Wonderfalls Flat

Wonderfalls was a short-lived TV series executive produced by Tim Minear, who has written for other things that my people have enjoyed, such as X-Files and Angel and the beloved, doomed Firefly.

Only four episodes of Wonderfalls aired, but they made 13, and FOX released them on a DVD in 2005. We've watched about half the set, and I'm not sure we'll finish it.

The shtick is that inanimate objects talk to the protagonist, Jaye, and tell her to do mysterious things that indirectly help people.

Which sounds clever enough, except for the bad execution. The objects give vague instructions, and for things to seem magical and otherwordly, you need your oracles to deliver specific cryptic messages. When the object says "Destroy her!" what, exactly, is it telling Jaye to do? Cut the antagonist's brake line, or just post unflattering pictures of her on MySpace? AND, though generative ends can (and do) come from destruction, it's kind of jerky for these spirit-guide inanimate objects to tell her to do cruel things, when the same ends could be achieved through other means.

Also, Jaye is not likable. The actress playing her is doing a good job of selling that she's a disaffected, self-absorbed semi-bitch. Because that's what's coming across, and that's not fun to watch. I mean, if there was some wink-and-nod subtext attached it would be different, but there ain't.

Further, the characters are inconsistent and act on poorly-explained motives.

And finally, the relationships are cartoons. There are lesbian characters acting out the cliche "gay characters are people too" storylines thrown into so MANY stinking dramas. Really, seriously, we've got enough of those. Stop now, please. Please?

Also, apparently, the key to relationship happiness is to stop working on the complex, broken relationship you have, and jump to another one, which will bring you instant, uncomplicated, lifelong joy. Because relationship hopping, that works out well for most people, right?

The show isn't terrible, but it's annoying when it's bad, and that might put me off watching the rest of the series. We'll see.