Advance Review: 'Jake 2.0' Has The Goods

The first in-depth review of Enterprise's new lead-out series, Jake 2.0, has expressed optimism about the show's creative direction but lamented that in the competitive world of television it may not find an audience.

"I'll be surprised if this show makes it. And that's too bad because it's actually pretty good," wrote 'Hacker' at Ain't It Cool News.

Jake 2.0 stars Christopher Gorham (Odyssey 5) as a National Security Agency technician who becomes a secret agent after he is infected by nanites (story). 'Hacker' said "the scenes showing Jake discovering his powers are pretty familiar" but "Gorham manages to make it all fun to watch".

"The pilot also sets up several potentially interesting future storylines," the review said. These include Jake's life as a "human guinea pig" now that he's swarming with nanites, and Congressional staffer Sarah Heywood, who is investigating "discrepancies in the Department of Defence budget" and the disappearance of her father. Heywood is also set up Jake's potential love interest, but 'Hacker' said the writers may have trouble "working her into the plot" each episode.

All of the cast members did a "good job with their roles" in the pilot. "Christopher Gorham is extremely likable as the lead and after Buffy, Alias, Xena, Dark Angel, etc. it's ironically refreshing to see a young guy kicking ass." Other cast members singled out for praise were Marina Black (Six Feet Under) as Sarah Heywood and Jenna Williams (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) as Agent Beckett, who was described as a "real stand-out".

Although buoyed by the involvement of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel alumnus David Greenwalt, 'Hacker' said Jake 2.0 "will have a tough time making it": "UPN is notoriously bad at launching new dramas, and with its young, attractive cast the show seems like it would be a better fit on the WB. It's also in a horrible timeslot, up against The West Wing, The Bachelor, and Greenwalt's former stomping grounds, Angel."

Jake 2.0 will follow Enterprise at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesdays from this fall. The original review is available here at Ain't It Cool News.

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