DAY BREAK 1.5 IS GREAT TELEVISION

DAYBREAK episode 1.5 “What if they’re stuck?” is great television.

Only in its fifth episode the new ABC show Daybreak has reached the pinnacle of fine TV. The show where Taye Diggs is stuck reliving the same dreadful day over and over, really hit its stride this week. We have seen the character Brett Hopper experiment with several variations in his actions this day trying to gather clues as to why he is being framed for the murder of Assistant District Attorney, Alberto Garza. In episode 1.5 he resorts to taking his ex-partner Chad hostage trying to locate his father’s critical murder case-book he hopes will tie everything together, and learns more than he hoped about Chad and himself.

I have been an Adam Baldwin fan ever since his spot-on portrayal of meathead mercenary Jayne on the superb SF show Firefly. In Daybreak he is Internal Affairs Officer, Chad Shelten. His relationship to Hopper is complex. They were partners for two years and now Hopper is living with Chad’s ex-wife Rita, whom Chad still cares for. In episodes 1-4 Chad has been a thorn in Hoppers side, but in this latest, we get to see a different side. Baldwin so convincingly portrayed Chad that, I had no difficulty I believing that Chad has a deeper side to his character. The hostage scene is really fun to watch.

The rest of the cast is also solid. There have been episodes featuring both Hopper’s girlfriend Rita Shelton, played by Moon Bloodgood, and Hopper’s current partner Andrea Battle, played by Victoria Pratt. So far Rita has played the perfect ingénue: a nurse with a need to help strays. His partner Battle has already showed her mettle and loyalty to Hopper in the last episode 1.4, where she changes the day for the better, and in episode 1.5 this underlying certainty of her character is evident.

Brett Hopper is reminiscent of many honor-bound characters. Even though he thinks he will have to relive this day again, he will not break his personal code of honor, and resort to unscrupulous deeds to gather his information. He has been placed in a desperate situation, but refuses to despair. He is always working for a solution to the problem. He sees this day as both a form of divine punishment, and as an opportunity to avert tragedy. And he intends to win.

The climatic scene is so perfect I found myself exclaiming aloud, “Yea.” And I was watching it alone. I had to go back and immediately watch the episode a second time. It would be pointless to reveal just what happened; better watch it for yourself, and thank me later. Suffice to say that I am now giving this show my personal stamp of approval, and my recommendation that you place it on your MUST-SEE list.