For anyone who remembers ABC Family in its earlier incarnation, the network’s original series Kyle XY and Greek are likely something of a revelation. There are no “very special episodes” where characters ponder the morality of “doing it” – these shows treat the realities of adolescence and young adulthood as exactly that – realities. Kids are going to have sex. They’re going to do it with the wrong person, for the wrong reasons, and they’re going to regret it afterward. This is not the WB, nor even the CW. This is ABC Family and, like FX and TNT before it, its carving out a niche for innovative drama that aims higher than the banalities on broadcast television.
Kyle XY kicks off its second season with a bang as much of the freshman year’s backstory is blown up to give the new batch of episodes more room to maneuver. The central mystery of year one – what is the nature of the titular belly buttonless genius found naked in the woods – is quickly resolved as the viewer learns that Kyle (Matt Dallas) was an attempt to create a superior human by gestating the body for 16 years rather than nine months. The writers quickly return Kyle to his adopted home with the Tragers, easily one of the best acted families on TV. Throughout the 23-episode season, Kyle ping pongs between the mundane challenge of romantically pursuing the girl next door and the more outré exploration of his mysterious origins. Along the way, things are complicated by the advent of Jessi XX (Jaimie Alexander), another product of the experiments that created Kyle, but forged from a much darker set of life experiences. After clearing the decks of first year detritus, the show does an excellent job of developing its central concept across the season. April Matson, as Lori Trager, and series newcomer Magda Apanowicz, as Andy Jensen, deliver standout performances amongst an ensemble devoid of any weak links. The only downside to this release is that the series was cancelled after shooting wrapped on season three, so the likelihood that Kyle’s story will have a satisfactory conclusion is doubtful.
On a scale where “A” indicates the pinnacle of the medium, “B” stands for an extraordinary example, “C” represents 90-percent of what’s out there, “D” indicates a sub-standard effort, and “F” means an abomination that should at least result in the sterilization of those responsible…
Kyle XY: The Complete Second Season scores a B+ while its DVD presentation merits a B+. Greek: Chapter Two merits a B+ for the show and C for presentation.