‘Past Life’ Pilot Is A Heart Wrenching Experience
Richard Schieff as Dr. Malachi Samuels, Kelli Giddish as Dr. Kate McGinn, Australian actor Price Whately as Nicholas Bishop and Ravi Patel as Dr. Anoop Karna
Fox have a new series on the way titled Past Life and after viewing the pilot I can tell you this is one to look out for.
Based upon M.J. Rose’s book ‘The Reincarnationist’, Past Life follows Regression Therapist Dr. Kate McGinn (Kelli Giddish) and her ex NYPD homicide detective partner Price Whatley (Nicholas Bishop) as they investigate what is happening to individuals alive today who are experiencing regressive memories of their past life.
The pilot, written by David Hudgins (Friday Night Lights / Everwood) and directed by Deran Sarafian (Terminal Velocity / House M.D.), chronicles the first investigation of the pair and their team as they race to unravel the past life of a teenage boy who is slowly being driven crazy by recurring memories of the horrifying end to his former self.
Additional cast include Richard Schieff as Dr. Malachi Samuels and Ravi Patel as Dr. Anoop Karna. You might remember Patel’s brief appearance as a telephone operator in Transformers. Schieff has appeared in numerous films and television series, though is probably most well known for his role as Toby Ziegler in The West Wing.
The pilot is quite possibly one of the most emotionally charged television pilots I’ve ever experienced. It is literally a heart wrenching, tear jerking premiere full of incredible and to my mind award winning performances.
Kelli Giddish (All My Children) and Australian actor Nicholas Bishop (Home and Away) are brilliantly cast and deliver an instant on-screen chemistry, almost as if they’ve been in their respective roles for years. However, it is the performance of Cayden Boyd that stole the show. X-Men fans will remember Cayden Boyd as the Young Angel in X-Men: The Last Stand. Again, to say anymore would be to ruin your experience of the story, but suffice it to say Boyd’s performance is so powerful that it is hard not to end up in tears as you watch it – and for the record there wasn’t a dry eye in the room during my viewing.
I honestly don’t know how far the series can stretch based upon the single premise of past life regression investigation, but the pilot was so good it would be virtually impossible not to tune in to find out.
Here’s the official synopsis from Fox:
Have you ever experienced déjà vu or met someone you thought seemed familiar? Do you believe in karma, fate or love at first sight?
From writer David Hudgins (“Friday Night Lights”), and inspired by the book “The Reincarnationist” by M.J. Rose, comes PAST LIFE, a new drama series about an unlikely pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before.
DR. KATE MCGINN (Kelli Giddish, “All My Children”) is not your typical psychologist. Confident, outspoken and highly educated, she works at The Talmadge Center for Behavioral Health in New York City, a world-renowned institute dedicated to the study of the science of the soul. After experiencing a past-life regression in her 20s, Kate became a believer in reincarnation. Using regression therapy and her natural gift for reading people, Kate helps solve the mysteries of her troubled clients who suffer from present-day problems caused by past-life traumas. She believes there are levels of consciousness and explanations for human behavior that science can’t begin to explain. Accustomed to skeptics, but not bothered by them, Kate is an unapologetic believer and a force of nature who marches to the beat of her own drummer.
Her partner, PRICE WHATLEY (Nicholas Bishop, “Home and Away”), is a different story. A former NYPD homicide detective, pragmatic and cynical, Price is a damaged soul who constantly battles grief and guilt over the accidental death of his wife. Price feels that Kate, though not certifiable, certainly operates on the fringes of science. It’s a volatile relationship, but with Price’s solid detective skills, and Kate’s penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, together they make a formidable, if somewhat dysfunctional, team.
A fast-paced emotional thrill ride, each episode finds Price and Kate working with their colleagues to unravel a new mystery involving the past-lives of their clients. DR. MALACHI TALMADGE (Richard Schiff, “The West Wing”) is Kate’s mentor and the center’s namesake, an avuncular but gruff elder statesman who is a legend in the field of cognitive research. DR. RISHI KARNA (Ravi Patel, “Scrubs”) is the rookie of the group, a baby-faced therapist from Calcutta who loves bad American TV, Cuban jazz and driving everyone crazy.
Produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, PAST LIFE is executive-produced by David Hudgins and Lou Pitt. Hudgins also serves as writer. Deran Sarafian (HOUSE, “Lost”) directed the pilot.
Watch the promo trailer:
Check out some images from the pilot courtesy of SpoilerTV:
The first season will consist of 13 episodes with the first to air in January 2010 on Tuesday’s at 9pm. I believe the pilot will air this Fall (to be confirmed).
Those attending the San Diego Comic-Con will be treated to a screening of the full pilot on Friday, July 24 from 2:15-3:15pm.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Hi, just have a question. My son Rufio Lerma is in one of the episodes of Past Life and I just wanted to know which one. Don’t want to miss it when it airs. Can you help me.
I would appreciate it. Thank you
February 9th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
HEY ! who played Noah on the first episode aired..?
February 10th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Can you verify the line-up of the Episodes and when they come out no one seems to answer these messages. can you please just reply to the email provided. Looking espically for the Episode called “Gone Daddy Gone”.
Appreciate any information you can provided.
February 10th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
i was told noah was played by Cayden Boyd . i haven’t looked it up yet … what a great show . i hope the series can keep up the intensity of the pilot !
February 14th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I watched Episode 1 before I watched the pilot and thought it was very good. When I watched the pilot, all was well until her mother made the comment that her boyfriend was like Jesus, another “white” man telling her what to do. I found this offensive and unnecessary. I think I’ve had enough.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I am so diappointed with KFOX TV it has taken the show off the air. Would like to know if you plan on having another station air the program, it was a great show. To bad that KFOX TV listens to those few who don’t appreaciate a good mistery show with a good ending. If the show doesn’t air with any other station how can I get a copy of one of the Episodes. It very important to me my son is in it. Thank you so much for any information you can pass on!!!!
November 3rd, 2010 at 4:44 am
This approach jumperoo is a good! We were this once great child , ended up being three many weeks unwanted, although she was initially too modest because of it, she or he meet around the cushioned seating which has a rolled-up quilt as the booster automobile plus some good sized training books using his particular your feet. This individual before long expanded involved with it and even had been swinging similar to a master. He or she is currently seven weeks ancient but still takes pleasure in that.