Charlie Jade: Can of Worms

This special clip episode was created for those who haven’t seen every episode, or were otherwise having trouble making sense of the show.


Title: “Can of Worms”

First broadcast July 28, 2005.

Cast

Jeffrey Pierce as Charlie Jade
Rolanda Marais as Blues Paddock
Tyrone Benskin as Karl Lubinsky
Michael Filipowich as 01 Boxer
Marie-Julie Rivest as Jasmine/Paula
Patricia McKenzie as Reena
David Dennis as Sew Sew Tukkars
Danny Keogh as Julius Galt
Michelle Burgess as Essa Rompkin
Anneke Weidemann as Jody.

Plot:

After Charlie’s disappearance, Karl Lubinsky gets drunk and retells the entire series to a stranger in a bar. Specifically, he spills to one of the Men in Black who, in fact, are Men in Dark Grey.

High Points:

The repeat of the Gammaverse shots. What’s a ticket cost?

The fact that this episode, in the end, accomplishes its intent: those who haven’t been watching regularly should be able to pick up at the critical juncture reached by the story arc last week, and the rest of us can review things we’ve missed. I had not realized, for example, just how many times the MiGs had appeared, somewhere, in past episodes.

Low Point:

Since this is a special clip episode—- and they had the integrity to run it separate of the series-—I’ll try to be nice. But the entire premise grates. Lubinsky, who suffered such anguish for betraying information in order to save his life, now tells a total stranger the entire story? Granted, the MiG may have been exercising some subtle influence on him (the final scenes suggests this may be the case), but I found it irksome. In keeping with such episodes, we also flash back to things Lubinsky doesn’t know, such as 01’s other life and Charlie’s encounter with Jody in the desert.

We even get a flashback to a flashback sequence.

The Scores:

Originality: 1/6. Clip episode.

Effects: 5/6.

Story: 3/6 Am I evaluating the silly storyline that justifies the clips, or the extraordinary story arc of the series? I’ve arrived at a compromise score….

Acting: 5/6 Generally good: a few of the actors can be over-the-top at times (and I’m not thinking of Filipowich, who plays a lunatic).

Emotional Response: 4/6 Some of the scenes, even without the full context, retain an impact.

Production: 5/6.

Overall: 3/6.

In total, “Can of Worms” receives 26/42

Additional Comments

We learn more about the MiGs, and they give me pause. The show has managed to keep a sense of realism, despite its fantastic elements. The first blow, for me, was making the danger truly universe (heck, multiverse) threatening, when we were doing fine with just the various characters’ problems, and the threat to the Gammaverse earth. Now, we have the MiGs in our faces. I’m uncertain how I feel about event-tampering, universe-travelling mystery men. However, I give the show’s creators the benefit of the doubt, because they’ve accomplished so much.

The Timeshredder’s reviews may be found here.

3 replies on “Charlie Jade: Can of Worms”

  1. DVD?
    With all the positive comments this show’s been getting here I stopped resisting and downloaded the first two episodes yesterday. The quality of the download was a bit rubbish but yea this show is fantastic! But now I’m sorta stuck, I want to see more but I won’t spoil the show by downloading any more bad quality videos. Anyone heard any word on DVDs?

    I’m going to go now and fire a few emails at some UK channels see if any of them have plans. <foolish optimism mode engaged>

    • Re: DVD?
      From what I’ve heard from one of the head honchos at Chum, they’re pushing all their energies into getting a Season 2, therefore there are absolutely no plans for putting Charlie Jade on DVD at this time…or, unfortunately, the forseeable future.

      Much to my chagrin.

      • Re: DVD?

        From what I’ve heard from one of the head honchos at Chum, they’re pushing all their energies into getting a Season 2

        Well I suppose the possibility of a second series is better than early DVDs. Gotta think long term!

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