By Ellen Garnett
Staff Writer

ABC’s new series “Resurrection” captures the deep heartache and wonder felt in losing someone—and then having them return to your life.

Based on the book series “The Returned” by Jason Mott, “Resurrection” is an American fantasy drama television series about a small town called Arcadia.

It premiered March 9 and attracted over 17 million viewers on its premier, according to Variety.com. This number has oddly dwindled to 7.1 million viewers in the last few weeks, which I don’t particularly understand, but that is most likely because I am already an addict of the show. I even got my mom hooked and she is the last person to watch TV.

“Resurrection” is so appealing because of the element of mystery that is involved in death. The universal theme of mortality is a concept that eludes all of us and is something which we all try to escape. Most of us can relate to the experience of losing a loved one, which allows us to connect with the characters in the show.

Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of seeing your grandparents or an elderly relative cry? For your sake, I hope your answer to that question is “no,” because it is probably the most painful sight I have ever seen in my life. I have seen it several times, each time in a different context but no less painful. For some reason, we view our elders as emotionally invincible, which we know inside is not true, but our false perceptions of them are destroyed when we see them openly display or lose control of their emotions. Your heart feels as if it had been repeatedly bashed in.

In the show, Henry Langston, played by Kurtwood Smith, who is mostly known as Red Forman on “That ’70s Show,” is the father of a boy named Jacob, who drowned at the age of eight and came back 32 years later. The show reveals the mix of feelings Mr. Langston and his wife feel about their son’s absence and sudden return. The loss of a child is perhaps one of the most unthinkable tragedies, and “Resurrection” accurately envelops the emotions surrounding death.

Ultimately, “Resurrection” is an important show because it reminds you that you are capable of feeling something genuine for a TV series. It is a show that breaks through the clutter and superficiality of reality TV because of its authentic and sincere content, regardless of its fantastical nature.