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The Dead Zone Unaired Pilot [This was written shortly after the season one DVD was released, i.e., many moons ago] The Dead Zone season one DVD includes a coupon for the original unaired pilot. I of course sent away for it, and it arrived last week. The unaired pilot is essentially an earlier version of the first two episodes of the series, "Wheel of Fortune," and "What It Seems." Nearly all of the scenes are the same, although many of them were re-shot. The music is different as well, and the serial killer plot was integrated into the story earlier so that it makes a more cohesive whole. The biggest change is the casting; Michael Moriarty plays Reverend Purdy here, instead of David Ogden Stiers. They are both good actors, but I think Moriarty lacks warmth and he sounds affected; I can't picture him as a successful televangelist. I think Stiers is a more accessible actor, easier to like, and more convincing in the part. Dana Bright is played by another actress with short blonde hair (Kendall Cross?). She seemed fine for the part, but she doesn't jump out at the viewer the way Kristen Dalton does. And I'm not referring to looks here. I noticed one re-shot scene in particular that jumped out at me. Walt comes home and he and Sarah discuss Johnny, but in the unaired pilot, it starts here with Sarah playing the guitar. Although Sarah is supposed to be a musician, I don't believe we've ever seen her doing anything musical in the series -- so far, anyway. What I found most fascinating were the deleted scenes. Most of them show the first director's version of key scenes that were later re-shot, like the lunch scene with Johnny, Sarah, and Walt. There were also two scenes I'd never seen before: (1) a street scene, clearly a vision, where Johnny is being hailed by a crowd as a savior, much like the beginning scene in "Quality of Life," the hockey episode; and (2) a scene where Purdy lights a cigarette, which was intended to suggest that Purdy might be the serial killer. The serial killer plot was originally planned to extend throughout the first season of the series. The disk also contains a short feature on season two, with season two trailers. No big, shocking revelations, but an interesting view of the series just the same. It was worth the $5.95 that I paid for it, just to satisfy my curiosity. Billie P.S. Several people have written to me asking if I knew where to get the disk or if I could make them a copy. As far as I know, the disk was offered only for a limited time when the season one DVD was released, and is no longer available. And as much as I'd like to help people out, I don't have the set-up or the resources to make copies. Sorry about that. |
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