[Editor's Note: If you want to stay unspoiled about the premiere of the CW's "Ringer," stop reading now -- potential spoilers await!]
Sarah Michelle Gellar may not be staking vampires in the CW's "Ringer" but we're nonetheless happy to welcome her back to TV. (SMG, and “Lost’s” Nestor Carbonell, might we add.)
Tuesday night’s premiere of “Ringer” was one of the most hyped of the season, and the gripping pace and plot kept our attention. That being said, we still need an episode or three before we’re completely sold.
The hour-long premiere was packed with info: We first meet SMG as former stripper Bridget, a key witness in a high-profile murder case and six months sober.
Right before the big trial Bridget skips town and reunites with her wealthy, well-dressed sister Siobhan in East Hampton after a six-year separation.
Let’s pause for a minute on the sight of two Sarah Michelle Gellars facing each other: It was a bit jarring at first, but after a few frames the interaction became more convincing, and it stayed riddled with tension.
The sisters head to Siobhan's weekend home, and she informs Bridget that her husband of five years, Andrew, doesn't know Bridget exists. Clearly Siobhan is one who's good at keeping a secret.
The writers kept the element of surprise by not providing any background on the sisters' childhood or family, so we have no idea what drove Siobhan and Bridget to their present circumstance. Whatever it was – and it seems to have to do with a little boy named Sean, perhaps the son of one of the twins or a brother? - Siobhan has supposedly already forgiven Bridget.
The two take a boat ride (or at least, they pretend to – this scene’s production values were Internet meme-worthy bad) and do more sisterly bonding, but before we see much more Siobhan vanishes while Bridget slumbered, leaving her wedding ring and belongings behind.
Presuming her sister killed herself – she certainly screamed "Siobhan" enough times to be thoroughly convinced no one was answering - Bridget puts her hair in a bun, dons the fancy clothes and returns to New York City as her sister. As she tells her NA sponsor, Malcolm, she saw an opportunity and went for it. After all, as Bridget she’s a walking target thanks to her involvement in the murder case.
The scenes that follow Siobhan's "disappearance" seem to indicate that all Bridget would really have to do was keep up appearances as a wealthy socialite; very much like "The Prince and the Pauper." But as we learn more about Siobhan's secrets, the plot takes a darker (and, yeah, soapier) turn.
What we do know is that Siobhan was in a passionless marriage with Andrew, (Ioan Gruffudd); she was cheating on him with her best friend Gemma’s husband Henry; her stepdaughter can't stand her; and she’s pregnant, with Henry pretty convinced it’s his. Hopefully you got all of that.
By the end, “Ringer” upped the suspense: Gemma calls Bridget with a new guess as to who Henry could be cheating on her with, and asks to meet her at Siobhan’s unfinished loft.
Instead of Gemma, waiting for Bridget at the penthouse is a masked man who tries to choke her and we are back at the opening scene. “You have the wrong girl,” Bridget screams. She manages to pull out the gun she hid in the apartment and before shooting her killer she says, “I am not Bridget.”
But when Bridget reaches into the dead man’s pocket for clues, she finds a picture of Siobhan. That means that there’s someone out to kill Siobhan and now Bridget has two targets aimed at her.
The pilot ends in Paris where we see Siobhan, alive and well, receiving a call about a “problem” and smirking.
Which leaves us with so many questions we HAVE to ask. Why would Siobhan fake her death, and what is she planning? Why haven’t any of Siobhan’s family or friends noticed the change in Siobhan’s temperament and suspect something? We’re likely not going to get answers to those questions anytime soon.
But here’s the question for you: If you watched “Ringer,” what did you think? (Aside from the return of SMG, “Buffy” fans.) Did CBS make the right or wrong choice in handing this one over to the CW?
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