Hart of Dixie (CW) Starring Rachel Bilson, created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage
Last night’s series premier of Hart of Dixie was a tad underwhelming, 1.77 million people tuned into watch Rachel Bilson’s return to TV as doctor Zoe Hart a fast talking New Yorker vying to emulate her always absent father’s respect and love. Her drive and hart-lessness has forced her to move from the comforts of New York for the open pastures and withering heat of Bluebell Alabama.
The ‘voice of God’ narrative told by Billson is constant and instrumental in understanding the inner workings of Zoe, who graduates from Medical School, becomes a doctor, has a successful relationship with her boyfriend, which later falls apart, because apparently she’d rather talk about heart surgery then him. She doesn’t get the medical placement that she wants because she doesn’t have any bedside manner or heart, the irony is not lost on the audience or the character. This forces’ her to move to Alabama and take over a medical practice that some old man whom she’s never met has left for her and somehow win over the people of Bluebell, although she has no interest of even staying longer than her 1 year placement. That's a lot in 42 minutes.
The show’s narrative moves very quickly, similar to Ringer, the audience is forced to play catch up with new plot developments that happen within minutes of each other. The introduction of the Mayor who seems to be her friend, the cute but unavailable southern boy who helps Zoe with her luggage, the Queen B of Bluebell who also happens to be cute boy’s Fiance and the disdain from Dr. Brick Breeland to force her out of the other half of the practice.
The biggest surprise of the episode comes in the last 7 minutes when SPOILER ALERT her father isn’t her real father, the old man that left his practice to Zoe is. This revel explains why Zoe has always had to try so hard for her ‘fathers’ approval and love.
The speed of the Pilot is fast and so is the information that you receive, but the show has great potential. Rachel Bilson is someone you want to see on your TV screen and she is also someone you want to watch. She’s fun and funny and more importantly she’s not playing Summer Roberts, but oh did I long for the Summer Roberts ‘ew’ when she fell in the mud, but sadly no.
Here is why the show works and so does Rachel, she is playing a more real to life character, Summer Roberts was all one liners and no emotional arch. Zoe Hart, although wanting to remain heart-less in her work, truly can’t, especially not in a small southern town like Bluebell.
What also makes this a staple CW show but more importantly a Josh Schwartz show is the music, if last night’s music was any indication of what’s to come than I cannot wait because The O.C and Gossip Girl both showcase great music if nothing else.
Overall Hart of Dixie fits on the CW and more importantly so does Rachel Bilson. The Everwood-esque appeal of the show is a great for frequent viewers of the CW and its also refreshing to watch a show that is not surrounded by bright lights and intimidating sky scarpers, New York is beautiful but Alabama is more of a home.
I give Hart of Dixie a 3/5 good introduction, but it needs to slow down just a bit.
No outstanding acting moments yet but who doesn’t love a determined walk in high heels in a city you don’t belong in?
I will defiantly be tuning in every Monday, how about you? Let me know.
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