Most of this episode takes place four years before the pilot, as Jade plays hardboiled detective. All of this, of course, connects to the current story, likely in more ways than we realize.

Title: “Bedtime Story”

First broadcast August 6, 2005.

Cast

Jeffrey Pierce as Charlie Jade
Rolanda Marais as Blues Paddock
David Dennis as Sew Sew Tukkars
Eve Szapira as Mona
Michael Filipowich as 01 Boxer
Marie-Julie Rivest as Jasmine
Michelle Burgess as Essa Rompkin
Graham Clarke as Brion Boxer

Writer: Dennis Venter
Director: David Hickson

Plot:

“I’d hate to be a cop. You only get to do your job when it doesn’t matter to anyone.”

Most of the episode flashes back four years earlier, to the case that introduced Charlie Jade and Sew Sew Tukkars. Along the way we learn more about how the Alphaverse society works, and how Jade has grown and changed.

High Points:

“If you let a big corporation tell you what to do, Mr. Jade, you’re working for them. You’re just not getting the benefit package.”

It’s often difficult to identify a single high point in this show. It’s rarely about great moments, but rather, the high caliber of everything: acting, design, storyline and, in this particular episode, allusion.

Low Point:

Story arcs create certain problems. We learn very little from the 01 Boxer segments this week (though we understand the storyline is in progress), and consequently, they play like an interruption to the main plot.

The Scores:

Originality: 4/6. The episode creates a highly entertaining story using the conventions of the hardboiled detective genre. However, it is a pastiche.

Effects: 5/6. The show boasts fine visuals. We spend this episode in the Alphaverse, and some of the shots of the city look more impressive than others. The first rain shot looked awkward, as though the rain were out of scale (I recognize this is a small point, and that allowances must be made for stylization).

Story: 5/6. The strong main plot nicely echoed the conventions of the hardboiled detective genre.

The secondary plot suffers from the fact that we learn almost nothing from it. Basically, it interrupts to remind us that significant things are developing with 01 Boxer, and we’ll find out where they’re going later.

Acting: 6/6.

Emotional Response: 5/6.

Production: 5/6.

Overall: 5/6. Visually, Jade and Tukkars resemble Deckard and Gaff from Blade Runner. Their relationship more recalls Batman and James Gordon.

In total, “Bedtime Stories” receives 35/42

Additional Comments

Do to travel and other commitments, the next two reviews may be delayed.

The Timeshredder’s reviews may be found here.