Charlie Jade (2005) User Reviews (29)

Fascinating/frustrating: imagine Blade Runner by Charles Dickens

[eschetic-1 · 6/10 · 10 March 2009]

More solid S.F. (as Asimov defined it) than pop Sci-Fi, this series which has scrambled to find audiences on three continents will probably always frustrate fans while it fascinates them until there can be a DVD release to appreciate its many stately paced virtues without the incessant, mood destroying commercial breaks.

Imagine the dark, fascist ruled world like that of Blade Runner (like Blade Runner, built around a hot but well roughed up film-noir detective - Colorado native Jeffrey Pierce - later seen or heard Stateside in quality work from NCIS to Eli Stone and The Bourne Conspiracy); toss in parallel universes of lighter but similar complexity (the lightest could have been borrowed from the lush but potentially threatening island of Lost) and a classic "Mars Needs Women/Water" umbrella plot. Now draw it out like a 21st Charles Dickens spreading his intricate plot and character descriptions over as many YEARS as possible of serial publication (pausing every hour or so to blow something up in as scenic and non-sensational way as possible), and you have the look, feel and details of CHARLIE JADE.

It's heady stuff for discerning ADULT viewers, and not remotely for the short attention-span set (which may be why it has failed to take off in television which this style of story telling is not ideal for), but the quality of the work is first rate in almost every aspect from acting to cinematography to scoring - even if all are almost too self consciously trying to recapture the aura of Blade Runner. On DVD or DVR, this is close to addictive caviar which any self respecting S.F. or film noir fan owes it to themselves to try for a couple hours - but *live* on commercial television, it will probably always remain difficult to get into.

Interesting show, but takes a while to get going

[critias12 · 7/10 · 29 August 2008]

Still only halfway through the season as it airs on Sci-Fi. The first 8 or so episodes were really slow, and I understand why some people were turned off.

However, it is very different conceptually from any other sci-fi series I can think of, and it kept me intrigued. The writing staff was completely changed around episode 10 and things really started to come together and take off.

The acting is good, with some great performances by crazy 01 Boxer played by Michael Flippowich, as well as many in the supporting cast.

Filmed on location in South Africa, it does have definitely alien feel for those in the US. The culture is Western, but not American.

There's a lot unexpected in this show, in a good way, and it's hardly predictable. The 'hero' Charlie isn't trying to accomplish anything but getting home to his hot girlfriend. I'd recommend it for anyone who want's good sci-fi that's not in the action-adventure vein and requires a bit of intelligence on the part of the audience.

Welcome change from the usual

[Ruffles · 8/10 · 28 June 2008]

If you like the mainstream television sci fi series all with similar production styles and values then it is not likely that you will like this. I have watched many such series and films and enjoyed them as well as more unusual examples of the genre into which this falls. The unusual cinematography employing lots of hand held footage does start to jar after a while but the series is new and different and I really enjoyed it immensely. I recognised none of the actors but they all turned in believable performances and I would be happy to see them again in different roles. A good debut from a budding media industry and I look forward to more new projects from the region.

Original, provocative, worth seeing!

[mediababe · 7 September 2005]

This 21 episode television series, a joint South African and Candadian effort, is less like a traditional TV show (where episodes have a beginning, middle, and end) and plays more like a very long mini-series. Watch Charlie Jade like you are reading a book; each episode is a chapter. Influenced by Sci-fi noir films like Blade Runner, creator Robert Wertheimer was determined to make a science fiction series like nothing that has ever been made before, and he has. Throw away any preconceptions you might have, especially if you're an American. This is nothing like American TV programming. Shot in Cape Town, South Africa, the show, despite it's futuristic and science-fiction edge, is both stylish and surreal and yet also firmly rooted in reality, dealing with real issues like terrorism and the abuses of power by massive conglomerates. It is filled with real people, not pretty models of perfect people. It starts off with a slow, patient pace, which some might find frustrating or boring, but hang in there! By the end of the pilot and the start of the third episode you will be hooked and utterly captivated.

Great characters and the unique South African location make this a sci-fi series that breaks the mold

[ElvesBrew · 10/10 · 15 June 2006]

In the vein of John Doe and The 4400, Charlie Jade is an intelligent character driven sci-fi series shot in and around Cape Town, South Arfica. The unique location of South Africa gives the show a refreshingly different atmosphere compared to the standard fare of Hollywood back lot sets that we see in the vast majority of television shows being broadcast today.

The concept of parallel universes is by no means a new idea, even a little worn, but the excellent acting and contrasting character studies give the concept new life and I for one, have quickly developed an attachment to this series.

I hope the show is able to find a USA venue as that would help to insure a second season but so far the show is only seen on SPACE and a smattering of small countries including South Africa, Korea, France, Japan, Italy, and Romania. I believe it is seen on Space in both Canada and the UK.

If you like sci-fi and have access to this series I think you will find Charlie Jade an intelligent, fulfilling, and entertaining experience.

Will

If you get a chance, watch it

[senor_dingdong · 9/10 · 21 October 2008]

It seems as if there were only a handful of viewers watching this show in the U.S., but as one of them I'm sad to see it go, especially knowing that I'll likely never see another season-- or, for that matter, a Region 1 DVD. And even though it's been a bit tough following such a complex, and often brilliant, program with no one to discuss it with (none of my friends or family were interesting in keeping up on a show that airs at 1 AM on Monday morning here), I'm glad I did. It was a rewarding experience; and you don't get many of those from a TV show.

It has a remarkable visual style, excellent dialogue, an unapologetically complex (if sometimes confusing) plot line, a dense mythology, and some of the most fascinating character development I've ever seen (someone could write a thesis on 01 Boxer's behavior and motivations alone).

If you do get a chance to check the show out, stick with it. It can be difficult to follow at times, but it's worth it. I was a few episodes in before I had a good grasp of what was going on, and by then I was hooked, as I think most will be who give this series a proper chance.

It really is quite an amazing show, and I just think it's a shame that there's room enough on television for 3 incarnations of "CSI" but no audience for something as novel and thought-provoking as "Charlie Jade."

Strong show has yet to have its day

[Robert-A-Collins · 10/10 · 10 May 2007]

Jade is still waiting to be discovered. This beautifully written, moody complex but dramatically compelling work is in fact what so many shows and films have claimed to be, but aren't, the spiritual TV inheritor of Blade Runner.

The cinematography is terrific I think and the mix of languages, looks and environments is both other-worldly and gritty.

This show has yet to have it's day, whether through VOD or television I predict it will be 'discovered by the right combination of powers-that-be in the US.

I hope to see other work by this group of artists.

It Ain't easy being a hero--

[maui_nik · 9/10 · 12 September 2006]

This is a tale, a mystery if you will, of 3 Universes. It rests lightly on popular theories from physics, so that its relationship to "SciFi" can be acknowledged. But any Science which, along with technology, it's often wayward daughter, is wielded by totally amoral handlers, ends up biting, and biting down hard within the human dimension of things. Still, it is by is the amazingly human characterizations in this epic that this tale will succeed in engaging and captivating you.

Charlie Jade: "...I thought it was cool," is his reply when asked why he chose "Jade" for a surname; is the confident metropolitan male of our own age: into appearances, the beautiful girlfriend, the car the clothes, the apartment, the slight stubble. Mildly hedonistic, he is yet the likable and sympathetic hero of this film, and although the style of narration is "limited omniscient," most of what the viewer is allowed to understand of the story, that process of discovery, comes from viewing events through his eyes. Still with all of that, Charlie is for the most part, a two-dimensional character. It's kind of like having a really good friend, then suddenly realizing he has this serious character defect. You still like him, but you wonder if he'll ever get it.

Then, there's "01 Boxer," (sounds like "Owen.") Something about the way the film introduces him, gave me the impression that the two men were siblings. (They aren't, but their fates are linked.) Without 01, the film would be a narrative about a reed (Charlie) tossed by the wind. This character, 01, is about motivation, and deep self-awareness, and actions which spring from these things. He is about knowing better, and still failing. He becomes more and more three dimensional as the movie unfolds; apparently totally depraved, he is both a catalyst, and a foil for the Charlie character. 01 is able to feel true remorse for his failures, Charlie, merely guilt. Amazingly acted this is the dilemma of the moral man released into a place of absolute power, and that without restraint.

Set in Capetown, the cinematography is a treat, would've been worth while to have seen this on a big screen. There are dark scenes that have a sense of brooding ambivalence to them, perhaps reflective of a very old city with lots of history. I am always amazed how differently people who've lived in other cultures, other places on this planet frame and compose shots. Unique ways of visualizing special places, that help to communicate that intangible sense of time and place. (Some violence, and scenes not suitable for the easily offended.)

Needed a script doctor

[grnhair2001 · 2/10 · 29 September 2016]

This is a terrific idea. A PI conducts an interdimensional chase while fighting the minions of the evil corporation. Okay, maybe not a terrific idea, but a workable idea. And the South African Capetown setting is interesting.

However, I suspect any halfway decent script workshop could have pointed out the problems here. They show up in the summaries to each episode, where the verbs are "thought about," and "feels," and "wonders," and so on. When you are trying to write an SF adventure, that just won't do it. And so the pacing of the show reflects this because people are sitting around feeling and wondering and remembering. They should be running and jumping and shooting and so on. They should at least be reading documents which reveal some clue. Or they should be out questioning people.

I watched through the end of episode three, and not much happened. Enough happened perhaps to fill 40 minutes of television . So it's running at one third pace. And what I saw was surprisingly repetitive. I think there were three different rooftop chases with the same character. There were dull scenes that kept getting flashed back to. There were a dozen silent, fraught looks between the hero and the doppelgänger of his girlfriend, who I think is more of a courtesan because he owns her (?)

Maybe as another reviewer suggest, the plot does get going until episode 10. But that's not quickly enough. When I compare this to the wonderful The Lost Room which ran only six episodes and told a complex and interesting story with characters whose problems I cared deeply about, this is a total fail. But I will give it a star for an adequate premise.

Underrated but brilliant series

[dwarvenbarbarianrage · 10/10 · 11 October 2013]

This has to be my all time favorite science fiction series. It was slow to get into but a few episodes in you will be happy you stuck with it. The story line is very original and the most of the main characters are interesting. The different verses I think were brilliantly done, I really thought that alpha-verse felt actually very close to the kind of future we may one day face. Definitely should have been worthy of having a second season made but unfortunately this show is way too underrated. The story somewhat gets resolved but there is introduction to another story arc that never gets covered due to the show being canceled but if you like detective or mystery shows and science fiction this is a great series to watch anyway.

Sleepfest...

[Clarke_Kent · 3/10 · 12 April 2015]

I thought it was a great idea, great premise and certainly plenty to go on. 3 separate universes, all good. However I found it to be very slow paced, somewhat confusing and too subtle on explanations. With the exception of 01 Boxer I found the characters to be boring and not very engaging. I'm a big sci-fi/detective show fan and I hear some people comparing it to Fringe (rotfl) I don't think so...this is a far cry from Fringe. Fringe has everything this show is missing. I got as far as 4 episodes and just couldn't watch anymore as I found myself falling asleep. Shame really as the show had quite a bit of promise and so much to go on :(

Starts slowly but builds to a strong and satisfying storyline

[Data-1001 · 14 June 2009]

First off, let me state that the first episode is rather slow going. I must admit that I was close to giving up on it until the tail end of the episode, but was glad I stuck it out. I was hooked shortly thereafter.

Very intriguing characters -- especially '01 Boxer', who, as played by the fascinating Michael Filipowich, is driven by motivations which only become clear later in the season -- along with a unique setting and intricate plots and subplots make "Charlie Jade" a standout amongst sci-fi series.

There are arcs in many of the main characters which keep the viewer wondering what will happen from episode to episode. And I appreciated the fact that certain things weren't always completely spelled out; you are left to contemplate and figure some things out for yourself.

While it seems obvious they were leaving the door open for additional seasons, there is enough of a resolution to the series that the viewer will not be left hanging and unsatisfied at the end of the first (and only) season. If you can find this on DVD or somewhere else on cable TV, I recommend it to any sci-fi fans who are willing to stick with a truly engrossing story.

Wonderful

[folkie-imdb · 9/10 · 10 November 2008]

This is a response to someone who called the show "Mesmerisingly bad".

Charlie Jade is NOT a show that you can jump into as you channel surf.

More to the point, I can't think of any other show that would come close to Charlie Jade in *seeming* to be "mesmerisingly bad" if one tried to jump in to the occasional episode now and then.

I really liked the show. I cared about the characters. I didn't know how I could deal with their problems. No clever and satisfying solutions presented themselves. Often the characters' progress seemed barely worth their trials. And the writers introduced one very neat twist to alternate reality story-telling: that some people might behave very differently while visiting different realities.

I was very disappointed when they wound up this show prematurely. But in hindsight, it seems predictable: despite PVR's and TV-series transferred to DVD, it's still too expensive to make television shows that are horrible for channel-surfers.

Nothing it's like it seems to be.

[alfonso-384-837945 · 9/10 · 20 October 2015]

I started watching the show expecting some action series, mostly because of the title. Then at the first minutes I started to think it would be about some cyberpunk story with a cool detective, some action and the usual stuff. Well, it certainly didn't developed like the another one thousand and one sci-fi series. It's clear what is bad and what is good in that Universes, but thats it, the characters develop themselves acting like clichés but living like humans. They tend to interact wearing masks and occasionally they drop them away some are more attached to their cloak, like the ever cool acting Charlie and some are really tired of wearing it like 01.

It works the same way with the plot, it's clear that there is a problem with the rift between the universes, but the real story is not that one. The story develops episode by episode and it gets more and more interesting without radical twists or unexpected appearances. Every detail is dropped in small bits son the surprises aren't really unexpected and gives the story a within logic like most of memorable Sci-fi shows did. And this is a memorable science fiction work.

Intelligent, extraordinary and truly intriguing!

[banasiakpeter · 10/10 · 27 September 2008]

I've never seen a science-fiction TV show like this before... Truly the best series I've ever seen in my whole life. I saw many good sci-fi TV shows, but Charlie Jade beat them all in almost every detail, this music, mystery, idea about three worlds (Alpha - what will be, Beta - what's now and Gamma - what could be.), amazing characters, beautiful Cape Town and great actors like Jeffrey Pierce, Michael Filipowich or Tyrone Benskin. It's something that every sci-fi fan must see. You won't regret that, believe me. I guarantee that you never seen anything like it, anything so hip, intelligent, engrossing and beautifully executed. Just watch the first few episodes, you'll be hooked.

Masterpiece

[vrkolak666 · 10/10 · 31 October 2009]

Now, this is something everyone should see! This is a series that I stumbled upon, and got hooked immediately. Not only got hooked, but I enjoyed every second of it. The filming is great, unlike anything I've seen in any TV series before. The musical score is amazing (I'm disappointed a soundtrack is not released!). The acting is also very good, especially from Michael. His character, 01 Boxer, is one of the best (if not the best) characters in any Sfi-Fi series I've seen (and I've seen a lot, believe me).

I've read somewhere that the makers were trying to make a show that's different from the usual sci-fi, and, they have succeeded in every sense.

I'm giving this one 10/10. It's a shame it wasn't picked up for a second season, but I'll be more than happy if someone takes this as inspiration and give some fresh air into the now rather stale Sci-Fi genre!

Boring

[SuperiorStar · 4/10 · 24 December 2015]

I was attracted towards this show because of it's hight ratings. I am a big fan of SciFi. But after watching this show I have to admit that it was a boring show and a complete waste of time. I don't know why it got a rating of 7.5. I lost interest after watching the first episode and thought maybe it was get interesting after a few episodes.But it was as boring as from the first episode.

For the writer, "if you are writing a science fiction series, at least add some science into it and not just the fiction".

Even the fiction in the series is so boring and don't understand what they are doing.

Twin Peaks meets Blade Runner

[sscanf · 9/10 · 31 May 2022]

I don't think that this series is for everyone. Modest budget, adult themes, perceived political incorrectness, surreal format and foreign production may all be cause for objection. But not for me. For me the script is decent supported by decent acting and ensemble development. The measured use of different shades of colour and light between the various 'verses' adds artistic value while making the overall stories easier to follow. The plot is interesting and the characters are relatable.

Various sequences seem to have a bit of Blade Runner touch. This turns our to be quite intentional as several who worked on the project were themselves Blade Runner fans. The surreal storytelling approach also kept recalling the more recent Twin Peaks season 3 in my mind (also excellent BTW). The Charlie Jade story itself is replete with unexpected twists. There seems to be a lot of room here for further production that sadly never happened.

Charlie Jade has a unique feel that gives it some cult potential. I viewed this first on Amazon Prime and immediately bought the DVD from overseas. Sadly there are no subtitles for late night or hard-of-hearing viewers.

In summary: If you like Blade Runner AND you like Twin Peaks esp. Season 3, you will probably like this if you can forgive the modest budget production.

A Convoluted Mess

[QQMcMudd · 4/10 · 26 August 2008]

The premise of this show was quite promising. The plot involves three parallel universes called the GammaVerse, AlphaVerse, and BetaVerse. The Alphaverse is the home of our hero, Charlie Jade, which is a fascist world. All citizens are classified in one of three groups (e.g., C-1, or Class 1 — which stands for Upper Class). It is dominated by five gigantic multinational firms. Prime among these is Vexcor. Despite the Alphaverse's dystopian society, it does contain some futuristic technology that is within our existing technology.

The Betaverse is like our world and the Gammaverse is the Utopian or ideal version that our world could become. The protagonist is an alphaverse corporation called Vexcor that has designs on draining the pure water from the Betaverse and Gammaverse to replace the polluted water in the Alphaverse. Charlie Jade gets transported to the Alphverse and the story begins. That's it, no explanation, no plot line, and no plot confluence.

Confused, you bet and rightfully so. This show has a wonderful and interesting concept but it is poorly and confusingly written, and turned into a convoluted mess. The writing is terrible. Only if you have closely watched each episode can you understand the plot. The writers needed to explain the plot to the viewer and clearly show the relationship of the Verses and how they differ.

This show was obviously a mess... even to the SciFI network, as the new shows are only shown once on Tuesday at 3:00 AM. I Tevo it just to see how it will end. Don't wast your time watching any episodes if you are a new viewer. I am sure the SciFI network will show all the episodes on one day as they do others. But before watching Charlie Jade, check out the synopses on the this site or others. Otherwise, you will be lost.

As I mentioned, this is a great premise with decent actors. Next time, SciFi Channel, get good writers. It's almost as if SciFI went to the local elementary school and asked if anyone wanted to write a script. This is just a total mess and it's sad. I would have really enjoyed this show if written more coherently.

an alternative to space opera?

[bdken · 1 April 2005]

This is coming to SPACE soon. The whole idea that the show's built on the pillaging of the world's resources by multinational corporations is pretty interesting. A lot of science fiction these days is about big bad ships and space opera. You know, who's got the best technology. I'm interested to see something that actually talks about the weird power imbalances in our world. Something that doesn't just fetishize cool gadgets and the attractive people using them... in deep space. Charlie Jade might have something interesting to say, who knows?

And what about the issue of colonial tension? A powerful group of invaders uses the land and the resources against the will of the people who rightfully dwell there. I mean, this is set in South Africa... I wonder if it was intentional?

Detailed trip through parallel worlds. Be patient, hidden gem.

[PaxD75 · 8/10 · 29 November 2022]

1 season / 20 episodes: Series Complete

Watched entire series (miniseries) during Feb/2022 for the first time.

Excellent. Real-world delivery of story (so it moves at slower pace). Great use of flashbacks to fill in background and to remind viewers what happened X episodes back. Terrific character depth and development.

A TV series with complete series-ending closure and can be classified as a miniseries.

I felt the first 8 episodes moved a little too slowly but the characters and story line were interesting enough that I kept coming back. It picked up dramatically at episode 9 - so the last 12 episodes were engaging and made the entire series a great watch.

Alphaverse represents a dark, gloomy, class-structured, dystopian world run by megacorps - lots of advanced tech, lots of surveillance. Betaverse represents our world. Gammaverse is an idyllic world that's close to nature.

B-o-r-i-n-g

[strachan-23045 · 1/10 · 17 December 2016]

So s-l-o-w. This could have been shown in 4 episodes instead of 20! Worst thing ever to come "Out of Africa". Jumping between "verses" is an interesting concept - in view of theoretical physicists propounding existence of infinite number of universes existing alongside our own. Gamma verse was an Arcadian paradise with beautiful vistas and beautiful people - even O1 Boxer was pleasant here (until his father, Brian Boxer, ventured here and killed O1's family) Beta verse, where most of the action takes place, is a reflection of our current state - countryside, city, buildings, people like ourselves (except for the nasty Vex-Cor corporation and its minions). Alpha verse is a futuristic nightmare of where we are headed - polluted city (a la Blade Runner), big corporations (especially Vex-Cor) running things (Vex-Cor even try stealing resources from Beta verse, viz. water, to replace the shortages in Alpha verse, stating "it will be a better future for all"), citizens classified into hierarchical groups (e.g. a "C3" is not allowed to own property). This is possibility the series most "realistic" message.

Mesmerisingly bad.

[imdb-14275 · 1/10 · 8 June 2006]

Its quite rare for a television series to provoke a 1 out 10 reaction without hesitation. But it is so bad that I sometimes find myself unable to change the channel when it comes on - until some part of my brain rebels, seizes the remote and narrowly averts a parallel universe lobotomy.

The director completely fails to grab the audience with any palpable intrigue, like Battlestar or Lost might, so in the end you don't even bother to follow the convoluted and uninteresting plot. Too little is revealed too slowly ensuring a healthy dose of tedium. The visuals are probably the best part of the film with the director managing to twist the holiday village reality of Cape Town into a dark urban jungle at his leisure. But the strange mix of Canadian, American and South African accents (with the full spectrum of South African dialects thrown in for good measure) serve as a huge distraction. The background music is relentless, somehow wrong for each scene and jars with the atmosphere. With these distractions and a confusing and lethargic plot, Charlie Jade tries to be too much and as a result completely fails to entertain.

The fact that I'm the 11th comment suggest this hasn't had very wide screening yet. Perhaps there's hope for the rest of the world?

looks cool

[xanatos553 · 12 March 2005]

I know a guy who worked on the crew for this. He says it's a kind of X-Files meets Sliders meets Han Solo. They shot the whole thing in South Africa with a lot of S African talent, so it looks different from anything you're probably used to seeing.

Apparently, there's a ton of directors -- a new one each episode? I think that's a good thing, because science ficiton shows usually benefit from having a bunch of people at the helm. Its important to keep the ideas fresh, because without that, you don't get any challenge. X-Files was definitely better for having so many directors. Or Sopranos, even, but I know that's not sci fi.

The buzz at MIPCOM was that the science end of things could be really cool, too. Parallel universes and traveling between them. I'm not sure if this is supposed to happen with machines that the characters build? Apparently the post production happened in Montreal and there's gonna be some good effects. I heard there's an entire city built in a computer.

I'm sorry, but I just can't devote 6+ hours of my life...

[innocuous · 4/10 · 20 April 2012]

waiting for this show to improve. Several sites, and at least one reviewer on this site, have assured viewers that the show "takes off" around episode 10. Can't do it. I made it through five episodes and that was all I could take.

Visually, the show is great. I'm a big fan of "Blade Runner" and I thought that the show captured the same feeling of a dystopian universe(s) extremely well. But the script is...well, inadequate. If you're interested in character development and complexity of motivation, there are lots of shows and movies out there that do a better job than CJ.

And I didn't really find the plot all that confusing, though it helped to have some idea of what the show was about before I started watching.

The script, however, is like a "worst of" from series like "Lost." There are long, awkward pauses and all sorts of timing issues in the plot development. Ultimately, it's a soap opera where the writers' goal is to release JUST enough information to get you to tune in to the next episode. And what I find especially disconcerting is that it hardly seems like there are any subplots that actually get resolved in any single episode. Maybe I just need to keep on plowing through it until I reach episode 11.