TV Review: The Ringer

Oh, Buffy how we've missed you!

Sarah Michelle Geller returns in dual (make that triple) roles in CW's new suspense-drama "The Ringer."

SMG plays Bridget, a former prostitute and drug addict who has finally got her life together, except for the one tiny little fact that a mob boss wants her dead.

Afraid to rely on the protection of the FBI, Bridget takes matters into her own hands by knocking out the agent protecting her. She steals his gun and decides to runaway, taking up her sister's offer to come for a visit.

Bridget and Siobhan (SMG in role 2) come face to face and we learn that they are identical twins. Identical, that is, except for the fact that Bridget is scruffy in ill-fitting, cheap clothes and Siobhan is well-put together and fashionably dressed. Siobhan takes Bridget to a beach house where she informs her that she has never mentioned Bridget to her family. Bridget apologizes for some past sin that she feels responsible for. Siobhan tells her that all is forgiven.

Their reunion soon turns to tragedy; however, when after awaking from a nap on Siobhan's boat, Bridget discovers that her sister has jumped overboard and committed suicide. Back at the beach house, Bridget realizes she has found a way to escape her old life. She steps into her sister's shoes (literally) and assumes her identity.

Once in Siobhan's world, Bridget quickly learns that her sister's life wasn't as perfect as it seemed. A mysterious man is stalking her. Siobhan has been cold to her husband and dislikes her step-daughter.

As Bridget tries to adjust to her new life, a knock at the door brings her old and new world together. FBI agent Victor Machado (Nestor Carbonell from Lost) is there to question Siobhan as to whether she has had contact with her sister. Bridget convincingly tells him "no" and thinks her past is finally behind her. Unfortunately, the discovery of a letter from Siobhan in a locker at the bus station alerts Machado that Siobhan might know more than she let on.

Meanwhile, Bridget meets Gemma (Tara Summers) who is Siobhan's best friend. Gemma confesses to Bridget that she believes her husband is having an affair and Bridget sympathizes. Later, at a charity event Bridget makes the unfortunate discovery of learning that Gemma is correct. Her husband Henry, is having an affair and it is with Siobhan. Bridget recognizes him as the man who has been stalking her. He tells her he wants to meet her at a hotel. Bridget agrees, but when the two do meet up, she tells him that Gemma thinks he is fooling around and they need to cool it for awhile.

Bridget finally thinks she has things under control, but a phone call reveals one more issue to deal with. Siobhan was pregnant. Since her husband was present when she said, "I'm pregnant?" to the doctor on the other end of the call, Bridget pretends she is as well. At least now she actually has a reason to explain why Siobhan is no longer drinking.

Gemma and Henry learn the good news at a social gathering, but later Henry confronts Bridget and says he knows the baby is his. Bridget denies it, but realizes how complicated the situation is going to get.

Still trying to work through all the details of her new life, Bridget receives a call from Gemma asking her to meet her at the loft. She tells Bridget she knows who her husband has been having an affair with. Bridget arrives at the loft and is ready for a confrontation. She gets one, but not from Gemma. Instead, a masked man tries to kill her. After a struggle, Bridget shoots the man with the gun that she took from the agent. Searching his pocket for information, Bridget gets one more shock. She finds a picture of Siobhan and realizes that someone was trying to kill her sister and not her.

As we think the episode is coming to an end, viewers get the pleasure of one more little twist. Surprise! Siobhan is not dead, but alive and well in Paris. A mysterious phone call informs her that there has been a little "problem." This us the unanswered question of whether Siobhan is the one trying to kill her own sister.

The Raw Fish:

Although I'm certain The Ringer will stay on my "must see tv" list, it is going to take some time to stop seeing "Buffy" and start seeing "Bridget and Siobhan." I confess to having had the same problem with "Angel" and "Bones" and I did successfully adjust to David Boreanas as Boothe. So....no biggy.

SMG is still a little intense as an actress at times. You can tell how hard she works, but she needs to loosen up a bit and have some fun with this role. Hopefully, this will occur as she settles in to the storyline.

Haven't we seen this before? Disney Family's "The Lying Game" offers a somewhat similar story with kind-hearted Emma running away from a bad foster family, then taking the place of her twin sister Sutton, who leaves town to find their real birth parents. While The Ringer is definitely the more adult version, there was a weird déjà vu feeling when Henry grabs Bridget for a kiss. It took me a moment to figure out why before realizing I had already seen almost the exact same scene when Emma is kissed by Sutton's secret boyfriend.

What's The Score:

4 Sushi Rolls

Reel this one in boys and girls, it's a keeper!