TV Review: The CW’s ‘Ringer’ With Sarah Michelle Gellar Almost Works

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CHICAGO – The highly-buzzed “Ringer” essentially kicks off the Fall 2011 season tonight by bringing back one of the most beloved TV stars of the last twenty years in Sarah Michelle Gellar. Not surprisingly, she’s the best thing about the program, as the writing and direction could really use some work if Gellar expects to be attached to it for as long as she was associated with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” There’s promise and potential here, but it’s not yet fulfilled.

TV Rating: 3.0/5.0

“Ringer” is one of several high-concept shows this season in which it’s truly hard to imagine what it’s going to be about in January much less in season two or three. It feels more like the set-up for a mini-series than a long-running program and one of the biggest concerns associated with the show has to be that fans are going to be strung along like they have been in so many failed dramas of the last few years. What showrunners are learning is that the formula in which viewers given only a few answers may have worked for incredibly-well-written shows like “Lost” but it’s a difficult tightrope-walking act to pull off. Will “Ringer” do so? Only time will tell but there’s ample reason for concern that this will be a show with too many questions and not enough answers.

Ringer
Photo credit: The CW

Of course, the premiere is almost all questions. “Ringer” starts by introducing us to twins Siobhan and Bridget (both played by Gellar). Bridget is a former stripper and recovering alcoholic who is about to be the star witness against a notorious madman. While under the watchful eye of an agent named Victor Machado played wonderfully by Nestor Carbonell (Richard from “Lost”), Bridget gets spooked and hits the road. She tracks down her rich sister Siobhan, who hasn’t even told the people in her world that she has a twin. Of course, that makes it easier for Bridget to take her sister’s place when Siobhan disappears on a boat trip. Bridget thinks that spoiled sis took a long swim and killed herself, so she assumes sliding into her life will be easy. It’s not.

Ringer Photo credit: The CW

Bridget/Siobhan starts by patching what seems like some broken bridges with her husband Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd of “The Fantastic Four”). The disgustingly wealthy Andrew and Siobhan clearly weren’t getting along, making Andrew suspicious when his wife starts being unusually nice to him. Also suspicious is Henry (Kris Polaha of “Life Unexpected”), Siobhan’s long-time lover and husband of her best friend Gemma (Tara Summers of “Boston Legal”). Why is Siobhan discarding him to go back to her loveless marriage? And is her best friend suspicious of both of them?

Clearly, Siobhan had enough problems to make a switch into her complicated existence easier said than done but it gets extra complicated after there’s an attempt on her life. Yes, even in her sister’s shoes, Bridget might get killed. Can she figure out who wants her sister dead? Can she stay one step ahead of the agent growing suspicious of Bridget’s “sister”? And what will happen when the real Siobhan surfaces?

If these questions sound like the ingredients for a young adult book or a mini-series, it’s because they are. Where on Earth does “Ringer” go in the second half of this season much less in future ones? Will Bridget really be forced to keep up the sister act for years? Won’t Agent Machado get a little bored? Won’t audiences? One of the most curious elements of “Ringer” has to be that it’s nearly impossible to determine what this program will look like week to week. I could easily see audiences intrigued for the first month and then slowly eroding as too few questions are answered to keep them satisfied. Just don’t string viewers along. They’re more attuned to that than ever and will jump ship faster than you can say “What is The Event?”

Ringer Photo credit: The CW

Ignoring the questionable future, how is “Ringer” now? It’s OK. It’s one of those shows that kind of falls in the gap between style and substance. None of it is remotely realistic, of course, but it also doesn’t have enough personality. I wish the producers would discard attempts at realism and go for pure style. If they did so with enough gusto, they could have something closer to the works of Brian De Palma than to a very special arc on “Gossip Girl.” This should be an exagerrated, creative world, but it often comes off a little bland for the ridiculousness of the story set within it.

It helps to have a talented cast to get over the lack of directorial personality. Gellar starts a little shaky — scenes with both sisters seem a little forced and awkward — but she really settles in during the second half of the episode as she gets to play multiple motives: Hiding from her past while trying to investigate her bizarre present. She’s the best reason to watch the program (although the great Carbonell is just a few beats behind on that list).

Strong performances and a clever concept are two things that most new Fall 2011 programs can’t boast, so perhaps we should temper criticism of “Ringer” and allow it to work out its kinks. With some finetuning and some clarification as to what to expect every week, “Ringer” could be the show to turn The CW into a notable network. It’s the network’s show with the most potential to do so.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com