TV: Eyes

I've seen two episodes of Eyes so far, and almost 100% of why I want to keep watching can be summed up in two words: Tim Daly. He has an incredibly easy-going, sly, humorous, totally winning charisma in his role as the owner of a big, fancy P.I. firm that (you will be surprised to hear) doesn't always play by the rules!!

The problem is that every other castmember (with the possible exception of Laura Leighton) seems to think they're on a completely different show. Tim Daly is playing light comedy, with a touch of romance, while everyone else is playing gritty crime drama.

It's not really the fault of the actors; the show is written that way. Tim Daly is saying things like, "That's totally awesome!" with boyish glee, and flirting with Leighton, while the employees at his firm are having affairs with their best friend's wife, or recovering from mental breakdowns, or secretly working for the competition to bring ruin to Daly and his firm, or even shooting their co-workers in the head. (That one turned out to be just a flesh wound, but still.) There's a great deal of darkness and unlikability grafted on what should be a very light and likable show. It doesn't really work both ways, and Daly is showing which way is the best way.

Eyes is still worth watching for Daly, especially when he's with Leighton (they seem to have a great deal of fun playing off one another), and A.J. Langer (who most people know from My So-Called Life, but who I became a fan of from It's Like, You Know). Everyone else needs to lighten the heck up!