CBS summer series offers Salvation on Wednesday nights
The latest new summer offering from CBS, “Salvation,” continues a trend the network has had so much success with in the past. Just like “Under the Dome,” “Extant” and “Zoo,” “Salvation” starts with a world-shaking development and creates tension from efforts to deal with the threat while unfolding in what can only be a finite number of episodes. Face it. By the time “The Dome” came tumbling down, it was time to go to another summer disaster.
The disaster faced in “Salvation” is a giant asteroid whose ETA on Earth is in 186 days. The space rock is big enough that it will end all life on the planet.
Liam Cole (Charlie Rowe) is an MIT student who splits his time between gazing into space and looking to make a close encounter of the intimate kind. He makes a connection with both on the same night. The happiness he feels meeting someone he knows he could love to the end of time is tempered by the real possibility that the end of time could come in six months.
Cole shares his findings with Darius Tanz (Santiago Cabrera), a tech wizard who is as smart as he is good looking. Tanz is the only person who has more resources and knowledge to attack the problem than the government.
Neither Cole nor Tanz know that the government has known about the giant rock for three months and under the watchful eye of Harris Edwards (Ian Anthony Dale), the deputy secretary of defence, a plan has been put in motion. Once Edwards finds out Tanz has learned about the rock, he goes into full political mode revealing the plans for the rocket ship to save the day. Edwards also loops in the Pentagon press secretary, Grace Barrows ( Jennifer Finnigan), who also happens to be his secret lover.
The idea that the Earth is headed toward doom isn’t original as there have been countless movies (“Seeking a Friend for the End of the World”) and TV programs (“You, Me and the Apocalypse”) dealing with the impending end of all humanity. That kind of storyline familiarity is OK with a summer replacement series, as they aren’t designed to be strong enough to work for 22 episodes as would be the case with a fall launch. “Salvation” has a first season order of 13 episodes and that kind of limited series is good for some original distraction usually reserved for reruns.
And, compared to all of the forgettable game shows and reality shows that are consuming summer network time like a viral virus, any scripted product automatically earns a high mark.
“Salvation” doesn’t need that kind of sympathy because it takes an old concept and gives it life through strong casting and some interesting plot paths. Those elements are strong enough to save CBS’ summer ratings from being hit by a giant block of apathy from viewers.
The fact that the producers were smart enough to move Dale from the kind of hit-and-miss work he got on “Hawaii Five-0” to a starring role is a major plus. Dale’s perfect in the role as a man who knows how to survive in a political world but still shows some signs of humanity. Too often, this kind of character would be a sneering stereotype driven only by greed or self-preservation.
Cabrera also manages to take what is traditionally an unlikeable role as the guy with more brains and money than anyone else in the room and give the character both a warm and fun side. The main thing is he plays the role with just enough confidence to make him the kind of person you can trust will save the day but without any swagger.
The final key player is Rowe who takes the place of a Greek chorus as he’s often reduced to explaining in understandable terms what the major players are saying. It comes across as a little forced but the information does end up being handy.
As long as the emotional threads don’t become so tightly drawn they choke the rest of the story, “Salvation” will be able to give new life to an old tale of the end of life. Toss in some high production values and “Salvation” is a treat. Summers are busy times but make the commitment to this show because it won’t require a lot of deep thought. “Salvation” can be enjoyed purely as a light treat.
“Salvation” 9 p.m. Wednesdays, on CBS.