JOAN OF ARCADIA:

THE FIRST SEASON

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: sexual dialogue, thematic elements

Rated:

Most shows on television don't have a realistic approach to the concept of God. Either there is no mention of Him or the way He is involved in the lives of the characters becomes contrite and clichd. The only two shows to beat this preconception were Touched by an Angel, and Joan of Arcadia. The latter is far from perfect but its flaws are overshadowed by its good points.

After the tragic accident that left their oldest son paralyzed from the waist down, Will and Helen Girardi (Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen) move their family to the quiet little town of Arcadia in the hope that they can begin again. Dealing with his newfound problems makes Kevin (Jason Ritter) a difficult child, while the younger siblings find their own means of entertainment. Luke (Michael Welch) is the all around science geek and A+ student, while Joan (Amber Tamblyn) just wants to get through one day of school without being humiliated. Her life appears fairly uncomplicated until God shows up on the bus and tells her to get a job in a local bookstore. Not a "religious" kind of girl and with no intention of following His advice, Joan postpones the interview. God keeps showing up in her life, in different forms and people in all walks of life, from a little girl in the park to the plump, good-natured woman behind the food counter.

Before too long, Joan begins to catch on that there's a divine plan behind everything He asks her to do. Most of it seems fairly ridiculous. He wants her to have a garage sale. He asks her to join the chess team. He tells her to start up piano lessons again. In each circumstance Joan is brought into the life of someone who needs her, or who has something to teach her. The benefits of her hard work are revealed as God works through her into the lives of her family and friends. Joan doesn't always make the right choice, and sometimes she misinterprets God, but in the end everything turns out all right. The episodes also focus on her family members and difficulties they contend with: Kevin getting a new job, Will solving brutal murders as the town's chief of police, Helen facing hurtful memories.

The show takes pains not to be religious but does have God right. One of the most valuable things Joan learns is that she should obey Him, even when it's inconvenient or painful. The audience gets to see little fruits of her labor along the way, enough to realize that God really does want what's best for Joan. There's the boy she wants to date that turns out to be less than respectful. The poem she finds written by a friend while digging through the trash. Everything has purpose and meaning, even though at times we wonder where the plot is going. Some might be offended offhand by the presence of God in human form. He comes as children, adults, punks, repairmen, cafeteria ladies, and Goths. More popular forms make repeat appearances. Joan becomes frustrated, angry, and sassy with him whenever she is having a bad day. Her parents are both embittered ex-Catholics, and the family for the most part is secular.

Language is occasional and usually mild. There is some violence and thematic elements in the form of various criminal investigations Joan's father is involved in. The pilot features a sub plot about the rape and murder of teenage girls. Joan nearly becomes a third victim. Rape becomes a sensitive issue in a later episode, when we learn that Joan's mom was a victim in college. For the most part the children are well-behaved, but it's implied that Kevin becomes sexually involved with a coworker. Students often talk about sex -- whether they're having it, whether they want to have it, when they intend to get around to it. It becomes an uncomfortable issue in around five episodes midway through the season. The Girardis seem more concerned with having their children "be safe" than promoting abstinence. God tells Joan to become intimate with Adam. She believes that means sex and goes so far as to meet him in a hotel room, but nothing happens. A picture of Joan in her underwear circulates in school. Rumors around school circulate over whether or not Joan's friend Grace (Becky Wahlstrom) is a lesbian. One episode entertains the possibility of a gay cleric but it turns out the rumor is false. Another features a psychic whose numerous predictions turn out to be untrue.

The show is not perfect, but does have a decent depiction of a family that genuinely loves each other. Joan may be resentful of being chosen by God to perform these numerous little duties but she always does what she's told and at the end of the day, has learned a valuable lesson. That alone makes it worthwhile.