Channel Zero Episodes 1-3 Reviews: Havent We Seen This All Before?

"Channel Zero" premiered recently on the SyFy Channel. It's an anthology series based on the Internet's creepypasta stories (of which Slenderman is the most famous). "Candle Cove" will have six episodes total.

In the 1980s kiddies in Iron Hill Ohio starting watching a children's show called "Candle Cove" (hence the title). This is troublesome for several reasons: 1. Only children can see the puppet pirate skeleton show (adults see static); 2. Four kids ended up dead (and Mike's twin brother Eddie was MIA); 3. When Mike returns home after 30 years, it begins again when Katie (Jessica's daughter) disappears; 4. We can't really trust Mike's perspective on events since he was just released from a mental hospital.

I'm not sure if I'll stick with the show till the end. Episode 1 was a snoozer. The lead character is not compelling. I do however enjoy seeing Natalie Brown (from "The Strain") as Mike's childhood love and Fiona Shaw (of "True Blood" fame) as Mike's mom. Unfortunately the story seems to be a retread of stories we've heard many times before. Isnt this pretty much the plot of "Halloween 3: Season Of The Witch"?

On a positive note the show did pick up in episode 3 "Want To See Something Cool?" School teacher Mrs Booth starts offing people who treat Mike poorly. Tim, Daphne and Gary did try to kill him after all. Justice must be served. The scene with Daphne's throat being slit is the best thus far, Mrs Booth is also feeding the weird Tooth Child (or whatever it is). Could she be behind everything?

Mike tells Marla that he killed Eddie to keep him from offing any more children. After watching "Candle Cove", Eddie could control other's minds. Mike witnesses Eddie psychologically command Gene (Tim's brother) to jump off a cliff (after pulling several of his teeth). Can we really believe what Mike says? I still dont trust him 100%.

Grade: 3 1/2 Monsters (out of 5) There's not much new about "Channel Zero: Candle Cove". Hopefully things will improve. If the town's kiddies started attacking adults, that would be great fun. If not, we'll have a new story in four episodes anyway.