My Take on Eli Stone

A few weeks ago, I was on a call with a guy in LA and we were discussing the "major artifacts" that were making a difference in today's film industry. As we discussed several movies and tv shows, he suggested that I start watching a show called Eli Stone.


Now, i'm not much of a tv-watcher, but I decided to check it out. The show has really captivated my interest. To be honest, it isn't brilliant, but I like what its hinting at: that truth has value and pursuing something besides self-interest is a worthy cause.

The premise behind the show is that Eli is a lawyer who had a brain aneurysm that caused him to rethink some of his ethics and consider how to help others through his job, rather than simply look at the bottom line. Eli finds himself in all kinds of sticky situations, where he is forced to determine the best path for both his firm and himself. Eli is quite the interesting guy, often bucking his own self-interest in favor of helping others. Further, Eli has these weird visions, which make the show a little strange, but also provide an opportunity for Eli to meet with a spiritual counselor who instructs him to spend more time listening to what these visions mean. Sound a little mystical? Perhaps...but there are some really good kernels in this show. I like that this show isn't primarily focused upon sex, materialism, and power. Although these topics play into the show, they don't in the usual way,-for viewer gratification-they aren't the show's primary emphasis and it actually provides meaningful commentary on each of these topics. Furthermore, it hints at a deeper sense of truth and wisdom that's available for "him who has ears to hear." Eli Stone is worth more than a passing glance.


Watch Tuesdays at 10 on ABC, or you can catch reruns on ABC's site.