Ghost Whisperer Redux

The Listener episode 101, “I’m An Adult,” 102, “Emotional Rescue”

Original airdate: March 3, 2009, March 10, 2009 (Canada)

Okay, okay, it’s not quite a rehash of The Ghost Whisperer. But it does fall into the hot-young-person-with-supernatural-powers-just-trying-to-live-a-normal-life franchise. The Listener, a Canadian import, stars Craig Olejnik as Toby Logan, a 20-something paramedic who just happens to be a telepath. At least, that’s what they call it. Really, his super-visions seem more like precognizance or prescience, rather than telepathy. ANYhow, he’s just going along, minding his own business, when POW! He’s struck by a mind-blowing vision that he just HAS to look into! With big dreamy blue eyes! And thoughtful, faraway expressions! Olejnik is a decent actor, and I don’t hold his looks against him. But a series cannot be carrie by dreamy eyes and brooding expressions. 

Furthermore, Toby’s powers suffer from a common ailment among doors on the U.S.S. Enterprise: dramatic convenience-itis. They only work when it is dramatically convenient to do so. And furthermore, Toby only sees however much is necessary to move along the plot, and not enough to get to the bottom of the matter right away. 

I cannot get attached to these characters. They do not catch my interest. The introduction of a foster brother for Olejnik’s character in episode 2 is sadly underused, for instance. There is no real spark there. And  Lisa Marcos’s Detective Charlie Banks is unfortunately underwritten. It’s like sitting on a riverbank, picking petals from a daisy: “She suspects him, she suspects him not. She suspects him…” 

As for the villains… Do the writers have something against underpayed civil servants? I dearly hope that future episodes provide more compelling Bad Guys, because neither of these guys are given anywhere near adequate motives for their actions other than that they’re looney tunes. 

Hopefully it’ll improve. I like dreamy blue eyes.