Alphas

The Syfy series Alphas presents a satisfying blend of science-fiction action and relatable characters. Creators Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, The Incredible Hulk) and Michael Karnow, working with what easily could have been a stale concept—a motley team of super-powered Alpha humans united under a professorial leader and charged by the government with ferreting out other Alphas—wisely focus on the flawed team members and how they learn to function as a surrogate family. Nina (Laura Mannell), who can mentally control people, and hyperkinetic Cameron (Warren Christie) are among the show's most conflicted characters, as their struggle to reconcile their newly purposeful lives with their manipulative, confused pasts influences their relationship with the fatherly Dr. Rosen (a reliably talented David Strathairn). Despite the occasionally hokey special effects and on-the-nose dialogue, the series shines in the way that it develops small moments of personal victory, most notably for Gary (Ryan Cartwright), an electromagnetically gifted and autistic teen who is refreshingly spiky, and Rachel (Azita Ghanizada), whose heightened senses frighten her traditional Iranian family. In addition to its dry humor and semi-scientific bent, a slow-burn mythology and recognizable New York City setting help Alphas bridge the worlds of hardcore sci-fi fans and more casual viewers.