Web Series - Linked review. Highly Recommended!

Highly Recommended!

OK, one of my dreams has never been to be a movie director or producer. Maybe a writer. People say I am such an actor (but I don't know if they mean that in a good way or bad). What I have been is a professional freelance photographer with a studio and all the gear. But that was pre-divorce. And it was all film; not digital. 35mm and 4x5 (medium format) and I was trying to get into video and wanted to do large format. I always know that you have to diversify to survive. I did that when I had my stores and I am doing that in life. So when I saw an ad for a Sony video camera, it didn't do much for me, except there were 2 elements that caught my attention: a pretty girl and that she made a sci-fi net series called Linked.

We all know you can find anything online, and I clicked the link, to Linked. Now, a pet peeve of mine is that I will not usually click on a video of something that is not the pilot or first in a series. I HATE trying to figure out what is going on and who is what. So I was glad to see the pilot was there along with what looked liked the whole series. I watched them all and that included the bloopers and message to fans. Went to the web site and read about all the principles.

I am now ready to do my review on Linked.

One thing I do want to say before I start: I was in a low budget movie called The Detail. I had 10 seconds on screen shooting someone, but I was also the official still photographer a personal assistant and many other behind the scene jobs in that film, besides being a small investor. So I know what it takes to make a movie. I saw it first hand. I also know camera shots, lightings, etc. from my time as a photographer and I have been writing, like the creator of Linked, since I was a kid. I hone my writing style sometimes at work (I work for a newspaper) and on other blogs. And I know a good story. So all that being said, here goes.

Linked is sci-fi. Plus there, as I am a sci-fer. It also has what I would say is a "Lost" slant. But unlike that series which has gotten too weird even for me, it doesn't hit you over the head with it. The main character is a guy named Gabriel. That caught my attention, as we all know from our bible studies about Gabriel. And though in one of the descriptions he was classified as a slacker, I think that is doing him a grave mis-service. Either they wanted to show him as one and then he gets caught up in this and proves he isn't, or they mis-used the term. I think from little pieces of him he was not supposed to be the typical slacker, as he has a job (hes a doorman), had a girlfriend (we never saw) a nice apartment, so I would not say he is a slacker. Or he is just very bad at being one. Then another blurb has him as a typical guy; that I can go with. Now his friend, a law student drop out, and who, come on, is comic relief at times, would be more of a slacker than Gabriel. The actor they have playing him is very good. And even the side-kick isn't bad. As the series went on, they got more comfortable with their roles and really did develop.

The premise is that Gabriel has had these unique dreams. Since he was little. Once he dreamt of a woman and then she was found dead. He has had a few others but these have been the first he had in a while. As he tells his friend this and about what happened in the dream, his friend, initially reacts like any guy does when another tells him he had a dream about two girls. Insert crude sex joke here. But, to his friend's credit, he gets on board and actually pushes Gabriel to delve deeper. This is where it diverges from Lost as they become detectives. The dreams, in the later episodes aren't coming. They do come back though. To interesting results.

The very first episode is very strong. Very well done, and has that hook you need to keep people interested in the characters and what the story is about.

As the first season progressed, there were some leaps of faith in this. Like when the mom calls the detectives who are also looking for her missing daughters when Gabriel and side-kick come over so they can go to a possible leads house. Its typical tv/movie stuff, and not uncommon so raises no 'dis-belief.'

All in all very good for a new comer, and a perfect medium (The Net) for the series. The episodes are no more than 5 minutes, which at times is frustrating when the story and acting is good, and relieved in those places where the actors are two-dimensional stereotypes.

Being a gamer, and always trying to breath life into characters I understand the difficulty she had in this and is in no way a slap. We need bad guys for our good guys; supporting characters. And it makes the other ones stand out.

As I said, the main character Gabriel is very well done. We have had some back story, shown him that he does care about people and is a nice guy. Someone we all would like as a friend.

His friend, Jason, is another typical guy. As I said, he is more of a slacker, but thats not bad. We know he doesn't have a job, but must have money saved or something as he also has a nice apartment; must be into movies as we see a film clapper, some photography equipment and even a Michale Myers head. We find out that he is a law student drop out, but remembers enough to know what the penalty for breaking and entering is. A nice guy and a good friend. Very supportive of Gabriel, and a plucky side-kick. So Jason you got your nick-name as Plucky, even though you are trying to hang one onto Gabriel. Personally I like Sleeper. Yeah I know, Dreamer is more what he does, but I don't think it carries a punch.

Then you have Lynn. Besides being the creator/writer of this, she does a good job in this. As I mentioned, some things are moved along for the film's sake; like when Gabriel tells her this is a dream. And after token resistance, believes him. Part of this is the movement of the story, but another I would say, or maybe its the romantic in me, that the chemistry is there between them, that she trusts and believes in Gabriel. I will also give credit to Gabriel; hes smarter than I was thinking about the dream bit and then telling her to wake up. I would never have figured that out.

Like I said, her and her sister's back story about who one worked for and the other being a investigator/journalist is pretty good. But they are used more for why the girls are in this situation than anything else. Like a secondary profession in the old D & D game. Its there, but rarely acted on. Still, they are important points as that's the cause of the calamity that the girls are in.

Then there is Ray, Lynn's boyfriend. Initially he might have been considered a prime suspect. His actions were suspect. And then when Gabriel saw him flirting with another woman, made him even more suspicious. He is a heavy, and does a good part at it, though he needs a little work. Though he does have a presence, doesn't raise him out of a stereotype.

Finally, the guy that the sister's 'adopted,' Randy, was very good. But he still needs some work too. I will say that when he 'disappeared' in front of Gabriel, you didn't know if he actually had, which would have been great or did he just hide. The problem I found was that he just disappeared after he was arrested. The actor did a nice job, but still needed a bit more. Playing someone who has developmental problems, is a challenge. I am glad to see someone with that trait in a movie, as it roots us to real life. Some of the dialog and acting was a bit stilted, but again, for 5 minutes of air time and moving a story along, it can be forgiven.

Bravo with the trench coat and red sweat hoodie though!

Forgettable characters: the other sister, Angel, even though she is the first one we really see/know on screen. We do see a little more of here, but definitely a secondary character. The mom, needs work. And all the others.

As I mentioned, in a role play game, these people are the NPCs and are not as fleshed out. And in short 5 minute webisodes, it shows.

And finally the mystery man at the season ender. The girls are saved. But its not over for Gabriel. Great way to end the season. And makes me want to see more. I want to see more.

This series is fresher than a lot of others on network TV. I can imagine a movie out of the first season verses a series. In that case, more character development would be paramount. I would keep the principle people playing, Gabriel, Jason, Lynn, Ray and Randy. The story is solid. And the ending, though notlovey-dovey is upbeat. And then just when you thought it was over, Mystery Man enters.

Bravo!

All in all, I highly recommend this. The story is very good. The acting is good for the most part. And while its not The Guild, another web series, has potential. It would be great if these two female creators; from The Guild and Linked could get together. These two have great futures and I am interested in anything they do.

I give this 4.5 stars out of 5!

Here's the link: http://www.getlinkedtv.com/Home_Page.html