Alex isn’t without sin, mind you. He demonstrates dichotomies throughout the episode. He’s a loving husband and a devoted father, who’s not above hiring ex-cons and assorted unsavory Cuban refugees to drive his agendas home. His dark side is especially apparent at the end of the pilot episode.
Pilots, by their very nature, set the course for a series. They introduce the characters, establish their motivations and agendas, and give us hints as to what paths they might travel. When a pilot really shines, it draws the viewer into a world they want to explore further. Cane hints at a dark drama, but never really decides whether it’s willing to step over the precipice. As it stands, it’s either a Miami version of Dallas, or a Cuban- American version of The Sopranos. If it can find its footing quickly, and strike a balance between the two extremes, Cane has the potential to be a guilty pleasure at the very least.
It’s an awfully big if, given the attention spans of audiences today. But, if it tightens its storytelling and definitively decides on a direction, it might have a chance to last through the season.
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Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Cuban Sopranos? I thought they already did that with Scarface.
-Glen
2 - Chris Beaumont
Going the wrong way Glen, now if Sopranos predated Scarface.... Not even counting the original Scarface in the 30s.
3 - Josh Lasser
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