“There are 500 million cars worldwide – over half in the US alone. And, as long as there have been cars there has been ‘The Race’. Secretly moving across America’s roads and highways, it may be happening around you now. So the next time some jerk cuts you off on your way to work, cut’em some slack. They could be racing for their lives.” – opening monologue

I am a sucker for TV show premieres.

As a steady fan of writer Tim Minear, Nathan Fillion (Buffy & Firefly) and Amy Acker (Angel & Alias), the previews for Fox’s new drama ‘Drive’ had me interested.

In the two-hour launch of the show, I felt a little bit of LOST (gradual character development in small doses and the presence of “Them”, the people running the race), a little bit of Heroes (a group of diverse people brought together by circumstance) a little of 24 (deadlines to meet, lives at stake), a little bit of Nowhere Man (in the freaky way normal people were involved with the race like the waitress and the truck driver), a little bit of “The Fast and the Furious” driving action (illegal racing, but with no nitro), and a lot of “Bullrun” on Red Bull.

I’d love to post a full blow by blow synopsis, but since the next episode is tomorrow night and tonight’s was 2 hours long, I will be short and post links

Contestant profiles:
On official FOX Drive site
Drive The Race fansite
Reason 2 Drive database (FOX site)

Good stuff

• I look forward to finding out why contestants were chosen – especially Alex and Wendy – and what Corrina will bring to the race.
• The tie-in with the waitress and the truck driver (I knew they had something to do with the race before they revealed it)
• The clues to their destination
• Don’t come in last
• Corinna’s flashback from 27 years ago. Pretty graphic and grabbing.
• Brian Bloom and his blue eyes
• The plastic baby
• How Wendy figured out her dilemma with “the package”
• The brothers coming to the aid of another team

Will I keep watching? Sure! Especially since it comes on before 24 and I have an opening in my TV viewing schedule… But, mainly because it is compelling to me and I like the characters thus far. At least, most of them. The team of 3 ladies from New Orleans and the military husband and his wife literally drove me nuts. I suppose we’ll get more of their backstories tomorrow and maybe I’ll like them more.

Did you watch the premiere episode? What did you think? Will you keep watching?

By TVJunkie Jenn