A Gifted Man: Pilot (1.1)

Patrick Wilson is one of the most underrated actors currently working. Throughout his career on film, stage and television, he has exuded a strength and charisma in varying different genres, but so far he hasn't found that project that pushes him into the big leagues. Therefore, he's landed on a Friday night CBS drama. A Gifted Man serves Wilson incredibly well, giving him a fully-realized character with flaws and neuroses who suddenly finds himself in extraordinary circumstances via the sudden appearance of his dead ex-wife. It's an intriguing premise, though not exactly a sure-fire one. After watching the pilot, I'm still a little unsure of where the series is going.

The main draw that CBS hopes will convince audiences to come back is the showy ensemble at the heart of the show. Jennifer Ehle, fresh off her movie-stealing role in Contagion, is gorgeously angelic and ambiguous as Michael's deceased ex Anna. She projects a majestic, human quality and she and Wilson have a ton of chemistry. Their first scene together, before Michael learns of her death, bristles with unrequited longing, and it's this unique relationship that drives the show so far. At the same time, there are notable character actors like Margo Martindale and Pablo Schreiber hanging around on the fringes of the series, with Martindale a little under-served with what seems like a one-note character.

What is less impressive is everything else. When the pilot wraps, it's still a little unclear what this show will be like week-to-week. Will Anna essentially be Michael's guardian angel on a fresh medical case each episode? Or will the writers explore the cosmic hoodoo and have Michael investigating why he's experiencing all of this? Being a CBS drama, I'm more convinced of the former, which I think this cast would be wasted on. At the same time, there were some behind-the-scenes changes which concern me. Julie Benz made the strongest impression out of the supporting cast as Michael's frantic sister, but she's been dropped to recurring status, while Rachelle LeFevre is joining the cast soon as some sexy colleague of Michael's. Blah.

The pilot has a couple of medical subplots, one with Bill Irwin being mildly humorous (and ultimately sad), the other (about a tennis star) painfully uninteresting. While something like House plays around with medical mysteries and makes them surprising and mystifying, I'm not sure I'm interested enough to see Michael treat random patients each week with help from his ghostly ex. I'll probably tune in next week, but I'm not sure the pilot's strengths (the cast, Wilson and Ehle's chemistry) are enough to make me a long-term viewer. C+

Credits
Guest stars Bill Irwin (Ron Vinetz); Liam Aiken (Milo); Afton Williamson (Autumn); James McCaffrey (Milt Sandreski); Mary McCann (Jill Sandreski); Susie Abromeit (Lacey Sandreski); Necar Zadegan (Madeline Fahn); Armando Riesco (Tavo); Marin Ireland (Elena); Shirley Roeca (Ines); Robert Lupone (Dr. Arnold Soltman); Beau Sia (Randy); Sakina Jaffrey (Nurse); Julie Benz (Christina Holt)
Writer Susannah Grant Director Jonathan Demme