We are all interconnected. Our lives are invisibly tied to those
whose destinies touch ours. This is the premise of the drama
Touch from creator and writer Tim Kring (Heroes, Crossing Jordan)
and executive producers Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope (New
Girl, Terra Nova).
Blending science, spirituality and emotion, the series follows
seemingly unrelated people all over the world whose lives affect
each other in ways seen and unseen, known and unknown. At the
story’s center is Martin Bohm (Kiefer Sutherland), a widower and
single her, haunted by an inability to connect to his
emotionally challenged 11-year-old son, Jake (David Mazouz).
Caring, intelligent and thoughtful, Martin has tried everything
to reach his son. But Jake never speaks, shows little emotion and
never allows himself to be touched by anyone, including Martin.
Jake is obsessed with numbers--writing long strings of them in
his ever-present s--and with dided cell phones.
Social worker Clea Hopkins (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) believes that Jake’s
needs are too serious for Martin to handle. She sees a man whose
life has become dominated by a child he can no longer control.
She believes that it’s time for the state to intervene. So Jake
is placed in foster care, despite Martin’s desperate objections.
However, everything changes after Martin meets Arthur Teller
(Danny Glover), a professor and an expert on children who possess
special gifts when it comes to numbers. Martin learns that Jake
possesses an extraordinary gift--the ability to perceive the
seemingly hidden patterns that connect every life on the planet.
While Martin wants nothing more than to communicate directly with
his son, Jake connects to his her through numbers, not words.
Martin realises that it’s his job to decipher these numbers and
recognise their meaning. As he puts the pieces together, he helps
people across the world connect as their lives intersect
according to the patterns Jake has foreseen. Martin’s quest to
connect with his son will shape humanity’s destiny.
From .co.uk
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There are plenty of welcome surprises waiting for you in Touch.
At first glance, it gives the impression of just another case of
the weak routine drama. But there are fascinating ingredients
here that, once properly explained, gel into a show that's got a
lot more to it than may first appear.
At the heart of Touch is Kiefer Sutherland's Martin, a single
her struggling to bring up his 11-year old son, Jake. So much
so, that the state looks set to get involved. But the catalyst
for the drama that follows is a welcome appearance by Danny
Glover, who appears as a professor, who realises that Jake's
obsession with numbers has far more to it than may at first
appear.
To say too much more would be to give too much away. Touch does,
however, unravel into a very human, occasionally implausible yet
regularly gripping show. And it's anchored by Kiefer Sutherland,
adding the gravitas here that he lent in generous doses to 24.
The role is very different, but the intensity of Sutherland's
performance isn't.
The first season disc set is ed out with a few extra pieces
of material, not least a couple of featurettes and some deleted
scenes. It's not an overwhelming package, granted, but it's a
nice compliment for a show that's just a little off the beaten
track. Recommended.--Jon Foster