# Alcatraz starts tonight. Anybody watching? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743 "2012-01-16T23:59:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/61 "2012-01-19T15:08:09Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I think the big question is: Who’s inmate 2002? He knew stuff was gonna happen, and they kept him hidden. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > A few months ago: a bald criminal is chased by two detectives, kills one of them. > > . . . > > Last week: the surviving detective investigates the murder, stumbles on the whole secret project thing, gets recruited into it. Discovers incidentally that the bald criminal is in fact her own grandfather. When and where the grandfather emerged in present-day San Francisco is unclear, as is where he’s been since the lethal chase. Clarification by way of nitpick: the grandfather, AKA Thomas Madsen, AKA Inmate # AZ 2002, was not bald. You had to catch the inmate number in conversation, but he is also the same inmate who was in the next bed (behind the curtain) in the 1960 scene when they took blood from Jack, and he tells Jack “Something bad is gonna happen.” As for the timeline, it’s been three months since the death of Rebecca’s partner (the rooftop incident with Grandpa) according to the conversation she has with her captain about getting a new partner. We don’t know exactly when or where Grandpa reappeared or what he’s been doing since, but what’s even more interesting is we don’t know why they were chasing him in the first place! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/62 "2012-01-19T15:30:28Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > As for the timeline, it’s been three months since the death of Rebecca’s partner (the rooftop incident with Grandpa) according to the conversation she has with her captain about getting a new partner. We don’t know exactly when or where Grandpa reappeared or what he’s been doing since, but what’s even more interesting is we don’t know why they were chasing him in the first place! Huh. A grandfather paradox. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/63 "2012-01-19T15:54:42Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Huh. A grandfather paradox. 🙂 What I liked about that little development is it changed what seemed like a throwaway scene intended simply to introduce us to the main character into a plot point with implications for future repercussions. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/64 "2012-01-19T17:05:54Z")
The gun thing is wrong on so many counts: 1. You can’t buy a silencer. 2. A silencer decreases power and accuracy, which is not what you’d want on a sniper rifle. 3. A silencer won’t do much on that rifle as the rounds are supersonic. 4. A crow hit by that gun won’t just fall down, it explodes in a puff of bloody feathers 5. Even paying by cash you need to fill out a federal form, and there’s a waiting period. Other than that, the show is quite good, but honestly there’s no need to make those mistakes, small or not. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/65 "2012-01-19T17:18:53Z")
Damn, I missed that whole grandfather thing. Makes sense now. Let’s see. A JJ Abrams show. Set on an island. Flashbacks. Time travel. Looming, “complicated” mythology. A character named Jack. Jorge Garcia. A hatch that leads to an underground prison. If we find out there’s some enormous electromagnetic hotspot on the island, I’m going to start screaming “Waaaaaaaaaaalt!” ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/66 "2012-01-19T17:21:13Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Huh. A grandfather paradox. This better not turn into a Faraday paradox! ---
**Author:** ![Noodles\_Fellicini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Noodles\_Fellicini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noodles_Fellicini)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/67 "2012-01-19T17:24:23Z")
And **cmyk** don’t forget the soundtrack. Between that and and repeated use of the word Jack I got a “been there done that” vibe. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/68 "2012-01-19T17:40:52Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Damn, I missed that whole grandfather thing. Makes sense now. > > Let’s see. A JJ Abrams show. Set on an island. Flashbacks. Time travel. Looming, “complicated” mythology. A character named Jack. Jorge Garcia. A hatch that leads to an underground prison. If we find out there’s some enormous electromagnetic hotspot on the island, I’m going to start screaming “Waaaaaaaaaaalt!” You forgot: A distinguished, older gentleman who knows much but tells little. Main characters with daddy issues. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/69 "2012-01-19T18:12:36Z")
It was decent, not great. I will keep watching. Sarah Jones has some tigole bitties. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/70 "2012-01-19T20:58:21Z")
> [@Noodles\_Fellicini](#): > > And **cmyk** don’t forget the soundtrack. Between that and and repeated use of the word Jack I got a “been there done that” vibe. And I almost mentioned Michael Giaccino too. There’s a lot of number slingin’ going on as well. I think the Dharma Initiative is involved. Alvar Hanso. The DeGroots. Anyone see any polar bears? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/71 "2012-01-19T21:01:44Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > This better not turn into a Faraday paradox! Will you be my constant? ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/72 "2012-01-20T04:23:14Z")
So let me get this straight… 50 years ago 300+ inmates and guards mysteriously disappear… sure, could happen. It is covered up with false transfers and death certificates… ok, the government is sneaky. No family members ever notice that there were no visitations, communications, nor funerals… maybe the family was busy. Turns out they were time travelers/alien abducted/suspended animation/immortality serum recipients/other… cool! They start reappearing unexplained and unchanged 50 years later… well nothing lasts forever. There is a secret government base in a popular tourist destination… again, they are sneaky. They find an agent who can chase down these extreme bad guys, and she needs a partner. How about a comic book store manager… could happen. A sniper uses the wrong rifle… whoa… hold it right there… that could never happen! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/73 "2012-01-20T05:57:48Z")
Huh… I just reviewed my recordings and _Brimstone_ was set in New York City, not L.A. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/74 "2012-01-20T06:30:40Z")
Double Huh… only _Brimstone_’s pilot episode was set in NYC. The character moved to L.A. in the second episode. This show is riddled with small inconsistencies, like _Alcatraz_ will be I’m sure, but the high concept is good, so it’ll hold my interest for a while, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/75 "2012-01-22T07:05:55Z")
Just watched the pilot. Awful, awful acting, but I’m totally suckered in by the premise of the show. Except for the underground Alcatraz in a forest, which is the kind of ridiculous stuff that made Lost completely unwatchable for me. Do all JJ Abrams shows have elements that silly? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/76 "2012-01-22T15:25:26Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Except for the underground Alcatraz in a forest, which is the kind of ridiculous stuff that made Lost completely unwatchable for me. Do all JJ Abrams shows have elements that silly? Except for one artsy show season 2 or 3, Felicity didn’t until the second half of the final season. I didn’t watch What About Brian much, but it didn’t seem to either. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/77 "2012-01-23T17:20:52Z")
Finally watched it, a classic JJ Abrams show. Random sci-fi occurrence, nonsensical conspiracy behind it all, and, let me spoil it, a hurried at-the-last-minute complete non-explanation at the end of the journey. I’ll pass on this one. Got my fill with Fringe already. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/78 "2012-01-23T19:11:28Z")
I gotta say, one of my favorite parts of J.J. Abrams shows is watching people complain about stuff that hasn’t even happened yet. Remember how many people hated Lost and worte it off early because they were SURE that “it’s all a dream.” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/79 "2012-01-23T19:26:04Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I gotta say, one of my favorite parts of J.J. Abrams shows is watching people complain about stuff that hasn’t even happened yet. Remember how many people hated Lost and worte it off early because they were SURE that “it’s all a dream.” Yeah, but was the eventual “real” explanation plausible, or did it turn out to be something so goofy and incoherent that it may as well have been a dream? I never watched the show, myself, but the summaries I’ve read don’t exactly scream “rewarding”. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743/80 "2012-01-24T02:07:45Z")
Well, we’re two minutes into the new episode, and my prediction in post #38 has come true, more or less. I’ll keep watching, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcatraz-starts-tonight-anybody-watching/609743.md?page=5)