Second Chance Episode 1 Review: Definitely Deserves A Second Look (Season Premiere)

Previously named "Frankenstein Code" and "Lookinglass", "Second Chance" premiered on Fox this week. The show's tag line is "Death gave him a second chance at life".

We meet Jimmy Pritchard. He's a 75 year old hard living man. Pritchard was previously sheriff of King County, Washington but was forced to resign due to corruption charges some 15 years earlier. Jimmy's son Duval is a FBI agent. The two have a rocky relationship. Pritchard never had much time for his family saying he was dedicated to his job. Duval doesnt buy his excuse. Jimmy's other child Helen seems to have inherited her father's drinking problem. His granddaughter Gracie rounds out the family. She seems loving and well adjusted thus far.

One night Jimmy happens upon two men rifling through his son's papers. They take him to a bridge and throw him off. The police label it a suicide but we know better.

Elsewhere siblings Otto and Mary Goodwin run a technology company called Lookinglass. The twins are billionaires but have their own issues. Otto is extremely socially isolated. I assume he is autistic. Only Mary can communicate with Otto... which she does through a shared language he created. While Mary is out of town on a press tour, Otto mysteriously notifies her of a "suitable donor"-- one in a gazillion to one genetic mutation. The Goodwins are working on a reanimation program (thus the Frankenstein references). Mary is suffering from terminal cancer. Transfusions of this donor's blood are her only hope.

Jimmy awakes to find he's no longer an elderly man. He's a super buffed (and super strong) twenty something. He has some challenges adjusting but soon decides he likes this body. NewJimmy quickly hooks up with a prostitute from his previous life

His old priorities were women, booze, music, work and family (maybe in that order). Now that he has a second chance, Jimmy wants to right some wrongs and protect his family. NewJimmy gives Duval a folder (telling him he worked with his father). Duval's partner John Strayburn is corrupt (and one of the two guys that killed OldJimmy). Duval reports the evidence to his boss but that guy is a bad seed too.

Jimmy rushes to save his son and finds him on the same bridge where he was previously killed. Luckily being super strong comes in handy. Duval is safe for now. Jimmy is located by the Goodwins and taken back to his Lookinglass tank in the nick of time. He can only be out 12 hours at a time max or he will expire.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed the show. The pilot is fast paced. There are several plot threads (saving Duval, saving Mary, Jimmy clearing his name, Otto not freaking out, etc). Rob Kazinsky is a compelling lead as Sheriff Pritchard. He's best known (at least to me) as Warlow in "True Blood". Jimmy's possible relationship with Mary also has potential. I'm not sure how long the show can keep it up but the pilot was a lot of fun. "Second Chance" definitely deserves a second look.