Runaway Plot

New TV Shows: "Runaway" and "Smith"

Like Hollywood, TV networks discover a fresh plot device and then that plot device reproduces like rabbits. One really popular plot device now is the character who is in trouble or has troubles but also has a family that also goes through the troubles. One old example of this is "Medium." Psychic chases ghosts and murder suspects while raising a family.

Now there are at least two more new shows with this same plot device: "Runaway" and "Smith."

"Runaway" is the story of a family whose father is framed for murder and the family is now on the run from the police and the bad guys who committed the murders. One would think that running away with a family in tow would add to the suspense of a show. It doesn't. In fact, I found the show boring. Waiting for the teenage son, or the teenage daughter, or the young son to make a mistake which will lead to the family's arrest or death is just that: waiting, waiting, and more waiting. There are close calls with the police and lying, lying and more lying, and then waiting. This all makes for a rather boring show.

The actors in "Runaway" are fine: Donnie Wahlberg, Leslie Hope, and the rest. The writing is competent but unoriginal and mundane. And I don't see this series getting better. So, I won't be TIVOing this show.

"Smith" has the same problem as "Runaway." In the TV show "Smith," the main character is a thief with a family. Again, this would seem to make the plot more interesting but it doesn't. We wait for the main character, Smith, to make a mistake. We wait for his family to find out that he is a thief. We wait for the police to catch the thief. Waiting is boring.

And again, I like the cast, which is led by veteran actor Ray Liotta as the master thief. But the writing is not up to par with "Mission Impossible" or any other show which depends on clever crimes to keep the viewer interested. And again, I don't see this show getting any better. So, I won't be TIVOing this show.

A story device that involves the main character in trouble and dragging his or her family around is more difficult to write than one would think. And these two shows just aren't succeeding.