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"The Listener" (2009) More at IMDbPro »
38 out of 47 people found the following comment useful :-
The Listener episode reviews, 5 JÚNIUS 2009
Author: rikerdonegal from Ireland
Episode 1. Pretty good start. I immediately liked the hero (Craig Olejnik is perfect casting) and I was entertained not only by the story, but by the way the story was told.
Episode 2. I like it. The don't overuse the gimmick and - when they do use it - the use in in an intelligent way. The cast are great. The cop is written as being very smart and the hero is written as often being wrong. So, it's interesting to watch them working.
Episode 3. Craig Olejnik is a great leading man. He sells the idea of hearing people's thoughts and he's very likable and sympathetic. He's got that whole wounded dove thing going on, yet he's Alpha Male enough to carry to mild action sequences. Ennis Esmer is a great sidekick. Very likable and funny. He should get more screen time. Lisa Marcos is crazy hot.
Episode 4. It's not a bad show and the elements that I like... I really like. So I'm gonna stick with it. It's light entertainment. A fun, summer show.
Episode 5. The best case-of-the-week for Toby so far. The twist at the midpoint really surprised me, and made the episode more interesting. Toby's powers are, when you think about it, pretty useless to him. They never tell him anything useful. The show's real strength are the scenes between Toby and his best friend. Great writing and acting/chemistry make for some hilarious and believable scenes of a friendship.
Episode 6. I like the angle of the hero who cares about people he meets and wants to butt into their lives and help/save them. It's the whole Pretender/Early Edition thing, I suppose. Toby keeps running around getting involved in stuff that has nothing to do with him. He's a goodie-goodie. Like Tru on Tru Calling he knows stuff that he shouldn't and he uses that knowledge to try and save lives and stuff. I dig that stuff. It makes him a very old fashioned TV hero.
Episode 7. Michelle Adams gives a terrific performance as the girl with the powers. She brings a great sense of being 'above' everything to the role. Just like Craig Olejnik, really, who makes a fantastic lead.
Episode 8. Flawless. The first episode to nail the show's formula to perfection, and the first superb episode.
What did they get right? Toby's powers were useful and without them there would have been no story. Each use of the power (a) advanced the story, (b) was funny, (c) led to a character moment, (d) was genuinely cool/interesting.
They created a strong/excellent b-story for the underused Mylene Robic. Charlie was well-written and dynamic and heroic. Lisa Marcos was sexier than ever (my god, but she is crazy hot and I'm borderline obsessed) and she showed considerable acting chops, too.
Episode 9. For the second week in a row, the show excels in giving all four regulars an abundance of good scenes and Olivia gets a really good subplot for the second week in a row.
Even better, the show seems to have gotten a complete handle on Toby's powers and has figured out a way to show/use them that is interesting, cool and logical.
Episode 10. Mid-way through the season, The Listener completely hit it's stride and started to deliver superb episodes. This is yet another superb episode.
1. Toby's powers. The show has totally figured out how to use Toby's powers in a way that is totally cool, and totally serves the stories and makes them far more interesting.
2. Oz. Without making it a stated aim of the script, the show has found a way to show us how Toby's friends 'use' him and his power.
3. The story. It's a cracker of a tale from start to finish.
4. The twist. I love stories with a twist, and I love shows that opt to end their episodes on a downbeat note.
5. Mylene Robic/Olivia. She didn't have as much screen time in this episode, as in the previous two, but I really love her and Toby as a couple.
Episode 11. Another strong case-of-the-week, with lots of cool touches involving Toby's powers and the regular characters. The show has nailed it. They know how to tell stories and use Toby's powers in an intelligent way. All uses of Toby's powers are cool, now. And they either advance the plot in some tangible way or they provide nice moments of insight into the characters in the stories. Class.
Episode 12. Another great episode. Why? It's a novel way of telling the story. There are multiple new ways to use Toby's power shown in the episode (a woman appears behind him, at one point). The actual identity of the killer is impossible to guess. All four regular characters are getting quality screen time. There's a great subplot with the great Gordon Pinsent playing a guy who knows about Toby's past.
The final scene/shot is great, too.
Episode 13. The Listener is an usual series. All episodes were case-of-the-week driven, but the first seven episodes were flawed and uneven. From episode eight onwards, while still being case-of-the-week driven, the show became superb and flawless. The show figured out how to make Toby's powers cool and interesting, and the show also figured out how to use the powers to enhance the story in unusual ways. Good writing and good acting and the added bonus of an intelligent way of using Toby's powers.
I desperately want a second season. But not for the backstory, they haven't made me care enough about the backstory and there are more than enough shows out there about lone heroes up against mysterious conspiracies. No, I want a second season because this show has turned into something that delivers A+ stories every single week and the hero, his powers and the cast are very cool.
25 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :-
rocky start but worth the patience, 13 JÚNIUS 2009
Author: from Canada
I've seen some reviews on this series and kinda noticed most of the bad ones seem to come from North American reviewers and most of the good ones come from the rest of the world... So I thought "what the hell? why not drop half a rainy day on this?".
Like any drama, it takes time to build up enough background to work with (for example Dollhouse). All the actors do an excellent job (esp. Craig Olejnik) and the writing improves as the show goes on. The first and second episodes were OK but the third got me wanting more. I don't know about everyone else but I know I certainly enjoyed it and I hope there will be more in the future.
17 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Just give it a chance, 3 JÚNIUS 2009
Author: ivison_1985 from United Kingdom
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
The listener starts off a little slowly with little real character info given to us the viewer it is as though we've been thrown in at the deep end without a float but as the show continues we see more about the lives of the characters and their personalities. Toby Logan is a foster kid bounced from home to home and eventually becomes a paramedic but here's the thing he can read your mind and instead of hiding like he had done all his life he uses his talent to help save people's lives and solve crimes for one of his female counterparts Detective Charlie Marks. This show make take a little bit of time for you to get used to but it is a worthwhile view.
All I can say is this is one for me!
14 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
I'd like to see more, 27 JÚNIUS 2009
Author: Ma Bell from Massachusetts
I have only seen four episodes so far but I plan on watching the rest of the season. I think this has the potential to be even better if given the opportunity. There is no limit to where the storyline can go.
As the episodes progress I have seen more character development. It takes time to build on a new character's background. What's the fun in knowing everything about them in the first episode? There is also the possibility of a villain surfacing sometime in the future.
It is refreshing to watch something other than crime, courtroom, and hospital dramas. I would like to see some people being saved for a change.
10 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent Show, 22 JÚLIUS 2009
Author: Corey from Canada
I was very surprised by the quality of this show. I must admit I just watched it at first because I heard it was filmed in Toronto. After a few episodes, my girlfriend and I were hooked and want more. The show has its action with its splash of comedy on the side added by Ennis Esmer. It is a interesting "Hero-esque" type show where the main character, Toby (Craig Olejnik), must learn to use his powers, which allow him to hear the thoughts of others.
People with powers seem to be in abundance these days, and I really didn't have high hopes for this one, but even after the first few episodes you will see that there is some writing quality in the show as well. Give it a shot. If you're a Toronto local, you will also find it heavily entertaining that this show is not just filmed in Toronto, but the storyline is set here as well. Great show, still waiting on a green light for Season two.
6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
What If Someone could Read Your Every Thought?, 3 JÚLIUS 2009
Author: Elizabeth from Chicago
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
June 2nd 2009 mapped the finale episode of the Listener, which I formed an overnight attachment to. There are few shows that present a sense of consistency in each episode in the first season, but The Listener put a new spin on things.
I took a liking to Toby in the first episode and I picked up on the shows' concept almost immediately; a guy who hears people's thoughts, but everything isn't quite as visible to the naked eye, even in his head Toby may hear people's thoughts, but his memory is a blur when it comes to his past.
The pilot picked up gradually throughout the episode and presented such chemistry between each character which gave you the feel like you knew them and the friendship between Toby and Oz was unlike non ever and their relationship picked up even more since Oz discovered Toby's ability.
Olivia kind of grew on me actually, I liked the chemistry between her and Toby, but sometimes I felt as though she was the only doctor Toby referred with, but seeing as they dated Toby would make it his priority to always run into her. Their relationship is complicated, but predictable. Toby is a cool guy, but he still has a lot of secrets and probably even holds back at times which could cause the ripple in his relationship with Olivia. I could also understand how they met; he's the EMA, she's a doctor, a few pick up lines upon bonding over patients and that was it, but really, they are both good individuals, not to mention easy on the eyes. Toby probably didn't wow me in the beginning, but he found his way into 'stud' mode in the end and Olivia looks extraordinary when she goes out.
Another potential love interest for Toby would have been Charlie, the cop who Toby often crossed parts with on his dangerous 'hero' complex side. While Toby is solving crimes and reading people's mind, Charlie is behind Toby trying to figure him out. She was the second person to find out about Toby's gift and she reacted with denial, just like Oz, but it felt more like a violation on her part, while Oz took it to be something cool. It left me wondering, What if people could read your thoughts, your boss slams you with an extra work load asking you it's alright and you smile nodding your head, while inside your thinking, Yeah you... anyway I strayed for a bit, but would that be cool or a complete slap in the face. Charlie took a while to get used to Toby's abilities, but I still found it strange in the beginning how trusting she was of Toby. Probably Toby came of as a guy who really had a big heart and made her guilty for every detail she didn't follow through, being a cop she had an obligation to follow. Charlie also had the bad boy appeal to her in the beginning, but we gain a bit of insight into her past which probably explains why she became a cop to begin with.
In the in we are still left with questions. Where is Toby's mother? Really was this the guy she spent running away from? Are there more people out there? Would Toby's abilities grow? What happened to Olivia's sister?
Basically Olivia was the last person to find out about Toby, but she was the only person that believed him on the first say. In fact it made them closer and I'm really growing to love their relationship together. Brian, Charlies boss seem to have something going together as well and the details aren't exactly out there, so I really like that the suspense between them. They obviously dated before and for some reason they began seeing other people, but still manage to go out on the occasion, somewhat like Toby's and Olivia relationship, but at least Toby found his way to make it official.
This one is a new one, very unique, even though it has the Journeyman meet Traveler feel, it still pulls through and I desperately look forward for next season, it looks like it would be a good one.
Five Stars
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Pretty good addition to "psychic" TV shows, 24 JÚLIUS 2009
Author: vram22 from United States
There's Medium, Ghost Whisperer, The Mentalist, Psych ... and now this. It's pretty cool that the creators were able to find an untapped niche in this crowded space.
The lead character, a paramedic, either voluntarily "reads" thoughts of others or involuntarily "receives" strong thoughts/emotions. His limitation is that he can only do it when in their presence and only gets what's currently in their mind.
On the plus side, the tone is serious, the acting is good and the stories are mostly interesting. On the negative side, the female police detective is entirely uncredible and a bit of pain to watch. Her character is written to present resistance to the psychic (she doesn't want his help), but the situation is ridiculous (even given a later disclosure of why). She knows what he can do and he regularly presents her with relevant, critical information ... but she still doesn't want his help. It's a poorly conceived attempt at creating tension and challenge.
Even so, the show is worth watching. Like Medium, getting bits of information and then figuring out how to extract the bigger story is an interesting thing to watch. While the writing isn't quite as good as Medium, it's still pretty good.
0 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Plot = straws?, 23 JÚNIUS 2009
Author: peterlaswn from Canada
I have only watched the first two episodes on itunes so far, but i have decided to stop...and i watch a wide variety of shows from 24 to battlestar galactica to grey's anatomy, and Canadian shows like flashpoint. This show just isn't on par with the rest of the same genre.
The show reminds me of Thirdwatch in the background with a telepathic character, but less technical when dealing with cases, and instead more "dramatic". The main character runs off by himself suddenly when he gets a telepathic vision to save a life in a way regular paramedics don't.
The plot for each episode seems to be going everywhere, touching a little bit of each character, but never focusing enough on one character for me to care. The shots look beautiful, but unless it is an indie art movie, plot and character development really need to be better for the show to stay on air.
A side note. Being a part-time paramedic in BC, Canada, i am not sure about the protocols the main character Toby follows as he works in Ontario. However I do know that i should never confront criminals, especially mentally unstable ones like arsonists and rogue cops by myself, alone, unarmed. His partner also doesn't look like he knows what he is doing at times. How did he get licensed?
1 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
Truly Awful, 17 AUGUSZTUS 2009
Author: Jenna S. from Canada
I read that this show was produced but then kept off the air for like a year and a half, I didn't even know it was Canadian but I guess (not really I guess but according to this article) that during the screen writer strike in the United States they produced a few shows in Canada and bought the rights to air these new shows in the U.S. such as Flashpoint (great series) and this (truly awful series). I'm all for Canadian produced T.V. shows but only good ones! This one sucks worse than any Canadian drama series has ever sucked before, it sucks sucks sucks! The acting is terrible, the plots of all three episodes I saw were completely stupid and in fact the whole concept of the show is just awful. This is a truly awful show that never should have been produced.
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