Do you prefer your television with a heart and a brain?
5
By Cutebluejay
Yep, I do too, which is exactly why this show has become one of my all-time favorites in a matter of weeks (I only discovered it recently). For years, I have heard nothing but amazing things about Everwood, and although I didn't catch it during its original run, I knew I wanted to give it a try eventually. Then I found the season sets at Best Buy for only $9.99 each, which seemed like an impossible deal to pass up. I will admit that it took a while to get into the storyline and adjust to all the characters/subplots, and I was occasionally worried that it was just another one of those overhyped family dramas, but when you watch the episodes the second or third time around, that's when you get hooked. Now I have purchased episodes for my iPad as well, and I can't get enough. When the story opens, Andy Brown is a world renowned neurosurgeon living in Manhattan with his family. For 15 years, he's been able to thrive in his brilliant career while his patient and loving wife picks up the slack at home. Then she's killed in a car accident, and in the midst of his grief, Andy makes a shocking decision to leave his high profile job, relocate to Everwood, Colorado (an area nothing like the noise and pace of New York City), and raise the two children he barely knows. He receives a second chance at parenthood through 9-year-old Delia, who's at an age where she still adores her daddy and is young enough to forgive his shortcomings, but 15-year-old Ephram is a whole other story. A budding pianist with attitude to boot, he has endured the physical and emotional absence of his father for far too long and is not about to let go of that grudge anytime soon. Most sullen, bratty kids like him come off as insufferable on the screen, but something about Ephram rings true because the episodes actually take ample time to explore his character's very real losses, resentments, and social struggles. Season 1 offers a well-written, nicely acted, and carefully executed portrait of a man in Andy's position might truly cope with a situation like this, and it doesn't always involve happy endings and sweet, sappy scenes where everyone is comfortable and effectively communicating all the time. This is not the story of a formerly mediocre father who suddenly transforms into a doting dad with a newfound passion and purpose in life. To me, the show's tone was established in the second episode of the series, when Andy was talking to his deceased wife. She told him he was going to be just fine without him, and he said "Fine is not great". Her response? "You've had enough of great. It isn't all it's cracked up to be. Fine is real". Sounds familiar to me. Sounds like real life, doesn't it? Despite being a likable character with good intentions, Andy Brown is clearly flawed, like all the characters here, and that becomes more apparent in later seasons, but if anything, it makes you appreciate them even more, because they are portrayed honestly. If you are easily annoyed by shows with shallow characters, lack of substance, and ludicrous dialogue that moves in circles, you may find something genuinely refreshing in Everwood. Its storybook small town and quirky/colorful residents are reminiscent of Gilmore Girls, with whispers of 7th Heaven's warmth and the teenage angst of Dawson's Creek. Everwood's subtle humor and hard-fought sweetness are assets that succeed in places that most scripts falter, but the real draw in this series is the dialogue. Frankly, I am sick and tired of today's shows depicting unrealistic conversations that attempt to flaunt how well they're "keeping up with the times" by poking fun at certain topics/social groups, and it's getting increasingly easier to see which shows are simply trying too hard. Everwood obviously never needed to try, because from the very beginning, they had an intelligent team of writers, a firm grip on reality, a diverse cast of characters to please audiences of all ages, and a talented group of actors to back everything up. It may have only lasted four seasons, but sadly, not enough people just don't know what's good anymore. As for the rest of us, at least we have the re-runs to enjoy for years to come, and if you (like me) are eager to get away from the trash that's cluttering our current media, take a trip to Everwood and see what quality television is supposed to look like. I highly doubt you will regret it.
