Technically, Stone is also a ninth-ring denizen. He's dead, consigned to Hell for murdering his wife's rapist in cold blood some 15 Earthly years ago. However, he's got a second shot. If he can round up all of Hell's escapees, he'll get another chance on Earth. In life he was the most decorated cop in south Manhattan, and the Devil is hoping that being dead hasn't changed Stone's instincts.
Stone has already got a good bead on one escapee, a 19th century priest and slayer of boys who, now back from damnation, is kidnapping altar boys to sacrifice them in order to fulfill a twisted, prophetic vision. It's a bit of a hard trick to track him, even for Stone--he's been smoldering in hellfire for about 100 years and has acquired some of its qualities: a fiery touch, a demon's strength and sin's persuasive tongue.
The hunter, though, is also the hunted. In his search for the priest, Stone breezes into the crosshairs of a fellow detective, who is on the case of the missing boys. This brother in blue thinks Stone did it. Convinced Stone faked his own death to escape prosecution for murder, the well-meaning cop unwittingly endangers his own case when he captures Stone. By the time he realizes that Stone might indeed be the dead man he claims to be, the killer they're both after snatches another boy and is only one short of the number he needs to initiate the sacrifice...
Smoldering with subtlety
To be brief, but to the point: Brimstone launches with one of the best pilots filmed for television. Most pilots have a shaky start. A few smolder with promising embers. This one kicks the flames high from the beginning with a great premise that's compellingly presented. There's subtle acting and dark-but-witty writing ("You go your way, I'll go Yahweh."), quick and jerky camera work that adds nervous texture, and a scratchy, nasty soundtrack.
As Stone, Peter Horton is a smashing standout. His nonchalant, regressive delivery makes him a superb anti-hero. Aside from perfectly cast, he's a very, very strong actor. And he's well matched by just about the entire cast. No one overdoes it. They all deliver their lines with professional restraint, generously giving fellow cast members something good to work with--Horton especially could easily steal the show, but lets the genre and the premise have the lead. Ironically, John Glover, whose mercurial physical portrayal of the Devil would be reason enough to tune in every week, probably will be seen only intermittently throughout the season.
Fox needs to be wary. With this kind of archetype-laden leviathan, there are a million mediocrities that could rupture the integrity of the vessel. If viewers don't completely buy in, the show's power is diminished by an order of magnitude, for this effort isn't about relationships, coming-of-age rites or simple escapism. It's about palpable Evil in the modern world. So far, the show is mindful of the smaller as well as the larger aspects. God is in the details, after all.
This will be an instant cult hit, and may have enough draw to follow in the X-Files' footsteps. One of the best pilots I've ever seen. -- Tamara
