'Pan Am' Premiere: Kate Takes on a US Intelligence Assignment (VIDEO)
There's a lot more going on with 'Pan Am' (Sun., 10PM ET on ABC) than pretty girls in form-fitting stewardess uniforms. Set in the depths of the cold war, we got things started right away with one of our stewardesses, Kate (Kelli Garner), tasked to make a document switch to help a Russian man get detained at a stop.She spent much of the flight figuring out how to change his passport without him knowing, and through some ingenuity and quick thinking on her feet, despite plenty of other distractions, she got the job done.
And then she found out it wasn't the job she thought at all.
It was a test and the Russian man was actually an MI-6 agent, which means this is a US-British joint effort she's being recruited into, and it ties to a stewardess they used to work with. All this espionage makes for a much more interesting ride than anticipated.
The pilot sprinkled in a healthy does of flashbacks to flesh out some of the principal characters, giving us a richer viewing experience without any awkward exposition. All in all, 'Pan Am' was a bit of a pleasant surprise, and it managed to be compelling and exciting despite Christina Ricci's character being almost a non-entity thus far.
With the possibilities of stories literally taking place anywhere in the world Pan Am flew, the storytelling potential for this series is endless. Add a spy element and tying it to the Cold War is a brilliant move to raise the stakes and danger. A healthy mix of sex, romance, soap opera and danger makes for a winning airborne cocktail.
Check out Mo Ryan's take on 'Pan Am' -- and 'Prime Suspect' -- here.
See what real-life Pan Am stewardesses though of the pilot here.
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