Why, when the majority of the comments on this series are positive, is IMDb displaying only the negative ones on the first page and one has to delve deeper to find those that give the series praise? Also if anyone reading this looks closely at the negative comments and reads how many people found the comment useful, they will see that it's quoted as 5 out of 15, or something similar. Personally I found it far better than the big budget, typically glam, US production, Flash Forward, which, so I read on EZTV, because of low viewing figures may not be returning after the mid-season break. I recommend that you give this series a chance, you'll enjoy it!
32 Reviews
Gripping, intelligent sci-fi worth the time to watch
smokingtyger30 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
If you are any kind of sci-fi fan and have a spark of imagination then you will probably have enjoyed this episode and be looking forward to the next one. The show is being compared to Flashforward because of the "information from the future" idea that is at at the root of each show; however, the two are treating the topic in vastly different ways so comparing this show to FF is like comparing apples and oranges. Personally I find FF to be pretentious, preachy, and boring. I think that Paradox has the potential to be a vastly more interesting and compelling show. I found this episode to be actually gripping, and it has been a long time since any show has done that for me.
Some have commented that the show is slow and that it takes the main characters too long to "put the pieces together". Since impossible things are by definition "impossible" I find it much more realistic to believe that regular human beings would have a very hard time accepting an impossible event in their lives. The need to normalize the event and somehow explain it away would be almost overwhelming. To accept an impossible event such as images from the future as clues to a disaster that is about to happen as real would be a profoundly life changing occurrence. Most of us do not want our certainties destroyed and our core ideas challenged. I found it superb writing that the characters have to be dragged kicking and screaming into accepting that something impossible is happening to them. The scene at the end where the female detective grabs the other detective with desperate need rang true to me. When your world is shaken like this the need for human connection and comfort is profound. Like the death of the little girl on the train it reflects what I saw as adult, intelligent, scripting. Overall I thought it was a good start and I am looking forward to what this week brings.
Some have commented that the show is slow and that it takes the main characters too long to "put the pieces together". Since impossible things are by definition "impossible" I find it much more realistic to believe that regular human beings would have a very hard time accepting an impossible event in their lives. The need to normalize the event and somehow explain it away would be almost overwhelming. To accept an impossible event such as images from the future as clues to a disaster that is about to happen as real would be a profoundly life changing occurrence. Most of us do not want our certainties destroyed and our core ideas challenged. I found it superb writing that the characters have to be dragged kicking and screaming into accepting that something impossible is happening to them. The scene at the end where the female detective grabs the other detective with desperate need rang true to me. When your world is shaken like this the need for human connection and comfort is profound. Like the death of the little girl on the train it reflects what I saw as adult, intelligent, scripting. Overall I thought it was a good start and I am looking forward to what this week brings.
The Best BBC Sciennce Fiction Cop Show?
johnFair17 December 2009
Although the first episode is not particularly engaging (not a good sign) I persevered and from the second story on they have definitely got better and better.
The thing that makes this series most interesting to me isn't the science fictiony bits - not that there's really that much involved in this story. The main influence of science fiction on the plot is mainly on the delivery of the plot line pictures but the suspense in the story comes down to good old character interaction and the way that that the three police officers interact with each other and the scientist running the satellite that appears to be taking the photographs that are cuing the police into the incidents they are investigating.
Each of the characters has a particular view on what these pictures represent, from the DS's continuing scepticism of the photographs reality to the scientist's belief that the pictures are showing the future but he has issues with his bosses in the shadowy section of the MoD that is contracting the work he's doing.
It's been good in the way that the Beeb haven't shied away from letting people die - this power has not given the cops god-like abilities to change the future, and there have been moral dilemmas as to who can be saved.
All-in-all an interesting set of story lines.
The thing that makes this series most interesting to me isn't the science fictiony bits - not that there's really that much involved in this story. The main influence of science fiction on the plot is mainly on the delivery of the plot line pictures but the suspense in the story comes down to good old character interaction and the way that that the three police officers interact with each other and the scientist running the satellite that appears to be taking the photographs that are cuing the police into the incidents they are investigating.
Each of the characters has a particular view on what these pictures represent, from the DS's continuing scepticism of the photographs reality to the scientist's belief that the pictures are showing the future but he has issues with his bosses in the shadowy section of the MoD that is contracting the work he's doing.
It's been good in the way that the Beeb haven't shied away from letting people die - this power has not given the cops god-like abilities to change the future, and there have been moral dilemmas as to who can be saved.
All-in-all an interesting set of story lines.
Why, oh why?
vulneri10 November 2010
BBC I truly love you and I adore your series, so tell me please- why did you stop producing this one? I've read critical opinions about clumsy dialogs, bad acting, non-logical storyline, but every movie/series have them and they're going still. So why that, in my opinion, interesting, intelligent, fascinating show had to end? And had to end in such a moment? Personal I've found dialogs, acting very good. If storyline wasn't absolutely logical, I've hadn't notice that. Maybe it wasn't most important, maybe I just wanna be lied- it's a show- it can lie, because it's its own magic Is there any chance to back to production? Sadly, I know the answer.
5 engaging enigmas, but be warned: the series has no finale
gridoon202420 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Tru Calling" is one of my all-time favorite TV series, and "Paradox" is probably the closest thing I've seen to it so far. There are differences, of course (here the protagonists are four and they don't go back in time, they just receive images/hints from the future), but the core concept is very similar: if you know what will happen in the future, can you change it? Should you change it? Each of the five episodes presents a cleverly assembled puzzle to solve: the question is not just who-done-it? but where? how? why? and to whom? Only the "when" is a given. The characters are (probably deliberately) a little lacking in charisma, and there is arguably too much bickering between them, but the stories are gripping enough anyway. However, the series was dropped by the BBC prematurely; the "final" episode actually ends with at least four separate cliffhangers! It's a shame we will never know where this was going, but I for one am at least grateful for what we have. *** out of 4.
Brilliant, why was it not renewed ?????
moon-stargirl14 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The series was brilliant, the characters went on a real journey and the actors portraying them performed the journey wonderfully from the doctor who was a loner to the doctor who really wanted to get involved, the Christian officer who ended up killing in the name of justice, the show had everything to make it a decent set of series so why has it not been renewed. This is especially annoying as we were left on a cliff hanger only to realise the hanger was going to break and we were never going to find out if the cliff was a good one. BBC please renew this series it was fantastic, it needed fine tuning but given the chance it would be a epic.
Great beginning, but series fizzles quickly
walt-weller26 May 2020
The series has five episodes, and, despite an ambiguous conclusion, was not renewed for subsequent runs.
Episode 1 and 2 provide for riveting television, but subsequent episodes are mostly forgettable and, as such, heavily disappointing. Had the show been stopped after the first two stories, this reviewer would have rated it 10 stars out of 10. In fact, I HIGHLY recommend that a new viewer treats this as a two-part movie and ignores the last three episodes.
BBC elected not to renew the series despite an ambiguous conclusion in the final episodes. You WILL be left with questions regardless of where you stop, so you might as well stop while it's still a fun memory.
Brief spoiler-free synopsis: A flurry of electromagnetic activity of the sun seems to coincide with the broadcast of a cryptic series of images. The enigmatic Dr. Christian King enlists the help of a local Detective Inspector in deciphering the images. Do they actually predict future events of a tragic nature, and if so, can the future be changed?
Episode 1 and 2 provide for riveting television, but subsequent episodes are mostly forgettable and, as such, heavily disappointing. Had the show been stopped after the first two stories, this reviewer would have rated it 10 stars out of 10. In fact, I HIGHLY recommend that a new viewer treats this as a two-part movie and ignores the last three episodes.
BBC elected not to renew the series despite an ambiguous conclusion in the final episodes. You WILL be left with questions regardless of where you stop, so you might as well stop while it's still a fun memory.
Brief spoiler-free synopsis: A flurry of electromagnetic activity of the sun seems to coincide with the broadcast of a cryptic series of images. The enigmatic Dr. Christian King enlists the help of a local Detective Inspector in deciphering the images. Do they actually predict future events of a tragic nature, and if so, can the future be changed?
Not your ordinary police procedural!
mark-jennings-112 December 2009
If you are used to the standard police drama series where innovation rarely stretches your imagination or that of the characters beyond taking them to yet another obscure region of the UK or US then this will refresh your parts that other police shows cannot reach! This is less of a 'whodunnit' and more of 'whydidit?'. This series takes a very familiar genre and turns it on its head in a way that is refreshingly new. In the true style of Brit police shows this is dark and tortured, this is not a glossy American show with more style than substance. The actors are excellent and the 'will they, won't they?' is very well done. A 'must watch'!
not bad but reminds me of something
am-1424 December 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I may be wrong but the message from the future idea reminds me of Timescape by Gregory Benford. A message from Earth from deep space about events that appear to be in the future but are in the past to the sender, that can only hint at whats going to happen. Its sort of the same idea as a crime story instead of the environmental disaster theme. It translates to the crime/local disaster theme quite well and the characters are nicely down to earth, even rough and dis-likable, struggling with morals, guilt and unwillingness to accept what is happening compared to how American productions on TV would solve each scenario with a mighty leap, gunfire and a few explosions. One of the few British shows that I've watched for the last 4 years, so it must have made an impression.
Averting disaster
Prismark1031 January 2015
Paradox only lasted for one series and despite a thrilling final 10 minutes the whole series and its character never gelled.
Shown in 2009 and filmed in and around Manchester, this science fiction thriller starred Tamzin Outhwaite as Detective Inspector Flint who headed a police unit that investigate images being broadcast to a astrophysicist Dr Christian King's (Emun Elliott) laboratory, which appear to show catastrophic events 18 hours from the future and they need to figure out what it is and how to stop it before time runs out.
Despite the exciting climax to the episodes the first 50 minutes of the drama were insipid and dull. You actually wonder if the producers actually look at the construction of an episode. Not just the script but the whole tone, pacing and how it looks with exciting characters that the audience can identify with.
The episodes looked as drab as the Manchester skyline but that did not stop Life on Mars being a hit series with its sci-fi twist and of course Doctor Who since its relaunch showed the British science fiction can be hip, edgy, exciting and reach various demographics.
Somewhere in the concept was a good series trying to get off the ground. A missed opportunity.
Shown in 2009 and filmed in and around Manchester, this science fiction thriller starred Tamzin Outhwaite as Detective Inspector Flint who headed a police unit that investigate images being broadcast to a astrophysicist Dr Christian King's (Emun Elliott) laboratory, which appear to show catastrophic events 18 hours from the future and they need to figure out what it is and how to stop it before time runs out.
Despite the exciting climax to the episodes the first 50 minutes of the drama were insipid and dull. You actually wonder if the producers actually look at the construction of an episode. Not just the script but the whole tone, pacing and how it looks with exciting characters that the audience can identify with.
The episodes looked as drab as the Manchester skyline but that did not stop Life on Mars being a hit series with its sci-fi twist and of course Doctor Who since its relaunch showed the British science fiction can be hip, edgy, exciting and reach various demographics.
Somewhere in the concept was a good series trying to get off the ground. A missed opportunity.
Paradox - more please!
phsaccess21 April 2011
I have just watched the first 5 episodes of Paradox - it has just aired here in New Zealand. I loved it - every episode and can't believe thats it - only 5 episodes! Please bring more to me - there's still so much to explore. Where are the messages coming from, what does this mean about the nature of reality (deep eh!), how are all the characters linked? I love the relationships the characters have with each other. I think Tasmin Outhwaite portrays her part amazingly well. The acting is great, the story is exciting, interesting and absorbing. I find there are very few programmes on television these days which grab my attention and which I feel I need to see every episode. Mostly I can take or leave it and if I miss an episode - so what. With Paradox I was glued to each episode and felt I had to make sure I saw every episode. I only wish I had recorded the episodes so that I could watch them again. It's the best programme I have seen for a long time. More please!!
It's okay
diayag15 December 2009
The comparison to FlashForward was very apt and I was surprised a Brit made it. All the USdumping about imitation, it's payback time! Every time we go to EE's tortured face (or whatever that expression is) I have to remind myself this is NOT Joseph Fiennes - as if they deliberately were looking for a copy. Both can probably act better than these roles demand but it looks like they had a deadringer's runoff. Who is taking the pictures may also involve parallel universes, just 6 hours or so instead of 6 months flashing forward. I am enjoying it anyway, there is some satisfaction to the greater potential of changing the future than FF has so far presented.
Another Promising British Show Ruined by Idiosyncrasies
dave-214-43691313 December 2020
British shows are so infuriating, and this is no exception. The plot is great, the production values excellent for a tv show, the actors really giving it all, but the characters are atrocious presumably because the writers think that people who act nothing like normal people are interesting. I don't know why British writers do that, but it seems endemic to their industry. I think it has to do with trying to be original or something, but it really just makes their art awkward and seem unauthentic.
DO NOT WATCH!
coatofsolidgold12 April 2021
Seriously. The show has an interesting premise - essentially a time travel drama, but with sufficient constraints than perhaps it will make sense. BUT THE SHOW WAS CANCELED AFTER FIVE EPISODES, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLOT. So if you do sit down and watch, you will be left completely high and dry, like I am.
A truly excellent show
gombo66625 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
From a perspective of a viewer you get to follow the female lead detective. She is solving a crime which is about to happen, or not. The clues for figuring the mystery out is in 4 pictures.
The interaction between the characters are very well done, especially between the detective and the scientist. The way they play out against each other, and the manipulation therein, is truly excellent.
During the episode where the detectives are following the clues and trying to get around the disbelieve, where it seems to be a planned terrorist bombing. But where they still have a numbers of the factors wrong, yet knowing the cellphone number and markings/type of it, but getting the time of the train timing wrong. The disbelieving and irritation shown in the show was truly delightful.
Of course there has at the time only been 1 episode, but i must say i'm awaiting the next episode with excitement. Oh yes its a sci-fi - thriller
The interaction between the characters are very well done, especially between the detective and the scientist. The way they play out against each other, and the manipulation therein, is truly excellent.
During the episode where the detectives are following the clues and trying to get around the disbelieve, where it seems to be a planned terrorist bombing. But where they still have a numbers of the factors wrong, yet knowing the cellphone number and markings/type of it, but getting the time of the train timing wrong. The disbelieving and irritation shown in the show was truly delightful.
Of course there has at the time only been 1 episode, but i must say i'm awaiting the next episode with excitement. Oh yes its a sci-fi - thriller
Interesting Mini-Series
gerrgrady-8630720 January 2022
This series caught our interest right away in spite of the interpersonal drama between characters. It ended abruptly after 5 episodes and we wondered if it was supposed to be picked up for another season. I was disappoined in the drama queen behavior of DI Flint & DS Holt. The storylines were compelling though and made up for the weaknesses.
Solid start to an intriguing UK series
zoz-603-46396114 December 2009
A new British sci-fi series is always an event in my book and Paradox, after 3 episodes, offers a solid start to what looks like an entertaining sci-fi/detective series. As much as I like Fringe, Flashforward, Lost etc the Brits have a knack for creating identifiable, real world characters far removed from the generic, glossy airbrush identi-kit personalities that the States love so much. real people with real problems thrust into a realistic drama. How would you react if your computer suddenly started showing you images from the future? A show with a ton of promise... lets hope they continue to raise the bar for intelligent, realistic scifi as the show progresses.
Very interesting thriller
rfurlani-606-15185313 December 2009
Yes, it's not an American TV show. So you will not find tons of special effects, sophisticated action scenes and so on. In the other hand, you can count on a very intelligent script, good acting and very nice and well prepared suspense scenes. Actually, this TV show follows a kind of UK productions (and, being more specific, BBC productions) tradition, to present series with this quality (Survivors is another good example). Hopefully we will have more than the already predefined 5 episodes and, hopefully, the audience will not be frustrated with a premature end, without a convenient conclusion that bring some light to all open questions (what, unfortunately is quite common nowadays in other TV shows).
If you like really good sci-fi thrillers... go watch 2012, forget about this
helenbsb26 November 2009
If you're used to watching American science fiction series and films, then this one may not be to your liking. Elizabeth Mickery, whom has written for such British dramas such as Byker Grove, The Bill and Heartbeat brings us another low-budget drama filled with terrible writing and poor acting.
Not only was there no plot twists, interesting developments and characters with personalities, but there was also no action, nothing for the watcher to think about and nothing to grip the watcher.
However, if you enjoy watching The Bill, but with a little sci-fi twist to it but not much else, then this series from what I've seen in episode 1 is for you. However, if you're looking for something bigger budget, well written, with better acting and more action, then I'll suggest you stick to the American Flash Forward, which appears to be the superior to this series in every way.
And the positives about this series?... 1) the low budget means the casting team couldn't steal anyone worthwhile away from doing something more productive 2) because it was made so badly, it had caused a paradox in time, meaning that the lucky few who were affected by its dreadfulness were actually referred to this review ahead of time, thus potentially avoiding a wasted hour that could be better spent outdoors playing football, attempting home-made lasagne, or banging their heads on the wall.
As a finale, the final note is that the only "Paradox" you'll see in this episode is... if the event happened at said time.............. then who took the photographs... and when?
Not only was there no plot twists, interesting developments and characters with personalities, but there was also no action, nothing for the watcher to think about and nothing to grip the watcher.
However, if you enjoy watching The Bill, but with a little sci-fi twist to it but not much else, then this series from what I've seen in episode 1 is for you. However, if you're looking for something bigger budget, well written, with better acting and more action, then I'll suggest you stick to the American Flash Forward, which appears to be the superior to this series in every way.
And the positives about this series?... 1) the low budget means the casting team couldn't steal anyone worthwhile away from doing something more productive 2) because it was made so badly, it had caused a paradox in time, meaning that the lucky few who were affected by its dreadfulness were actually referred to this review ahead of time, thus potentially avoiding a wasted hour that could be better spent outdoors playing football, attempting home-made lasagne, or banging their heads on the wall.
As a finale, the final note is that the only "Paradox" you'll see in this episode is... if the event happened at said time.............. then who took the photographs... and when?
Better than Fringe?
robhaskell26 December 2009
Paradox is obviously inspired by Fringe: Heavily featured out of the way City (Boston/Manchester), Blonde female lead, Mysterious high tech corporation behind the happenings, something else I won't mention to not spoil Fringe plot, Team that is formed from the normal police force but deployed to track unexplained phenomenon, socially awkward scientists provide technical support. I love both shows, but I think Paradox is more intelligent and disciplined. Fringe is all over the place (and fascinating for it), but Paradox stays focused on one phenomenon and milks it. Each episode you get a little more. With Fringe I get the feeling that we are being introduced to an ever increasing piece of an ever increasing pie. In other words, that there is no way we are ever going to get a complete explanation. But with Paradox, I may hold out hope. I also like the way that both shows are filmed on location. You definitely get a feel for the cities.
Mind numbingly slow
derektrotteresq29 November 2009
Maybe its because i've been watching a lot of American shows such as Heroes, 24, prison break and dexter which are fast paced and action packed, that i found this show to be extremely slow and dull. Don't get me wrong, I love our telly in the uk but this show just took forever to get started and even when it did, it crawled along at the same pace as a geriatric snail with bad cramp. None of the characters were interesting or particularly likable, the storyline was very weak, the dialogue dreadful and the cinematography dreary. I love sci-fi, particularly involving time travel but this show not so much. After watching the first episode of this, i won't waste my time watching any more. It certainly ain't life on mars!
Surprisingly good English thriller
vladimir89890911 December 2009
This is one of the best recent European productions I've seen. It offers a reasonably good plot (not very original, but still interesting), enough twists to keep you interested, some acceptable action scenes, credible characters and surprisingly good acting.
Do not expect Hollywood-like explosive action or amazing special effects, this is more of a psychological thriller with lots of indoor acting and some short but intense action scenes. It's more of a mystery/crime drama with a SciFi twist, and it has more in common with "Criminal minds" than with "Star Trek"... until now anyway (only 3 episodes aired).
As drawbacks I can count poor acting on behalf of some of the secondary/supporting characters, British style police work (a lot less spectacular than what we see in American movies) and last but not least the ugly female characters (you probably have to be British to appreciate their beauty).
9/10 from me, such productions have to be encouraged. It was a pleasant surprise and I'm eagerly expecting the next episode.
Do not expect Hollywood-like explosive action or amazing special effects, this is more of a psychological thriller with lots of indoor acting and some short but intense action scenes. It's more of a mystery/crime drama with a SciFi twist, and it has more in common with "Criminal minds" than with "Star Trek"... until now anyway (only 3 episodes aired).
As drawbacks I can count poor acting on behalf of some of the secondary/supporting characters, British style police work (a lot less spectacular than what we see in American movies) and last but not least the ugly female characters (you probably have to be British to appreciate their beauty).
9/10 from me, such productions have to be encouraged. It was a pleasant surprise and I'm eagerly expecting the next episode.
Available now on Amazon Prime
berrebi55524 August 2019
Intriguing sci-fi, too short
kdupes-15 May 2020
Very good sci-fi tv show. Like the two part concept of trying to decipher picture clues to prevent the event and the theories of, where did the future pictures come from...how? ....why?
> Somebody said there is no finale, so may not get an answer which is not fair.
Bleak, depressing, angry, dysfunctional people. WHY???
Safetylight9 December 2009
Who finds these kinds of characters interesting? I like sci-fi as much as any geek, but these people are horrendous, sad and thoroughly grim. Why would anybody want people like this in their living rooms, or worse, in their minds for an hour? This stuff goes in, especially with television's fluorescing CRT and wide screen tech, -which is not the same as computer flat screens which flicker many thousands of times per second. Plasma screens and CRTs flicker between 60 and 500 times per second and this directly affects the visual cortex, (which is why it's hard to remember the advert you just watched twenty seconds ago); EEG scans demonstrate that staring at a CRT screen puts the viewer into a light hypnotic state, where we dissociate and any information which goes in does so in a very different way than regular images and sounds viewed in a normal state of awareness.
These grim, sickening stories presented to us in "Paradox" sit with the viewer through the night and the next day, affecting behavior out in the real world, thus changing the shape of real world.
The show, purely from a story and construction perspective is somewhat interesting in its posits about time and fatalism, and it is especially interesting that numerous such story ideas are being explored right now as a culture. But I'm not willing to explore it with such dysfunctional, depressed and angry people who make me feel sick to my stomach.
Sorry. "Paradox" is a write-off for me.
These grim, sickening stories presented to us in "Paradox" sit with the viewer through the night and the next day, affecting behavior out in the real world, thus changing the shape of real world.
The show, purely from a story and construction perspective is somewhat interesting in its posits about time and fatalism, and it is especially interesting that numerous such story ideas are being explored right now as a culture. But I'm not willing to explore it with such dysfunctional, depressed and angry people who make me feel sick to my stomach.
Sorry. "Paradox" is a write-off for me.
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