Chance's "beater" is in the shop for a brake problem. Audrey drops Chance off where he saves the mechanic from his suicide attempt by carbon monoxide poisoning. Henry Bloom, the mechanic played by John Gries, isn't particularly grateful and charges him $75 for the repair. Seems reasonable for a brake job, only the car still won't stop properly and Chance has an accident suffering a head laceration. At the emergency room Chance sees the mechanic, who is being treated for the effects of the carbon monoxide. During a bedside chat Bloom tells a tale that he actually a multiple murderer because he has killed two men - one by his actions and one by his lack of action. The second man turns out to be the recipient of a lucky reprieve as his scheduled execution, the previous evening, was postponed due to a electrical glitch which disabled the electric chair. Bloom is frantic to set the record straight and save an innocent man, but has scant time to do so as the execution is on for midnight tonight. Chance believes it his strange luck that must be behind this and he is equally possessed to see justice served. It's also a brilliant touch how the mechanic actually didn't really repair Chance's car and how that plays into the story's outcome.
Strange Luck is a show with a tremendous premise: as a child Chance Harper is the sole survivor of a plane crash in which all others were killed and ever since has been blessed/plagued with "Strange Luck" (i.e., good luck and bad luck). Only having watched three episodes I think it is safe to say this is definitely the best and is quite good. D.B. Sweeney is a very likable central character who is given a very good story from which an extremely wide variety of scenarios are sure to develop. One of the central themes, besides his luck, seems to be his search from his brother who he has recently realized is likely to exist. His job as a free-lance photog who is not unlike a more sober Raymond Chandler hard case is spot-on for some cool mischief. His two central co-stars are the excellent Francis Fisher as Angie, a kind of admirer in waiting working as a waitress in his hangout, The Blue Plate Cafe, also there's the striking Pamela Gidley, as his ex and possible future love, Audrey Westin, who works for the local newspaper and depends on him for those hard to get incriminating photos of people in compromising situations. This supporting cast may be compact, but they really add a fantastic flavor which each weeks story with guest stars revolve. Add some cool, sometimes haunting, music by Mark Mothersbaugh and this show should have been so much more appreciated.
"Second Chance" shows many of the strong points that "Strange Luck" can deliver and is recommended viewing - if you can find it. Sad to say the solitary season isn't readily available as of early 2012, an injustice that begs to be corrected.
Strange Luck is a show with a tremendous premise: as a child Chance Harper is the sole survivor of a plane crash in which all others were killed and ever since has been blessed/plagued with "Strange Luck" (i.e., good luck and bad luck). Only having watched three episodes I think it is safe to say this is definitely the best and is quite good. D.B. Sweeney is a very likable central character who is given a very good story from which an extremely wide variety of scenarios are sure to develop. One of the central themes, besides his luck, seems to be his search from his brother who he has recently realized is likely to exist. His job as a free-lance photog who is not unlike a more sober Raymond Chandler hard case is spot-on for some cool mischief. His two central co-stars are the excellent Francis Fisher as Angie, a kind of admirer in waiting working as a waitress in his hangout, The Blue Plate Cafe, also there's the striking Pamela Gidley, as his ex and possible future love, Audrey Westin, who works for the local newspaper and depends on him for those hard to get incriminating photos of people in compromising situations. This supporting cast may be compact, but they really add a fantastic flavor which each weeks story with guest stars revolve. Add some cool, sometimes haunting, music by Mark Mothersbaugh and this show should have been so much more appreciated.
"Second Chance" shows many of the strong points that "Strange Luck" can deliver and is recommended viewing - if you can find it. Sad to say the solitary season isn't readily available as of early 2012, an injustice that begs to be corrected.