Season One Episode One, Pilot Review
“Pilot” Airing January 11, 2011
Watch LIGHTS OUT on Tuesday nights at 10 PM EST on FX
January 9, 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 “Pilot” Season One Pilot Review, Airing 1/11/2011
LIGHTS OUT instantly captivates you and when catch a glimpse of the first image that appears on your screen, you will know why. The pilot rapidly draws you in and you want to know everything about all of the characters and circumstances at hand. I really didn’t think I would enjoy a show about boxing but I also had no interest in watching a show about a motorcycle club and yet, SONS OF ANARCHY has turned out to be one of my absolute favorite shows of all time. FX has done it again by showcasing a beautiful series about humanity and all the struggles involved in finding your place in the world. If only FX would bring back TERRIERS they would win as the best network in television history. The pilot is written by Justin Zackham and Warren Leight. It is directed by Clark Johnson and Norberto Barba.
LIGHTS OUT revolves around Patrick “Lights” Leary (Holt McCallany), a former heavyweight boxing champion that retired from the ring five years ago. If the opening scene alone doesn’t prompt you put aside your remote for an hour than you don’t have a pulse and you may want to get that checked out by a medical professional ASAP. Holt does an outstanding job bringing Patrick “Lights” Leary to life. Patrick’s wife Theresa (Catherine McCormack), a physician’s assistant helps bring him back from a dark place and into a conscious state of mind. Patrick is not happy with the way things went down and although his wife agrees she issues an ultimatum.
Poor Patrick just can’t seem to catch a break in his own home as he loses his stance against the clock, his daughters and even his breakfast goes unappreciated. I guess being “The Champ” can only take you so far. Patrick’s tokens of forgiveness are not worth what they used to be and as the series progresses you can see him start to take notice.
Patrick’s brother Johnny Leary (Pablo Schreiber) is the perfect example of why LIGHTS OUT is going to be a success. He serves as the catalyst that is responsible for setting all of the events into motion that really get your juices flowing. Johnny set up a television interview with Patrick that discusses his feelings about what went down when he fought Richard ‘Death Row’ Reynolds (Billy Brown) and if he plans on ever coming out of retirement for a rematch.
The character that I am most excited about is Robert ‘Pops’ Leary (Stacy Keach). I have always been a fan of Stacy’s work and his unforgettable voice. He brings undeniable strength and grace to any role that he commits to and Pops is no exception. Patrick keeps the gym going for him so he has something to keep the fire inside him lit. Pops keeps active by helping with the fighters and he thinks he has found something special in another fighter.
Patrick finds out some disturbing information and he does everything he has to in order to keep things straight and that involves some shady circumstances and situations. Johnny has a knack for keeping things suspenseful.
One of my favorite scenes involves no words only glances that express the deepest of all emotions. The writers of LIGHTS OUT certainly know the proper way to set the tone and Holt certainly knows how to set his screen time on fire. You will know which scene I am talking about when you watch the show and you WILL watch the show.
Patrick doesn’t let anything stand in his way and he is all for inviting himself over for dinner. In a revelation it is discovered that “sometimes you miss hitting people”. Patrick and I agree on one very important requirement, ice cream is a must for all serious talks. That should be printed on a shirt. Patrick tells his kids how lying is never the right thing to do and Theresa brings up the family motto “Trust or Bust”. That plays perfectly into everything that takes place and “just breathe” is the perfect recommendation to assist you in getting through a long week of just waiting for another episode of LIGHTS OUT.
I really feel passionate about this series and I know that you will, too. I have seen the first five episodes and each week the intensity increases and you are left demanding more. Don’t miss the premiere of LIGHTS OUT on January 11 only of FX.
