Season One Episode Seven Advance Review
“Crossroads” Airing February 22, 2011
Watch LIGHTS OUT on Tuesday nights at 10 PM EST on FX
February 20, 2011
By Lena Lamoray
LIGHTS OUT FX OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: Lights Out, from Executive Producer/Showrunner Warren Leight (In Treatment, Law & Order Criminal Intent), stars Holt McCallany (CSI: Miami) as “Patrick “Lights‟ Leary,” an aging former heavyweight boxing champion who struggles to find his identity and support his wife and three daughters after retiring from the ring. The financial downturn coupled with a series of failed investments leave him at a perilous crossroads – battling the urge to return to boxing or reluctantly accepting a job as a brutal and intimidating debt collector. Catherine McCormack (Braveheart) co-stars as “Theresa Leary,” Lights‟ wife who is finishing her medical residency; Pablo Schreiber (The Wire) as “Johnny Leary,” Lights‟ brother and business manager; and Stacy Keach (Fat City) as “Robert “Pops‟ Leary,” Lights‟ father and former trainer who runs the boxing gym owned by Lights. Clark Johnson (The Shield, The Wire) and Norberto Barba (In Treatment, CSI: NY) directed the pilot episode. Series Creator Justin Zackham (The Bucket List), Phillip Noyce (Salt) and Ross Fineman are also Executive Producers. Lights Out is produced by Fox Television Studios and FX Productions. FX has ordered 13 episodes of Lights Out, which was filmed in New York.
LIGHTS OUT “Crossroads” Season One Episode 7 Review, Airing 2/22/2011
In this week’s episode of LIGHTS OUT, the disrobing begins as the fight between Good and Evil transpires. You get a glimpse of the fight in the beginning but you have to wait until the end of the episode to see the entire match but it is more than worth the wait. “Crossroads”- Lights, at a crossroad, attempts a difficult comeback both in the ring, and in his home. Written by Robin Veith. Directed by Ken Girotti.
Patrick ‘Lights’ Leary (Holt McCallany) and Javier ‘El Diablo’ Morales (Gavin-Keith Umeh) finally get to spend some quality time together in the place that counts the most, the arena. I love watching Patrick fight, but more about that later.
Patrick sits down with an unlikely dinner companion at his sister’s diner. The guest prompts Patrick to inquire, “You switch cults again?” They discuss opposing viewpoints of the world and their significance and Patrick is handed a very valuable gift. Patrick discuses boxing and how he “just likes to punch people.”
Patrick has to stop training to deal with a family emergency. Teresa (Catherine McCormack) and Patrick get a wakeup call on how much the stress between them is affecting those closest to them.
Patrick has to be cleared to fight by a physician and that also requires an eye exam. Patrick is a smooth talker but his vision isn’t exactly where it needs to be.
Who says boxing is not romantic? Throughout all the stress of training, family woes and everything else that has transpired in his life, Patrick took the time remember the past in hopes that Teresa will be by his side.
Patrick is training hard and there is a question about how hard Pops (Stacy Keach) is working him. Johnny (Pablo Schreiber) voices his concern and when called out on his statement he admits he screwed up on managing Patrick but Pops is “screwing up the boxer.”
“Welcome to Miami” and let the pre-fight weigh in begin. The weigh in is just like the boxing conference and Morales makes a point to be the bigger ass, both figuratively and literally. He expresses his opinion of Patrick and there is even a package grab in his favor which is really low but very expected from a convicted rapist and dirty fighter. That just adds an extra element of disdain for him and more excitement to see him in the ring with Patrick.
And now, the moment you have all been anxiously waiting for, the showdown between “Good vs. Evil”. Who wins? Well, I know and you will too on Tuesday night. I will tell you, it is a fight worth watching. El Diablo wants to prove how loco and unthreatened he is by Patrick that he provides his own blows to his own head. He is one class act and is dubbed as the dirtiest fighter in the game of boxing. He is not afraid to hit below the belt. As you can imagine, the fight crosses the line and it will have you gasping in awe. Holt and Gavin-Keith do an incredible job with the fight sequence.
Do not miss LIGHTS OUT this week. Even if you are not a boxing fan you can’t deny the physicality and focus that it requires. There is more to boxing then just a couple of people beating the crap out of each other. It is an art form and when it is done right it will exhibit elegance and magnificence. Watch LIGHTS OUT Tuesday nights only on FX.
