ABC's newest drama "Cupid" is a re-working of a series of the same name that aired on ABC 10 years ago. This show mixes ancient mythology with modern romance to provide an interesting and compelling hour of television.
Cupid (played by Bobby Cannavale), has been banished from Mount Olympus until he can successfully set up 100 couples in the most cynical place on earth, New York City. After getting arrested for an over-the-top gesture of love, Cupid finds himself in the hands of Dr. Claire McCrae, a famous relationship psychiatrist, played by Sarah Paulson.
Claire convinces the hospital to release Cupid into her care, and he adopts the name Trevor Pierce in order to blend in with the crowd. Pierce's mission in the show's premiere is to help a young Irishman find the woman he met and fell in love with in a pub in Dublin. They enlist the help of a newspaper reporter who begins to fall in love with the Irishman.
As Cupid tries to figure out how he will reunite the Irishman with his love-at-first-sight lady, Claire tries to convince the Irishman that love cannot be established in a mere 20 minutes. When the Irishman finally finds the girl of his dreams, he realizes that she is not what he had imagined.
The argument that quickly develops between Pierce and McCrae is whether love is passionate and immediate or whether love develops over time and through common interests. McCrae and Pierce teach each other what love is really about while doing their best to help others find it.
Both Cannavale and Paulson are charismatic leading actors, and they play their parts well. Since both actors are relatively unknown, it's easy to become engrossed in their characters without any expectations. Cannavale is goofy yet charming, playing a hopeless romantic who has a lot to learn about true love. Paulson plays McCrae who, despite her cool exterior, is clearly someone who has been hurt in the past.
The dialogue between McCrae and Pierce provides most of the show's comedy, as they are constantly making fun of each other. McCrae's smug attitude that reflects the cynicism of New York City and Pierce's crazy plots to bring people together are discordant, but through their interactions, it's not hard to guess that these two are likely soul mates.
The show leaves a lot of room to expand, as it can easily introduce new characters, like people looking for love or gods visiting earth. Also, the two protagonists' relationship just begs for development. Early on, McCrae brings up the myth of Cupid and Psyche, wherein Cupid falls in love with a mortal and she is made immortal so that they can be together. It's easy to see where Pierce and McCrae are headed in terms of storyline, especially since the two actors have good romantic chemistry.
The show's problem lies in the fact that there aren't many supporting characters except for Pierce's landlord and the couples that he sets up. Most of the action focuses on Pierce and McCrae and their back-and-forth banter on the meaning of love. Whenever the action leaves Pierce and McCrae's interaction, the show falls flat.
It is necessary to suspend disbelief when watching "Cupid" and simply accept that Pierce really is Cupid and not some nut wandering the streets. The show is less about the mythology of Cupid and more about how difficult it has become for people to believe in true love. McCrae also seems stereotypical as the jaded, working woman with a hidden past, but as the show continues her character should become more two-dimensional.
Overall,"Cupid" has an interesting -- if far-fetched -- premise, and the actors build off of it to create great chemistry. It is also fun to see people falling in love on a weekly basis even if the attraction isn't real. The exploration of love is the show's real strength, and as long as they can keep up the romance, the show will do well with audiences.
