The first episode of Eli Stone angered many people. I am one. But it is not the whole story.
The 1st episode plot focused on and promoted some fears about preservatives in immunizations. Those fears and years of ensuing real life drama were based on a vigorously debunked medical study which purported to link a preservative used in some immunizations with autism. I nearly stopped watching the show right there. I have young family with autism, which is a very difficult, very distressing condition. I loath the pseudo science and propaganda which raised the hysteria about this (I repeat) debunked link.
However I believe that the first Eli Stone episode was written and produced before the fundamental flaws in that study were revealed in scientific reviews, before a retraction was published, and before other studies failed to show any scientific correlation or link, between immunizations (with or without the preservative) and autism. There is no science justifying the fears, and many scientists have looked. It has been a few years; now, we have many parents not immunizing their children "just to be on the safe side", and as a result - we have some major outbreaks of measles... which can and does kill people. It's a tragedy. It's ironic, and very sad.
But that is not the fault of the television series Eli Stone. And I have now watched the entire series, every episode, two years worth. And it is - was - a wonderful television series.
The writing was nuanced, provocative, open minded on matters of faith and doubt, belief and disbelief. It was funny, and touching. Many topical issues were approached with respect, and without any "here's the one *right* answer to this dilemma" - and that rings true, because life does not run that way either.
The direction led really fine actors into giving consistently excellent performances. The character development was very human, realistic and wonderful and flawed, showing generosity, pettiness, fears, hopes, illusions, jealousy, and great beauty and strength in the human condition.
What is living a good life? The show doesn't ask that question, let alone offer a nice snappy summation that one could see and nod and walk away from. Instead, the show Eli Stone and all its characters delivered thoughtfulness and compassion and questioning, with humor, and on occasion with some excellent pizazz. The musical pieces are superbly done. Every character who sang in this show, as I recall, sang really beautifully - and those performances added depths to the characters they played in "normal" life.
I wish Eli Stone was still in production. I would love to see these characters more, I would love to see these actors and directors working in the beautiful broad sandbox of life they created. But - it is done.
I am so grateful that I took the ride, of watching the entire series. I encourage others, even those who like me, were really annoyed at the first episode, to - yes, I will say it - have a little faith, or curiosity, and take a further look.
The 1st episode plot focused on and promoted some fears about preservatives in immunizations. Those fears and years of ensuing real life drama were based on a vigorously debunked medical study which purported to link a preservative used in some immunizations with autism. I nearly stopped watching the show right there. I have young family with autism, which is a very difficult, very distressing condition. I loath the pseudo science and propaganda which raised the hysteria about this (I repeat) debunked link.
However I believe that the first Eli Stone episode was written and produced before the fundamental flaws in that study were revealed in scientific reviews, before a retraction was published, and before other studies failed to show any scientific correlation or link, between immunizations (with or without the preservative) and autism. There is no science justifying the fears, and many scientists have looked. It has been a few years; now, we have many parents not immunizing their children "just to be on the safe side", and as a result - we have some major outbreaks of measles... which can and does kill people. It's a tragedy. It's ironic, and very sad.
But that is not the fault of the television series Eli Stone. And I have now watched the entire series, every episode, two years worth. And it is - was - a wonderful television series.
The writing was nuanced, provocative, open minded on matters of faith and doubt, belief and disbelief. It was funny, and touching. Many topical issues were approached with respect, and without any "here's the one *right* answer to this dilemma" - and that rings true, because life does not run that way either.
The direction led really fine actors into giving consistently excellent performances. The character development was very human, realistic and wonderful and flawed, showing generosity, pettiness, fears, hopes, illusions, jealousy, and great beauty and strength in the human condition.
What is living a good life? The show doesn't ask that question, let alone offer a nice snappy summation that one could see and nod and walk away from. Instead, the show Eli Stone and all its characters delivered thoughtfulness and compassion and questioning, with humor, and on occasion with some excellent pizazz. The musical pieces are superbly done. Every character who sang in this show, as I recall, sang really beautifully - and those performances added depths to the characters they played in "normal" life.
I wish Eli Stone was still in production. I would love to see these characters more, I would love to see these actors and directors working in the beautiful broad sandbox of life they created. But - it is done.
I am so grateful that I took the ride, of watching the entire series. I encourage others, even those who like me, were really annoyed at the first episode, to - yes, I will say it - have a little faith, or curiosity, and take a further look.