FlashForward: ABC's new series is intriguing

The new ABC television series FlashForward debuted recently (September 24) and promises to be a show worth watching in the weeks to come.

The basic premise is that every person in the world blacks out at the exact same time for exactly two minutes and 37 seconds. In actuality, these were not blackouts - instead - every person has “flashed forward” to see a vision of their future.

The show starts with chaos. People have just awakened and cars have crashed, planes have dropped from the sky, and confusion is apparent. There is death everywhere as surfers have drowned, drivers have crashed and hospital patients in the middle of surgery have died.

The action then jumps backward four hours to show what the characters are doing to start their day. Their lives are going through regular cycles of daily activity leading up to the moment where everything stops and the real action begins.

The first question on everyone’s minds: What happened?

That answer is murky. All that is known is every person in the world zoned out for two minutes and 37 seconds.  It is quickly realized after officials talk to each other and compare experiences that there was no actual blackout - everyone went to a different state of consciousness that actually showed them all a glimpse of the future.

But not just any future. Everyone saw an exact time and date. Depending upon where in the world they were supposed to be on that date - it is April 29 or 30 2010 - approximately six months into the future.

One man sees himself working to discover what has happened (and that he has started drinking again) while his wife sees herself with another man. One man sees his daughter who is supposed to be dead - killed in Afghanistan. Another woman sees herself pregnant and having an ultrasound while another man sees nothing and assumes it means he will be dead.

Understandably people are shaken and disturbed by this turn of events. Not only have a large number of people died or been injured, but now the questions abound about what actually happened and what does it all mean. It becomes even more puzzling and disconcerting when the FBI discovers surveillance of a sports stadium during the fugue time and notices a lone person awake and walking around - making the viewer feel a chill of creepiness and foreboding.

FlashForward is a fascinating premise and storyline that is well acted and draws the viewer in. The tension is palpable as is the confusion and fear.

The biggest question FlashForward asks and makes both the characters and the viewers ponder: Is the future set in stone or can you change it - especially if you know what is coming?

FlashForward can be seen on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Central time on ABC. I will definitely be watching.

http://flashforwardtv.com/