Extant: So How Was It?

Do you know what "extant" means? I didn't either, until a couple of the "morning after" articles I read included a definition: not lost or destroyed.

So how was it? The short answer is weird. It's science fiction, obviously, and takes place in the somewhat near future. Hair and fashion haven't changed much, but there's a cool new way to take out the garbage, if you tap the mirror in your bathroom the morning news pops up on a screen and cars drive themselves. Oh, and Halle Berry's son is actually a robot.

The story/plot is complicated, with strange creatures, an unexplained pregnancy, good guys who may be bad guys (the Japanese investor, the head of the now-private, non-NASA space agency, that weird little kid) and a bad guy who may be good, also known as the dead guy who's apparently alive and trying to help Halle's character.

Steven Spielberg is an executive producer and Halle Berry is an Oscar winner, which makes this a prestige project. I like a lot of the actors, not just Halle but also Michael O'Neill (hello, Ron Butterfield,) Camryn Manheim and Grace Gummer. I recognize Goran Visnjic (from ER, but sounding a lot more American this time around) who plays Berry's husband but I can't decide if I like him or not. And the young actor playing the robot/android son is just creepy, and I mean that in a good way. That's how his character is supposed to be.

I'm definitely going to tune in next week. I'm hoping the story will get more interesting and the weird stuff won't become too overwhelming, because I'd love to get hooked on an engaging program that I can look forward to watching every week. Right now I'm stuck with The Bachelorette.

People, Entertainment Weekly and the LA Times have recaps/reviews.