Stalker (Wednesdays 10pm CBS)

Well, this show didn’t start off on the right foot with critics, and some fans.

In case the title doesn’t say it all, Stalker is a show about Los Angeles detectives who investigate stalkers. No, not celeb stalkers – since as they pointed out in the pilot those kinds only equate to 10% of all stalking cases – they deal with the everyday “hey you look pretty on the bus, let me follow you home” kinds of stalkers.

I must admit this premise, when I read about it, did peak my interest so I was kind of looking forward to watching. That, and Stalker was created by Scream/Dawson’s Creek writer Kevin Williamson – who I’m a fan of…..

So….. where do I start? The beginning? Sure, since that’s about all I managed to get through while viewing this show. I don’t think Stalker isn’t the train wreck, wrapped up in an orphanage on fire that so many critics made it out to be. It’s just not much of anything really, and that’s the problem.

The television landscape, and particularly the CBS network (which airs Stalker), is littered with procedural cop shows. Everywhere you look – there’s a cop! There’s a cop! There’s a body! There’s a cop! BOOOOOORING! There’s only so many ways you can tell a “crime of the week” story, and let me tell you the Lifetime Network has this sorta shit wrapped up! So why not try something different? Why does it have to be cops that are the main character? Why isn’t the show revolving around the stalkee? Or why can’t it be the stalker we’re following? I know, I know – you need to have likable characters in your shows but characters doing horrible things can work. Hello Dexter? Walter White? Make it work writers! There’s potential there!

As I mentioned above, I didn’t make it all the way through this show, so therefore this will be a rather short review. My disinterest isn’t based on any one thing – it just bored me.  In a world of three thousand channels, Youtube, and TV on Demand you can’t risk boring, and potentially alienating, an audience with your first episode – and I think Stalker sure did that. For me anyway, there was nothing to draw me in. I don’t particularly care about the characters or events going on, and that’s not a great start.

Prediction: Stalker has a solid lead in with Criminal Minds, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it rides the wave and makes it a full season.

So go on, what were your thoughts? Were the critics right? Did I miss anything in the second half of the show? Give me a shout!