From the outset people like me need to suspend any notions of shows/films they have watched before to look at this show with fresh eyes, for me that would almost entirely be Supernatural. Yeah okay, out with the moans and groans! The first scene opened with the Doran's at a concert watching a violin player, when said violin player arrives home it's clear he's made some sort of a deal since Gavin calls him and tells him his ten years are up, with him begging for another year. Instantly the thought that occurred to me was making deals and selling one's soul are the realm of Supernatural. Especially the early seasons. You see the crossroads demons, if they feel generous will give you ten years in any deal you make, which is a signed and sealed contract. After which it's collection time and collection's a bitch, or in this case hell hounds. This violin player gets dragged back into the Drake though a hole in the door and is never heard of again. being sent to warmer climes.
You see Gavin Doran (Terry O'Quinn) owner of the Drake and his wife Olivia (Vanessa Williams) are demons you might say, okay he's the devil it appears; who occupy the penthouse of the Drake, that being on the 13th floor and obviously the number 999 Park Avenue is really an inverted 666. The devil's playground you might say. Cue naive couple, except they're not married Jane Van Veen (Rachael Taylor) and Henry Martin (Dave Annable). She's an architect and he's a lawyer working for the mayor which is convenient for Gavin as he's into buying and selling ad not just property, but also souls and making deals aren't the usual sense of the word to you and me. Their plan is to get Henry. Thus I had to wonder what sort of a contract Jane and Henry signed when they were hired as resident managers. Not being able to resist the lavishness and decadence of the apartment they were provided with.
At first Gavin rejects Jane giving him any input on the building and what should be changed but later on after they've been to the concert themselves and Olivia has bought an expensive red dress for Jane, Gavin is more than willing to let Jane look over the plans to help him renovate the Drake keeping as many original features as possible.
The couple also meet Brian (Robert Buckley) a struggling playwright who spends his time playing voyeur watching the woman across the street, whom his wife, Louise (Mercedes Masohn) hires as an assistant and then conveniently gets her head struck in between the lift doors and ends up in hospital. Also there's John Barlow (James Waterston) who Jane meets when his hand is dripping with blood. He's just killed a judge for Gavin. John now gets Mary back. Half expecting her to return as a zombie which she probably was, but she's not long for this world, unless John kills another vic, this time the man whose property Gavin is after. Oh hold on, John and Mary really? As in John and Mary Winchester from Supernatural, no, they couldn't find any alternative first names!
SO anyway at the concert Jane feels Gavin trying to kiss the back of her neck and Henry puts this down to her drinking. Also Jane's found a dragon mosaic which was part of a fraternity. That night she sees Mary jump off the building telling her to leave here. She thinks she dreamed it but when we see her dirty feet we know it really happened. There's also Nona (Samantha Logan) a thief who even warns Jane about little things going missing, you see she's a clairvoyant and remarks on how beautiful Jane's necklace is, which she steals. Olivia also remarked on the necklace. Anyway Nona has a vision of Jane running in her red dress, probably in 'hot' pursuit by Gavin. That's another aspect that's meant to draw us back in for the next ep.
Also John can't come through with killing another vic so he's sucked through the wallpaper, so much for wanting his wife back, really do these people think they will get what they want. Even if it's just on TV. So gullible. Wonder if Brian will ever get past tying the title, "Disappearing Ink" before he disappears along with the show. Oops, sorry it already has.
The show based on the novels of Gabriella Pierce, aims to lure viewers in with the thrill of the supernatural and the occult and its lavish setting, with this down on their luck couple who just might not be able to resist the lure of hitting it rich and striking a deal or two of their own. Though the show has been cancelled by ABC in the US, there are still two episodes to air. As for me, well I'll have to reserve judgement until another few eps since for me there was a strong sense of deja vu, but then again, that's just me!
Rachael Taylor was in shortlived Charlie's Angels remake and Dave Annable was in Brothers and Sisters.
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