REVIEW: 'The Beast'
Swayze’s Health Should Draw Viewers To A&E’s FBI Drama
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 1/15/2009 11:25:00 AM
Much has been written over the past year about the failing health of cancer-stricken star Patrick Swayze. But in his new A&E Network drama The Beast, the former Dirty Dancing star looks strong and convincing as a tough FBI agent.
Swayze appears thin but healthy as Charles Barker, an undercover agent who uses very unorthodox methods. Barker takes on a rookie partner, Ellis Dove (Travis Fimmel), and puts him through vigorous on-the-job training that threatens to break up the pairing.
Just as Dove begins to warm to Barker, he’s confronted by FBI Internal Affairs asking him to spy on his mentor.
Undoubtedly, A&E will draw a big audience, curious to see Swayze, to The Beast’s premiere. And though the series needs to better balance the long stretches of dialog and short action scenes, viewers should remain attached to the show.
A&E premieres The Beast on Jan. 15 at 10 p.m.
