Point Pleasant (TV series)
Point Pleasant is a television series that aired on the Fox Network from January 19 to March 17, 2005.
| Point Pleasant | |
|---|---|
 Series title card | |
| Created by | John McLaughlin Marti Noxon |
| Starring | Elisabeth Harnois Grant Show Samuel Page Aubrey Dollar Dina Meyer Cameron Richardson Clare Carey Brent Weber Susan Walters Richard Burgi |
| Theme music composer | Danny Elfman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 (3 unaired, 2 released on DVD) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Marti Noxon Neal H. Moritz Marty Adelstein Dawn Parouse |
| Production companies | Original Film 20th Century Fox Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | January 19 – March 17, 2005 |
Point Pleasant boasted many of the same crew behind the scenes as Fox's other shortly withdrawn series, Tru Calling. Point Pleasant received the green lights three days after production of Tru Calling ceased. 13 episodes were filmed, but due to low ratings, Fox only aired episodes 1–8 in the United States.[1] Episodes 9–11 aired in Sweden, all episodes aired in New Zealand on back to back weekdays in mid-2007, all episodes aired in The Netherlands in 2008 and the last two episodes are included on the DVD release.
Most of the music featured in the series was replaced for the DVD release due to licensing issues.
The show's executive producer was Marti Noxon, who worked closely with Joss Whedon for several seasons on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. For this reason, Point Pleasant initially drew in many of that show's fans, but Point Pleasant had a distinct "soapy" flavor, more in the vein of shows like Melrose Place or The O.C. than Buffy. The resulting drop in viewership eventually led to the show's cancellation. However, advocates of the show point to its gothic tone, its tempered, surprisingly subtle use of special effects, and the potential of the overall plotline as solid reasons the show should have stayed on the air. The plots emphasized humanity's self-centeredness and cruelty to one another as primal reasons for evil.
In 2009, episodes of the series were shown on the Chiller network, including the episodes never shown on Fox.
Synopsis
A young girl named Christina washes up on the shore near Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey during a violent storm. After being resuscitated by lifeguard Jesse Parker, the girl is taken in by the family of a local doctor, the Kramers, and quickly befriends their teenage daughter, Judy. The show follows Christina's attempts to discover who she really is, and to learn what happened to her mother, who disappeared shortly after Christina was born.[2]
It soon becomes apparent that Christina's presence has a strange, profound effect on the people around her. Emotions are heightened, repressed feelings and secret desires awakened, and inhibitions weakened, turning what once were friendly competitions into bitter rivalries, romantic rivals into violent enemies, and so on. Freak "accidents" have a way of befalling those with whom Christina becomes angry.
Sinister forces have their eye on Christina, believing it is the girl's destiny, as the "child of darkness", to "bring [the world] to its knees". Christina is the Antichrist, the child of Satan. The resulting tension between the good and evil aspects of the girl's nature provides the basis for much of the show's conflict and suspense.[3]
Christina is plagued by terrifying visions of death and destruction, glimpses of the dark future she seems destined to help bring about. A handsome, charming stranger named Lucas Boyd arrives in town, determined to help guide Christina toward her destiny, and Jesse Parker, who has become romantically involved with Christina, discovers that he may be the only one who can prevent the girl from ushering in Armageddon. Ultimately, Jesse is able to choose between accepting Christina, which will cause her good side to prevail, or rejecting her, which will cause her evil side to prevail. He rejects her and the series ends on something of a cliffhanger with Christina leaving Point Pleasant as it is engulfed in an apocalyptic holocaust.
Cast and characters
Main
- Elisabeth Harnois as Christina Nickson: The daughter of Satan. Her name "Christina" is derived from Christ; "Old Nick" is a euphemism for the Devil and, "-son" originally meant "son of".
- Samuel Page as Jesse Parker: A lifeguard and the love interest of Christina. He is the former boyfriend of Paula. His biological father is not known.
- Grant Show as Lucas Boyd: A half-demon guardian of Christina.
- Aubrey Dollar as Judy Kramer: Christina's best friend and her "adoptive sister".
- Dina Meyer as Amber Hargrove: A conniving real estate agent, and first friend of Lucas Boyd in Point Pleasant.
- Cameron Richardson as Paula Hargrove: The former girlfriend of Jesse, and the potential love interest of Terry.
- Susan Walters as Meg Kramer: The mother of Judy, and adoptive mother of Christina.
- Richard Burgi as Ben Kramer: The father of Judy, adoptive father of Christina. He is doctor in Point Pleasant.
Recurring
- Clare Carey as Sarah Parker: The mother of Jesse.
- Brent Weber as Terry Burke: The best friend of Jesse, and Paula's lover.
- Alex Carter as Sheriff Logan Parker: The adoptive father of Jesse, and Point Pleasant's sheriff.
- Ned Schmidtke as Father Matthew
- John Diehl as David Burke: The father of Terry, and friend of Meg Kramer.
- Adam Busch as Wesley Feist aka Wes: Lucas Boyd's assistant
- Elizabeth Ann Bennett as Holly: The wife of Lucas Boyd who is both dead and alive.
- Marcus Coloma as Father Tomas: He is trying to help Christiana not embrace the "Dark Side", but he is secretly harboring feelings for her.
- Elizabeth Ann Bennett as Holly
- Audrey Marie Anderson as Isabelle Kramer: Judy's deceased sister.
Notable guest stars
- James Morrison as Kingston Nickson: Raised Christina as her father before Point Pleasant.
- Aaron Paul as Mark Owens: A love interest of Judy's.
- Steven Brand as Graham: The first guardian of Jesse, and an enemy of Lucas Boyd.
- Matt Lanter as Nick: Judy's second love interest, and a second guardian of Jesse.
- Dana Davis as Lucinda: A friend of Paula's.
- Aaron Norvell as Deputy Atkins
- Randy Oglesby as Father David
- Jon Hamm as Dr. George Forrester
- Wyatt Alvarez as Young Jesse Parker
- Lisa Zane as Anne Gibson: The biological mother of Christina.
- Robert Knepper as Presenter at the Dance, a half-demon past dance host.
- Peter Allas as Dr. Evett
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Tucker Gates | Marti Noxon and John J. McLaughlin | January 19, 2005 | 1AJX79 |
| Christina is rescued by local lifeguard Jesse Parker and taken to the home of Dr. Ben Kramer, who offers the girl a place to stay after she quickly befriends his wife and teenage daughter. Christina searches for clues about her mother, who grew up in Point Pleasant and soon realizes that she harbors supernatural powers that could spell trouble for everyone. Meanwhile, Christina's adoptive father struggles with a sinister man, named Lucas Boyd, who has taken an interest in his daughter. | |||||
| 2 | "Human Nature" | Rick Rosenthal | Marti Noxon | January 20, 2005 | 1AJX01 |
| Christina's search for her mother leads to a local church. Meanwhile, Lucas Boyd moves to Point Pleasant and introduces himself to Christina. Meanwhile, the town's annual boat parade becomes even more competitive than usual (thanks to Christina's presence), and Ben Kramer has an encounter with an old flame. | |||||
| 3 | "Who's Your Daddy" | Marita Grabiak | Ben Edlund | January 27, 2005 | 1AJX02 |
| Christina suffers visions of death and destruction after a confrontation with Lucas Boyd; Boyd has a proposition for Ben Kramer's old flame; Christina confronts her father and Boyd, and learns a thing or two about her true heritage. | |||||
| 4 | "The Lonely Hunter" | Mel Damski | Andrea Newman | February 3, 2005 | 1AJX03 |
| Christina confronts a dangerous admirer out to rid Point Pleasant of sin. | |||||
| 5 | "Last Dance" | Michael Lange | Zack Estrin | February 10, 2005 | 1AJX04 |
| Boyd works with Sarah, the wife of the local sheriff, on a church fundraiser; Ben is nervous about his wife's friendship with his former lover; Christina's anger at Paula has devastating consequences. | |||||
| 6 | "Secrets and Lies" | Lev L. Spiro | Robert Doherty | February 17, 2005 | 1AJX05 |
| Christina meets the doctor who delivered her; Boyd is up to no good; Judy and Jesse search for clues to Christina's past. | |||||
| 7 | "Unraveling" | David Straiton | Diego Gutierrez | March 10, 2005 | 1AJX06 |
| The hand of fate prevents Christina and Jesse from leaving Point Pleasant; Ben's wife is plagued by hallucinations involving Lucas Boyd. | |||||
| 8 | "Swimming With Boyd" | James A. Contner | Jenny Lynn | March 17, 2005 | 1AJX07 |
| Christina and Judy investigate Boyd; Jesse learns a secret about his past; Ben's wife continues her descent into madness. | |||||
| 9 | "Waking the Dead" | Marita Grabiak | Ben Edlund, Robert Doherty, and Zack Estrin | Unaired | 1AJX08 |
| A party in the woods gets out of hand; Jesse learns more about his miraculous heritage; Christina tangles with a demon; Ben Kramer's secrets are revealed. | |||||
| 10 | "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Choked" | Mel Damski | Ron Milbauer and Terri Hughes Burton | Unaired | 1AJX09 |
| Boyd learns the truth about Jesse; Ben's wife overhears an incriminating conversation. | |||||
| 11 | "Missing" | Michael Lange | Andrea Newman and P.K. Simmons | Unaired | 1AJX10 |
| A series of unexplained disappearances plague Point Pleasant; Jesse learns that he is destined to destroy Christina; a terrifying vision of the future drives a wedge between the two. | |||||
| 12 | "Mother's Day" | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | Zack Estrin and Robert Doherty | October 25, 2005[lower-alpha 1] | 1AJX11 |
| Christina's mother returns; Ben's wife is committed to a psychiatric ward; Jesse learns the role his mother must play in defeating Christina. | |||||
| 13 | "Let the War Commence" | Chris Long | Marti Noxon and Jenny Lynn | October 25, 2005[lower-alpha 1] | 1AJX12 |
| Christina holds the Kramers prisoner in their home as she prepares for her final confrontation with Jesse. | |||||
- Notes
- Date of DVD release.
References
- Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 1090. ISBN 978-0307483201.
- Vukcevic, Filip (28 October 2005). "Point Pleasant: The Complete Series". IGN. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- Wright, Julia M. (January 1, 2016). Men with stakes : masculinity and the gothic in US television. Oxford University Press. pp. 61–68. ISBN 978-1784996901.
