Point Pleasant (TV series)

{{infobox television

| image = Point Pleasant title card.jpg

| caption = Series title card

| creator = John McLaughlin
Marti Noxon

| developer =

| starring = Elisabeth Harnois
Grant Show
Samuel Page
Aubrey Dollar
Dina Meyer
Cameron Richardson
Clare Carey
Brent Weber
Susan Walters
Richard Burgi

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer = Danny Elfman

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| country = United States

| num_episodes = 13 (3 unaired, 2 released on DVD)

| num_seasons = 1

| language = English

| executive_producer = Marti Noxon
Neal H. Moritz
Marty Adelstein
Dawn Parouse

| camera =

| runtime =

| company = Adelstein/Parouse Productions
Original Film
20th Century Fox Television

| network = Fox

| first_aired = {{Start date|2005|1|19}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2005|3|17}}

}}

Point Pleasant is a television series that aired on the Fox Network from January 19 to March 17, 2005.

Point Pleasant shared many of the same crew behind the scenes as Fox's other then-recently withdrawn series, Tru Calling. Point Pleasant received the green light three days after production of Tru Calling ceased. Thirteen episodes were filmed, but due to low ratings, Fox only aired the first eight episodes in the United States.{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Tim |last2=Marsh |first2=Earle |title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present |date=June 24, 2009 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=978-0307483201 |page=1090}} Episodes 9 to 11 aired in Sweden; all episodes aired in New Zealand on back-to-back weekdays in mid-2007; all episodes aired in the Netherlands in 2008 and the last two episodes are included in the DVD release.

The show's executive producer was Marti Noxon, who worked closely with Joss Whedon for several seasons on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. For this reason, Point Pleasant initially drew in many of the show's fans, but Point Pleasant had a distinct "soapy" flavor, more in the vein of shows like Melrose Place or The O.C. than Buffy. The resulting drop in viewership eventually led to the show's cancellation. However, advocates of the show point to its gothic tone, its tempered, surprisingly, subtle use of special effects, and the potential of the overall plotline as some of the solid reasons the show should have stayed on air. The plots emphasized humanity's self-centeredness and cruelty to one another as primal reasons for evil.

In 2009, episodes of the series were shown on the Chiller network, including the episodes never shown on Fox.

Synopsis

A young girl named Christina washes up on the shore near Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey during a violent storm. After being resuscitated by lifeguard Jesse Parker, the girl is taken in by the family of a local doctor (the Kramers) and quickly befriends their teenage daughter (Judy).The show follows Christina's attempts to discover who she really is, and to learn what happened to her mother, who disappeared shortly after Christina was born.{{cite web |last1=Vukcevic |first1=Filip |title=Point Pleasant: The Complete Series |url=https://au.ign.com/articles/2005/10/29/point-pleasant-the-complete-series |website=IGN |accessdate=28 June 2019 |date=28 October 2005}}

It soon becomes apparent that Christina's presence has a strange, profound effect on the people around her. Emotions are heightened, repressed feelings and secret desires awakened, and inhibitions weakened, turning what once were friendly competitions into bitter rivalries, romantic rivals into violent enemies, and so on. Freak "accidents" have a way of befalling those with whom Christina becomes angry with.

Sinister forces have their eyes on Christina, believing it is the girl's destiny, as the "child of darkness," to "bring [the world] to its knees". Christina is the Antichrist, the child of Satan. The resulting tension between the good and evil aspects of the girl's nature provides the basis for much of the show's conflict and suspense.{{cite book |last1=Wright |first1=Julia M. |title=Men with stakes : masculinity and the gothic in US television |date=January 1, 2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1784996901 |pages=61–68}}

Christina is plagued by terrifying visions of death and destruction, glimpses of the dark future she seems destined to help bring about. A handsome, charming stranger named Lucas Boyd arrives in town, determined to help guide Christina toward her destiny, and Jesse Parker, who has become romantically involved with Christina, discovers that he may be the only one who can prevent the girl from ushering in Armageddon. Ultimately, Jesse is able to choose between accepting Christina, which will cause her good side to prevail, or rejecting her, which will cause her evil side to prevail. He rejects her and the series ends in something of a cliffhanger with Christina leaving Point Pleasant as it is engulfed in an apocalyptic holocaust.

Cast and characters

=Main=

Elisabeth Harnois as Christina Nickson, the daughter of Satan
Grant Show as Lucas Boyd, a half-demon guardian of Christina
Sam Page as Jesse Parker, a lifeguard and the love interest of Christina
Aubrey Dollar as Judy Kramer, Christina's best friend and adoptive sister
Dina Meyer as Amber Hargrove, a conniving real estate agent
Clare Carey as Sarah Parker, Jesse's mother (episodes 5+, recurring previously)
Cameron Richardson as Paula Hargrove, former girlfriend of Jesse
Brent Weber as Terry Burke, Jesse's best friend and Paula's lover

Susan Walters as Meg Kramer, Judy's mother and adoptive mother of Christina

Richard Burgi as Dr. Ben Kramer, Judy's father and adoptive father of Christina

=Recurring=

Alex Carter as Sheriff Logan Parker, adoptive father of Jesse, and Point Pleasant's sheriff
Ned Schmidtke as Father Matthew
John Diehl as David Burke, father of Terry
Adam Busch as Wesley Feist aka Wes, Lucas' assistant
Elizabeth Ann Bennett as Holly, wife of Lucas Boyd who is both dead and alive
Marcus Coloma as Father Tomas, who is trying to help Christiana not embrace the "Dark Side", but he is secretly harboring feelings for her
Audrey Marie Anderson as Isabelle Kramer, Judy's deceased sister

=Notable guest stars=

James Morrison as Kingston Nickson, who raised Christina as her father before Point Pleasant
Aaron Paul as Mark Owens, Judy's love interest
Steven Brand as Graham, Jesse's first guardian
Matt Lanter as Nick, Jesse's second guardian
Dana Davis as Lucinda, Paula's friend
Aaron Norvell as Deputy Atkins
Randy Oglesby as Father David
Jon Hamm as Dr. George Forrester
Wyatt Alvarez as Young Jesse Parker
Lisa Zane as Anne Gibson, biological mother of Christina
Robert Knepper as Presenter at the Dance, a half-demon past dance host
Peter Allas as Dr. Evett

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#000000|overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |prodcode= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 1

|Title= Pilot

|DirectedBy= Tucker Gates

|WrittenBy= Marti Noxon and John J. McLaughlin

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|1|19}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX79

|ShortSummary= Christina is rescued by local lifeguard Jesse Parker and taken to the home of Dr. Ben Kramer, who offers the girl a place to stay after she quickly befriends his wife and teenage daughter. Christina searches for clues about her mother, who grew up in Point Pleasant and soon realizes that she harbors supernatural powers that could spell trouble for everyone. Meanwhile, Christina's adoptive father struggles with a sinister man, named Lucas Boyd, who has taken an interest in his daughter.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 2

|Title= Human Nature

|DirectedBy= Rick Rosenthal

|WrittenBy= Marti Noxon

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|1|20}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX01

|ShortSummary= Christina's search for her mother leads her to a local church. Meanwhile, Lucas Boyd moves to Point Pleasant and introduces himself to Christina. Meanwhile, the town's annual boat parade becomes even more competitive than usual (thanks to Christina's presence), and Ben Kramer has an encounter with an old flame.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 3

|Title= Who's Your Daddy

|DirectedBy= Marita Grabiak

|WrittenBy= Ben Edlund

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|1|27}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX02

|ShortSummary= Christina suffers visions of death and destruction after a confrontation with Lucas Boyd; Boyd has a proposition for Ben Kramer's old flame; Christina confronts her father and Boyd, and learns a thing or two about her true heritage.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 4

|Title= The Lonely Hunter

|DirectedBy= Mel Damski

|WrittenBy= Andrea Newman

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|2|3}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX03

|ShortSummary= Christina confronts a dangerous admirer out to get rid of Point Pleasant of sin.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 5

|Title= Last Dance

|DirectedBy= Michael Lange

|WrittenBy= Zack Estrin

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|2|10}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX04

|ShortSummary= Boyd works with Sarah, the wife of the local sheriff, on a church fundraiser; Ben is nervous about his wife's friendship with his former lover; Christina's anger to Paula has devastating consequences.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 6

|Title= Secrets and Lies

|DirectedBy= Lev L. Spiro

|WrittenBy= Robert Doherty

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|2|17}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX05

|ShortSummary= Christina meets the doctor who delivered her; Boyd is up to no good; Judy and Jesse search for clues of Christina's past.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 7

|Title= Unraveling

|DirectedBy= David Straiton

|WrittenBy= Diego Gutierrez

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|3|10}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX06

|ShortSummary= The hand of fate prevents Christina and Jesse from leaving Point Pleasant; Ben's wife is plagued by hallucinations involving Lucas Boyd.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 8

|Title= Swimming With Boyd

|DirectedBy= James A. Contner

|WrittenBy= Jenny Lynn

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|3|17}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX07

|ShortSummary= Christina and Judy investigate Boyd; Jesse learns a secret about his past; Ben's wife continues to descent into madness.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 9

|Title= Waking the Dead

|DirectedBy= Marita Grabiak

|WrittenBy= Ben Edlund, Robert Doherty, and Zack Estrin

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

|ProdCode= 1AJX08

|ShortSummary= A party in the woods gets out of hand; Jesse learns more about his miraculous heritage; Christina tangles with a demon; Ben Kramer's secrets are revealed.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 10

|Title= Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Choked

|DirectedBy= Mel Damski

|WrittenBy= Ron Milbauer and Terri Hughes Burton

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

|ProdCode= 1AJX09

|ShortSummary= Boyd learns the truth about Jesse; Ben's wife overhears an incriminating conversation.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 11

|Title= Missing

|DirectedBy= Michael Lange

|WrittenBy= Andrea Newman and P.K. Simmons

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

|ProdCode= 1AJX10

|ShortSummary= A series of unexplained disappearances plague Point Pleasant; Jesse learns that he is destined to destroy Christina; a terrifying vision of the future drives a wedge between the two.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 12

|Title= Mother's Day

|DirectedBy= Félix Enríquez Alcalá

|WrittenBy= Zack Estrin and Robert Doherty

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|10|25}}{{Efn|name=DVD|Date of DVD release.}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX11

|ShortSummary= Christina's mother returns; Ben's wife is committed to a psychiatric ward; Jesse learns the role his mother must play in defeating Christina.

|LineColor=000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 13

|Title= Let the War Commence

|DirectedBy= Chris Long

|WrittenBy= Marti Noxon and Jenny Lynn

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2005|10|25}}{{Efn|name=DVD}}

|ProdCode= 1AJX12

|ShortSummary= Christina holds the Kramers prisoner in their home as she prepares for her final confrontation with Jesse.

|LineColor=000000

}}