MovieChat Forums > Hiding (2015) Discussion > Great Cast & Premise- But needs better w...

Great Cast & Premise- But needs better writers...

posted 9 years ago by rutledge3512
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Hiding is a Good series, but with better writers it could be Great. Its somewhat frustrating in seeing how much potential is being wasted.

I think the Cast is Great for the series: Believable, Good Looking, Very Likable.
Also, the basic premise of the story is strong and provides much potential (that can still be realized with some improvements via the writers).

For me the writing/ overall direction is very sub-par in a few regards...

1) James Stewart's character is scripted to be such a screw-up in every aspect of daily life- to the point that its unrealistic... Especially in his interactions at the school as pretend professor. Even a total idiot is not so inept to being incapable of stringing together a coherent sentence in front of students & other faculty members.

More importantly- portraying Stewart's character so uniformly as a complete (& over the top) disaster, ensures his character is very 1-dimensional. More drama & depth would result from the writers scripting him as making some strides and inroads of fitting in and being believable in his "cover" job. (At the very least this would provide some contrast to the mis-steps he continues to make- and would provide a bit of a struggling redemption story).

2) The writers have completely failed to explore (in a meaningful way) the kids relationships and adjustment at their new school. When this is attempted, its is done in a very lazy way (we are sort of told about it rather than being able to view it). The kids are very much fish out of water- in their new upscale, very cultured school environment, best friends with powerful politicians daughter, etc, etc. Yet potential of this part of the story line is completely wasted.

3) By leaving out and failing to develop characters & side story as mentioned above... The episodes and series as a whole, end up feeling very disjointed and lacks almost any progression. Whereas if some of these other aspects were developed, the series would have more depth- but more essentially the writers could provides more forward motion and progression to the the Story-line. (which in turn would make the episodes more satisfying, the drama more intense, and provide more potential for future seasons).

*Hopefully- the production of the show is planning some evolution to the story and characters going forward B/c this (already Good) Show has the potential to being really top-notch. For now, Hiding it is still mostly enjoyable to watchable- but only because of the Great Cast & strong basic premise.

[–] maitch-1 8 years ago

Some excellent points in that lot Rutledge.

My gripes are far more to do with a major hole in the presentation of the story. Namely, there are bits and pieces in it where all family members are made patently aware that they are in a life or death situation. Yet they engage in activities eg the son going to visit the girlfriend interstate, the father stealing a mobile phone and a Teddy bear for the daughter's birthday, wife seeking job..etc etc etc. There are JUST way too many silly, frivolous, constructions of behaviour designed to create tension.

These constructed, trivial actions leading to severe risk are paper thin to any viewer who is left thinking NO ONE.....ABSOLUTELY NO ONE would behave with such gay(old meaning), foolhardy abandon in such circumstances given how dire the consequences could be.

Love the cast, the setting the premise as Rutledge mentioned....but the totally unrealistic behaviour of the family members, pretty much ruins it all for me.

"Take away the pain, but leave the swelling."