We need to talk about Holden.
Freeform seems to be taking notes from Netflix’s Stranger Things with their new sci-fi show, Beyond, and not just because they're making the entire season available to binge online (episodes will still air weekly on Freeform).
The series follows Holden Matthews (Burkely Duffield) who, after a creepy light from above shines down on him (aliens?) as a 13-year-old, ends up in an unexplainable coma. When Holden wakes up from the coma 12 years later, he’s just as confused as the doctors who simply can’t explain the miracle. Holden’s mother and father (Romy Rosemont and Michael McGrady) are just happy to have Holden back - so they aren’t too worried about the details. But it soon becomes clear that Holden’s re-entry into life won’t be a smooth transition. He’s got some intense supernatural powers and people keep telling him that “They” are after him.
Also joining Holden’s new life post-coma is his younger brother Luke (Jonathan Whitesell), whose dynamic with Holden is one of the best parts of the two-hour premiere. The obvious bond between the brothers grounds the show, which could easily be overwhelmed by all of the unanswered questions. Including those of a mysterious girl Willa (Dilan Gwyn), who brings conspiracy reminiscent of The X-Files to the show. Yes, she literally tells Holden to "trust no one”. His best friend from before the coma Jeff (Jeff Pierre) is probably the character that seems to be the least fully-formed, but also serves as a reminder of the disconnect between Holden and his old life.
Overall, the show is cinematically Spielberg-esque. There are lens flares galore, bright shining lights, and a bicycle race through the woods a la E.T. Holden’s coming-of-age (er, time) storyline is the most compelling of the premiere. Duffield’s Holden has the innocence required to make the unbelievable land emotionally. You feel for Holden as he tries to navigate this new world he’s been thrown into, in addition to supernatural abilities that he’s struggling to control. Gwyn’s Willa also makes the frustrating lack of information almost charming. She obviously cares for Holden and that relationship is one reason the show works in the first two hours.
The conspiracy storyline isn’t given much explanation and seems disconnected from Holden’s re-entry into the world in the premiere. It could almost be a show of its own following mysterious members of the unknown governmental-type organization and their lives. Assuming these divided stories soon become interwoven in a concrete way, all of the pieces of what could be a fun addition to the sci-fi TV landscape exist in Beyond. With the success of Stranger Things and superhero shows that pop up on every network now, it’s tough to imagine adding yet another mysterious sci-fi show into the jam-packed schedule. But with Beyond you’ll get a conspiracy, supernatural abilities, and the heart-warming family moments to give you those fuzzy feelings.
The Verdict
The premiere of Beyond hits the right emotional notes. The mystery of what happened to Holden is given enough room to be intriguing without overwhelming - yet. As Holden tries to adjust to life out of the coma and being more “normal”, the supporting characters are only raising more questions. Now that the world of Beyond is established, it’s time to start filling in the gaps.
Beyond's two-hour premiere airs Monday, January 2nd on Freeform.
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