NBC’s “Emerald City” surprised me … for all the right reasons!

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about this new show on NBC that purports to take the Wizard of Oz story and update it for television.  The show, Emerald City, airs on Friday nights and has an abbreviated 10-episode first season.

And after watching the first three episodes, I’m thinking …

RENEW THIS SHOW RIGHT NOW.

You heard me.

I haven’t been this excited about a genre TV show since the first season of Sleepy Hollow.  And even though new episodes of Sleepy Hollow (yes, it’s still on the air, after its first season the show went DOWN HILL), I’m focusing my attention on Emerald City.

Here’s a promo in case you haven’t seen the show yet.

Now I understand that, upon first blush, this show looks like it went through the Game of Thrones TV series formula – you know, intermingled plotlines, lots of action, tangential references to the 1939 MGM movie …

But that’s the first blush.

This TV show skips right past the 1939 MGM movie … and they did it with a character you’ve probably never heard of.

In the first episode, the Wizard of Oz (played with aplomb by Vincent D’onofrio) drops some exposition that a “King Pastoria” ruled Oz prior to the Wizard’s arrival.  Now that made my ears prick up.  King Pastoria?  That’s a name from the 1902 Wizard of Oz Broadway show, which debuted right after the first Oz book.

Okay, fine … the show popped in an Easter egg for Oz fans.  Now let’s get back to the story.

But that little reference paled in comparison to the plotline in the second and third episodes … follow me here.  Dorothy and her traveling companion Lucas (that’s the Scarecrow) arrive at a deserted house in their search for medicine.  The old woman who lives at the house takes them in.  Inside the house is a sickly little boy, who receives medicine from the old woman.  Eventually Dorothy and Lucas escape from the house, and the little boy – Tip – escapes with his best friend.  But without the medicine, the boy Tip suddenly changes into – a young woman.

And it was at that point in time, that I said to the television…

“Holy W.W. Denslow, Batman, they just introduced Princess Ozma to the show!!”

Yeah.  If you haven’t read the Oz books, Princess Ozma is the rightful ruler of the land of Oz, but she was kidnapped and sent to live with Mombi, the Wicked Witch of the North, and was given a magic potion to turn her into a boy and eliminate any desire or claim to the Royal Throne of Oz.  Princess Ozma is a major character in the Oz books, and now it looks as if Ozma is going to be a big part of Emerald City.

And if they’re pulling stuff from the Oz books – and I’m talking more than just a casual reference here and there – this means that Emerald City has a major chance to be an epic series, almost as big as Game of Thrones.  Yeah, I said it.

But don’t worry, movie fans … there were some Easter eggs in Emerald City that reference the 1939 film itself.  In fact, in Emerald City the Wizard of Oz’s real name is said to be “Frank Morgan.”  Frank Morgan was the actor who played both the Wizard and Professor Marvel in the MGM film.  Wow.  Nice touch.

That’s the promo for the next episode, and I think this is where they introduce the Tin Man to the series.

I’m telling you, this show is already going for the gold.  And I can’t wait to see the next episode.

You listening to me, NBC?

RENEW THIS SERIES and let director Tarsem Singh expand his vision of the Oz universe.

You know this will work.