When I heard The CW was making a new Beauty and the Beast show, I just assumed it was yet another adaptation of the classic story. I didn’t realize they were specifically remaking the Catherine and Vincent show. There was a Beaty and the Beast show that ran for three years in the ‘80s that originally starred Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman.
The CW’s take on Beauty and the Beast fits in with their modern day monster romance shows like The Vampire Diaries. Catherine (Kristin Kreuk) is a cop and Vincent (Jay Ryan) is veteran of the war in the middle east who participated in a military experiment that cause his condition. That makes it more modern and real world than a cursed beast, and gives Catherine even more conflict should she happen to fall in love with Vincent as the series progresses.
Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan star in the CW’s Beauty and the Beast.
At the beginning of the pilot, Catherine and her mom are attacked. Her mom is killed but Vincent saves Catherine. So Catherine is naturally on guard and independent to protect herself. She’s also not starting from scratch when she hears about this rumored beast in present day.
Vincent is a much more subtle beast than Perlman’s. He only has full beastly makeup when he beasts out. This is a convenient way to keep Ryan’s pretty face on screen for the ladies. I’ve got to say, even as the Beast, he’s still hot. They add a few wrinkles and marks but you can totally see he’s a chiseled stud. That keeps this Beast more in line with the vampires of Mystic Falls.
Because Catherine is a cop and has her own story going on, the romance is more of a subplot in this Beauty and the Beast. The potential is there but it’s not the driving force, which makes for some complex, interesting storytelling. Catherine does have trouble dating, and I thought her revenge on her lame boyfriend was cool.
“This Beast [is] more in line with the vampires of Mystic Falls.”
Vincent has a friend, J.T. (Austin Basis) who is trying to find a cure for Vincent. I’m not sure how big that will factor into the series. I hope it’s not too overbearing, since J.T.’s search for a cure can’t really be successful as long as the series is on the air. It gives Vincent a richer life with a circle of friends though.
It looks like there will be more to this Beauty and the Beast than a monster love story, as Catherine is on the case and Vincent knows some dangerous secrets that other people will want kept. That also means there’s going to be a lot of story to follow, so you’d better keep up with Beauty and the Beast each week.
The production value is up to The CW’s high standards. Makeup and visual effects are impressive for a TV scale, the writing takes the world seriously and the actors are convincing and appealing. Fans of Smallville, The Vampire Diaries and Nikita should like this new take on Beauty and the Beast. Be sure to add it to your Fanhattan Watchlist to keep up with air dates and streaming options.
