Hidden Palms

A little bit of everything, but unfortunately a not enough from everything as well. The characters immediately captivate you in the first bits of dialogue, the plot reliably plays on a suspenseful string until certain revelations, and Amber Heard raises the temperature in the room faster than you can say "swimsuit". Kevin Williamson has always been able to create a premise that makes me want to watch more and more episodes, but this time he didn't get enough space. Eight episodes are desperately little for a rather sensible story, and instead of enjoying the solving of the mystery or the deepening of the relationships between the characters, I have to watch the love affairs of Cliff's mother or listen to gossip at routine parties. And that's a great shame because, after about three or four seasons, Hidden Palms could have been a reliable drama about relationships. Not necessarily unforgettable, as the different scenarios tend to resemble those of Dawson's Creek a bit too much. But definitely well-made. The rushed conclusion, in which the viewer receives a crucial answer, but still cannot be sure whether they "know" completely, does not add much to the matter. (2012-05-15)