And Brimstone was chock full of it. Add to that a completely original premise, some decent action, good acting and the wonderful, delicious Lori Petty (::melt::) and Brimstone was a real winner. Too bad the suits didn't "get it".

Any TV producers out there reading this -- there's an idea for you. Create an "Intelligent TV Channel", and give us shows like this, or Max Headroom, Key West, Cupid, etc. You could even call it that, as a dig at the mindless drivel that pours off the screen most of the time.

Better than X-Files! And a really human story

[captain_robert_april · 11 January 2000]

This show showed the greatest amount of promise. It was a more realistic form of X-files with a focus more on the supernatural than the alien. Why was it better? Moments of dark comedy was one reason. The devil pops up in a cafe with Stone and orders " a big piece of angelfood cake." I almost fell out of my seat, laughing. But, it wasn't all dark comedy... some episodes mirrored "Its a wonderful Life," such as the one where Stone was visited by the other angel, one of the non fallen variety. Horton and the rest of the cast put on a marvelous show. The way the two characters played off one another was excellent, allowing the devil to be evil, but at the same time, full of trickery. He is afterall, the Lord of Lies, right? It was just a well rounded show, full of surprises, like Ash's true alliance. It had romance, drama, dark comedy, action, and mystery. It was intelligent, which, of course, means it could not take the Fox line up. I place this show above X-files because it advanced, while it seems X-files is still about Mulder believing and nobody else buying it.

An amazingly well written and interesting show dies before its time

[beaver_333 · 22 January 2005]

Although it has been said before, this is another great show - intelligently written, with interesting characters, and a wonderful black sense of humour - that people bypassed in favour of the mind-numbing...um stuff... that gets ratings but has little else.

I really hope somebody sees this series for what it was and brings it back from the dead. Barring that, maybe somebody will release the episodes on DVD.

Hello, anyone there? Nah, it looks like everyone is watching reruns of Fear Factor.

Thanks for you time.

Why oh why was this brilliant show cancelled?!!!!

[Elson321 · 1 August 2005]

The people who cancelled this show need shooting! This was one of the most darkest, well written, directed, acted, funny TV dramas of the 1990's.

You do not get a better fantasy-horror story line than this. Every character was perfectly cast from Ezekiel Stone to The Devil to the priest. Well at least 1 seasons worth of episodes was made. That has to count for something hey? I really wish it was still here.

Sorry folks i can't really stress how good this show was. You just have to watch it and catch the episodes wherever you can; on the net, on ebay, anywhere find it and watch it ASAP! Trust me this is a quality show; i would bet my life on it.

Brimstone (1998-1999) R.I.P.

A great show buried by the network.

[screenhound22 · 16 February 2004]

How ironic. A great show that hardly anyone ever saw praised in a Comment that probably no one will ever read because the poster was silly enough to put Spoilers in his very first comment and get blacklisted. Ah well

*SPOILER WARNING*

Much has been made of the self-defeating premise--setting an impossible goal (a minimum of five full seasons) and building it into the basics of the show. Namely "113 of the worst souls" escaped and Zeke Stone was commissioned for reasons no one is willing to explain--to bring them back. There's the adage played like a cliche that becomes Zeke's strategy in his battle "The eyes are the windows to the soul. Destroy the eyes." Fine. The entire cast in this series turned in solid performances. Peter Horton made Zeke a strong supporting character and hero. John Glover turned in probably the performance of his CAREER as The Devil and dominated every episode. The supporting cast all worked well--the villains Zeke had to fight were each unique (dangerously unique, in fact. I don't know that they'd have been able to come up with more than a single season's worth of these characters). As a Lori Petty fan, I had no problem with what some of the show's fans see as its weak spot. Finally, Ash was a great recurring villainess--I don't know that I necessarily bought her as the ringleader of the prison break, but other than that, an excellent choice. One I absolutely didn't see coming.

Last--the obligatory rant about the moronic suits of FOX. I saw only a single episode of this show on its initial run, early maybe five episodes in and could never find it again, even though I looked. I don't know about the hyperbole that it could have been an X-Files. A phenomenon like X-Files or, the more pedestrian Quantum Leap is exceptionally rare. QL is an even rarer breed because it had solid ratings for four seasons in spite of NBC's willingness to kick it all over the schedule during the season. At the very least, this show deserve a shot at a full first run.