Syfy: More Fairy Tales, Please

A couple of years ago, my dad insisted (on several occasions) that I needed to watch a Syfy channel special called Tin Man. My dad and I both love The Wizard of Oz, and he had enjoyed the mini-series. I recorded it, but never got around to watching. I changed cable providers and lost the recording. Later that year, my dad called to tell me it was re-running and I recorded it again. I finally watched it (I can be stubborn when someone ‘tells’ me to watch something). Bottom line – I thought it was genius.

The mini-series came from a contemporary reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. All the same characters, with the plot expanded and twisted, made for a mind-blowing experience. As a lover of the original, keeping up with the references amused me as well. In addition, I fell in love with Zooey Deschanel for the first time and she hasn’t disappointed me since. Zooey plays D.G. (short for Dorothy Gale, of course) who magically travels from our world into the Outer Zone (O.Z.). She is being tracked by an evil queen and (of course) picks up an odd assortment of friends along the way. Going through the plot would ruin too many things, but if you can catch it, I highly recommend.

Recently, a friend turned me onto a similar Syfy Channel project entitled Alice. Intrigued again, due to a lifelong love of the Alice in Wonderland stories, I sat down to watch. The story is another brilliant take on the original story. Alice is a contemporary girl with father issues and a boyfriend who wants to settle down, when she falls down a pothole and ends up in Wonderland. This Wonderland is dark, more like the original story than the Disney version, with a scary Queen and an even scarier ulterior motive. Again, all the same characters pop up, some the same and some different. The plot alters, giving this Alice room to face and overcome her own issues. The Hatter is expanded, and becomes integral to both the story and to Alice’s life. I loved it.

I never hear people talking about these two mini-series (outside of my dad and best friend) and have to wonder if anyone else has discovered them. Do people like them, or would we rather our Classics remain intact? Wicked is my favorite Broadway play, but I know people who resent the reshaping of the classic Oz characters. In my book, as long as these creative endeavors are done well I’m all in favor. Thus far, the Syfy takes have been original, fun, and well produced. I’d like to see them do more reimagined fairy tales, especially ones with more independent and feisty female leads. Maybe another Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, or Robin Hood. I’m all for it. Except when it comes to the ridiculous take-offs of Jane Austen (re: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). This, I cannot abide. What do you think, though? Do you love them, hate them, or don’t care enough to watch either way?

For television reviews, click here.

Photographs courtesy of Syfy, NBC Universal, James Dittiger and IMDbPro.