No Tomorrow Pilot (2016): CW’s Charming and Zany Romantic Comedy
In my TV viewership experience, I’ve not watched many shows that could be thought of as “romantic comedies.” My main genre over the years has been crime procedural which began years ago with NCIS. This year, CW picked up a pilot called No Tomorrow, which at its heart is, a romantic comedy. no tomorrow pilot
No Tomorrow Pilot (2016) TV Review
An orderly life with normalcy and zero risk suits Evie (Tori Anderson) just fine. Or does it? At work, Evie is unable to inspire people despite the 110% effort she gives to her job as a quality control assessor. When a new promotion opens up at work, she considers applying for it, but does she have what it takes? Personally, Evie is taking a break from her boyfriend who, on paper, is perfect. But is he what she wants forever and always? It’s these questions Evie ponders when Xavier (Joshua Sasse) walks into her life.
Here is the guy of Evie’s dreams. Or so she thinks. When a package for Xavier is delivered to Evie’s address by mistake, she’s sure fate has intervened. This could be a sign he’s the guy she’s meant to be with. As Evie spends part of the day with Xavier, she discovers he’s not at all who she thought he might be. Instead of a normal – albeit very cute, guy he’s something of a nut case who believes the world is about to end. no tomorrow pilot
This is the basic premise for the new charmer that is No Tomorrow. Of course, even in the pilot, more than just Evie and Xavier’s romantic entanglements crop up with other characters and stories. But leading the way is Evie’s story and her aversion to everything Xavier is pulling her towards. One cannot help but be charmed by this new show. This is because of more reasons than one which I would like to talk about down below.
The personality contrast of Evie and Xavier is one of the reasons this show is as darling as it is – and works. The humor is entertains because of this. We watch Evie struggle with Xavier’s devil-may-care attitude as he seeks to help her loosen up. Her life has been good up until now yet the tiny rebel part of her heart pulls her towards this stranger.
Surprisingly, I also find Timothy (Evie’s boyfriend) a story with potential interest. His character is, perhaps, a little too “silly” (in the scripting), but he made me believe without question he loves Evie. Their affection for one author means honesty in their relationship which I appreciate over the normal secrets this relationship usually inspires.
Then there is Xavier. I worry his character might spiral towards a place that he can’t return from. His persona is charming, but because of his theories, he can be ridiculous which will, in my opinion, eliminate charm. Comedy like this is a trick because it has to find its balance between “just enough” and “too much.” This is my greatest “worry” for No Tomorrow. Will it stay above the water and retain its unusual charm or will it sink? The random “tacked on” ending in the pilot makes me wonder if it’ll be the later. I’ve also since seen episode two, and while it’s still a sweet premise with cute moments (still think Timothy will prove a hilarious addition), it wasn’t as good (plus amp up the adult content).
Still, don’t let my skepticism stop you from trying this one. Evie’s clothes are super cute and the “adventure” of the story is infectious. I loved that Evie stood up to Xavier, telling him to respect her pace and way of life. If you like zany romantic comedies such as 50 First Dates, this is probably going to delight you. I can honestly say I like it well enough to entice me to watch future episodes (eventually), but like so many other shows, I don’t see this having staying power. Nonetheless, in an entertainment world saturated in darker themes, this spot of happiness is a nice alternative. At the end of the day, No Tomorrow is a ray of sunshine, and sometimes that’s all we need.
Content: there is an implied (pilot) sex scene. Episode two features another (non-graphic) sex scene played for comedy. Several obvious and subtle crude or sexual humor makes its way into the script. The show would rate TV14 or PG depending on the episode.
Photos: CW
