Season One Finale Advance Review
“War” Airing April 5, 2011
Watch LIGHTS OUT on Tuesday nights at 10 PM EST on FX
April 3, 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 “War” Season One Finale Review, Airing 4/5/2011
LIGHTS OUT has been leading up to this monumental moment all season; the fight between ‘Lights’ Leary and ‘Death Row’ Reynolds is on. I know we have all been waiting for this and it is well worth the wait. The fight sequence is a masterpiece of beauty and precision. Holt McCallany and Billy Brown deserve awards for their performances and their dedication of their minds and bodies to roles that required so much from them, in order to capture all of the intricate movements that would be expected from professional boxers. This pinnacle episode of LIGHTS OUT will thrill you and break your heart, all at the same time because as we are getting the fight we have been longing for, it is also a reminder that the legend of Patrick Lights Leary will be just that. FX features the most glorious shows on television, so I am delighted that they let us spend one gratifying season with LIGHTS OUT. Obviously, I wish we had more time to enjoy this series because I adore it so, but television is a business and sometimes artistic expression is forced to take a backseat. It does make me sad that shows like “Jersey Shore” are still around and we have lost such incredible shows like TERRIERS and now LIGHTS OUT. Why, television viewers? Why do you forsake eloquent shows in favor of inebriated orange people? I guess I will never comprehend that one.
You often forget about the youngest Leary daughter, Katie (Lily Pilblad) and how she has to deal with her father and what she thinks of him going into the ring. She may be young but she certainly understands the violent aspect of it.
Pops (Stacy Keach) and Patrick (Holt McCallany) spend a little quality time in the ring together before the big fight. It is such a sweet moment that is “saved by the bell”. I love seeing Pops take over and talk candidly to reporter, Mike Fumosa (Ben Shenkman) about the fight. Stacy is such an amazing actor and he added an extra element of charm and excitement to the already powerful cast.
Hal Brennan (Bill Irwin) calls for Patrick to join him for a Champs dinner. They discuss Barry K. Word (Reg E. Cathey) and his empire and are joined by an elite unit. Patrick has a vision that demonstrates his love for the sport and his respect for all of those involved.
Theresa (Catherine McCormack) has a chat with Richard ‘Death Row’ Reynolds’ wife, Jennifer (Reiko Aylesworth). They discuss the “war talk” that is going on and although they are both boxer’s wives that is about all they have in common.
It is time for the prefight weigh in and some more “war talk”. If you think you have it hard at the office just think about what these guys call a work day. Barry has one request, “Save that rage for the stage”. It does get pretty heated and close but that is exactly what you would expect. ‘Death Row’ pulls out the typical cards and discusses ‘Lights’ role model status. The fight talk really gets exciting. Patrick is certainly not without flaws and he is man enough to admit that.
Barry stops by Patrick’s room to offer a little advice and bring his attention to something that he may have missed. Barry is not a fan of the “Justice League of America”. You know Barry, always trying to get the wheels turning. I could not imagine anyone else playing Barry. Reg does such a splendid job in making me really hate Barry. Barry is such a sleaze.
Patrick shares his darkest thoughts and deeds and displays his vulnerable side in a brief but beautiful moment. You find out what element of his life troubles him the most and it is heart wrenching. The moment isn’t forced it just is and that is the true telltale sign of an incredible actor.
Prior to the fight Patrick talks to Pops about what he has found out and Pops rectifies the situation with one of the best lines of the episode; referring to Patrick’s fists, Pops utters, “These are your judges”. Now that was a beautiful scene.
Patrick enters the ring determined and confident that this is his fight and he will be victorious. Patrick has a glimmer in his eye that he shares with his wife; another stellar aspect of a well thought out series. The attention to detail is impeccable. Most of the characters have little quirks that make them undeniably captivating. I adore that and it’s what makes a series so special. You actually really care about the characters and that is so important. I know when I watch a show and think well, hey a bomb could go off and take out all of the characters and I wouldn’t care; I pick up my remote and move on. This was not one of those shows. I wanted to see the characters live on and celebrate at least ten seasons of cinematic ecstasy.
The ‘Lights” and ‘Death Row’ fight is brilliant and will leave you gasping. It gets bloody and the punches are intense. I’m sure Billy and Holt left with some real life bruises and battle scars. I’m not going to let you know who wins but I will tell you it is such an incredible sequence of events that you don’t want to miss.
The closing scene will bring a tear to your eye and if it doesn’t than you don’t have a pulse. It is such a shame that I have to write this review as a series finale and not a season finale. So many people have fallen in love with LIGHTS OUT just like they did with TERRIERS and it is unfortunate that we have to say goodbye but at least we got to enjoy a full season, unlike the fans of say, “Lone Star”; so thinking in positive terms let’s just be thankful for that. I was lucky enough to get a chance to chat with Holt McCallany and Warren Leight a couple of times about LIGHTS OUT and they really stood behind their work and it’s so nice to see that. I know they are proud of the one season that they gave us and I look forward to all of their future endeavors. Do not miss the LIGHTS OUT finale on Tuesday night at 10 PM EST only on FX.
