I've written about this series before, because I really like it, but I've just watched the last two episodes of the season, and now I *really* like it. And many here will find it strange *that* I like it, because it's more than a little Woo Woo.
But that's not as strange as it sounds, because I'm not averse to Woo Woo per se, just the flakier forms of it. Other forms, like synchronicity, I have no problem with. "Touch" is a show about synchronicity. They don't call it that, but I do. The basic plot revolves around a father named Martin (played admirably and with no histrionics by Kiefer Sutherland) who is trying to learn how to communicate with his autistic son Jake (played amazingly by young David Mazouz), all while trying desperately to retain custody of him. This is not the easiest task in the world because Jake hasn't spoken a word since he was born. He communicates via numbers. *In* the numbers, he sees patterns, and as Martin begins to follow them, they unfold into amazing synchronicities, and Woo Woo happens. Show creator/producer Tim Kring is no stranger to Woo Woo. He wrote "Heroes," which started well but unfortunately devolved into noise very quickly. "Touch" doesn't seem to be falling into that pattern; perhaps Tim learned a little something along the way. At any rate, although each show is somewhat formulaic, the formula is charming, consistently entertaining, and even more important for folks here, consistently uplifting. The amazing coincidences and synchronicities that Jake's numbers lead to are mind-boggling, but in a way that doesn't boggle my mind, Woo Woo-wise. :-) You see, I have no problem with synchronicity. I have had too many experiences of it to reject its existence. I mean, I once gave a stranger a ride to her car late at night in L.A., found it locked and her without a key, and in exasperation reached into my pocket and pulled out the spare key to my car (which wasn't even the same make), slipped it into the lock, and it worked. She got to drive home, amazed, and I got to drive home the other way, even more amazed. I even included the full story of this event in one of my stories for Road Trip Mind, that's how much it amazed me. You can read it here if you are interested: http://www.ramalila.net/RoadTripMind/rtm26.html You can hear the Joni Mitchell song I used to tie the various events and elements of the story together here. It's called "Stay In Touch." http://mp3lemon.org/listenalbum/21660/ But as I hope I captured in the story, synchronicity is IMO a fairly benevolent form of Woo Woo. Like shit, it just happens. I have no real explanation of how or why it happens, but I've been there hanging ten on the edge of the wave of Tao *as* it happens, many times, so I know that it happens. Possibly as a result, I have no problem with the Woo Woo of "Touch." Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. If you need a little "feel good" TV watching, watch for this one to roll out on DVD/Bluray anytime soon. I suspect most here would enjoy it.
