Pan Am (2011)

A high-flying, nostalgic concept show that faltered and was cancelled because it was on network television instead of a cable network such as HBO or Showtime. There's a lot of good and enjoyable plot lines, characters, and visuals in Pan Am. Released a decade after 9/11 altered how air travel functioned and was perceived, this was a welcome look back at air travel's golden age. What could have been a 5-6 season show was cutoff at the legs by the strictures of network television at the time.

Many of the critiques I have of the show come from where it holds back on authenticity and deeper dives into the topics and motifs it can only hint at. Smoking was prevalent in society everywhere in the Sixties and yet no characters smoke in this show. While I don't ask to see tobacco use in shows, it's conspicuous by its absence here. The overt but accurate portrayal of its role in society of the time in the concurrently airing "Mad Men" on cable network AMC dictates a restriction of network TV that impacted Pan Am. Many other storylines and character depth stories are hamstrung by having to settle to network audience sensibilities of the time.

Pan Am still excels in many ways, especially with female empowerment and a focus on the stewardess' primarily as the fulcrum of the plot. Their influence fades as the season moves into the back half of its 13 episodes. The intrigue into their character experiences at the time wanes as romance storylines appear. My favorite element of the series is Kelli Garner's character (Kate Cameron) being a spy for the CIA. The plotline grows stale but the concept is great. It begins with grit and enigma but again seems to suffer from network restrictions on how dark and sinister and truly dangerous they could get with the cloak-and-dagger nature of a Cold War spy storyline.

The casting is expert for the most part, especially Christina Ricci and for spotting the talent of Margot Robbie in her first large role in her fledgling career. I wish this show could have done more. On a cable network, this show would have sung. It's like a miraculous singing talent without a backing band.

I rewatch this show every few years, and frequently in the wake of a rewatch of what I consider to be its kindred spirit: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Both shows would have thrived in this streaming decade, and even then if they'd been on HBO/Showtime/etc. Hamstrung and before their time. Cancelled too soon, but still a fun watch.