Our ongoing look back at sci fi / fantasy TV shows that were cancelled way too soon or pilots that never made it to series.
This rather dark series bowed on the FOX schedule in 1998 and followed a man named Ezekiel Stone who was sent to Hell for the revenge killing of his wife’s rapist. But he is given a chance for redemption when the Devil enlists his service to track down 113 souls that escaped from the underworld (he has a tattoo on his body for each soul that disappears once that one is sent back). He must kill them and return them to Hell by shooting them through the eyes, a rather morbid means of dispatching the victims sure enough! And that was just the beginning of the dark tone this show took on, though it did manage to weave some interesting tales into its soul-of-the-week format and John Glover did a Hell of a job (no apologies for the pun) chewing up the scenery as the Devil.
As the lead-in to Millennium in that Chris Carter show’s third season on Friday nights, this Brimstone offered the first half of a rather grim two-hour block of television. And unfortunately the show was yet another sacrificial lamb that FOX threw to the TV Gods as they continued unsuccessfully to try and find something that would stick in the Friday 8 PM EST hour. It didn’t help that NBC had hit series Providence airing at the same hour, and—not surprisingly—Brimstone ended up failing to pull much of an audience on the night resulting in the show falling to the Reaper after half a season.
The show did develop a cult following (not that type of cult) and had multiple encore runs in syndication on the Sci Fi Channel and later (the now-defunct) Chiller, and this one is definitely worth checking out if you like dark, supernatural shows. Unfortunately, this show has yet to receive a DVD release, nor is it on any of the major streaming services, though episodes show up on YouTube from time to time. Interestingly enough, The CW did a more light-hearted take on the concept in 2007 with Reaper, though that one only managed to last for two low-rated seasons. But it would be interesting to watch a throw-down between John Glover’s and Ray Wise’s Devils!
Aired: FOX, 1998-99, 1 Season Totaling 13 Episodes
Starring: Peter Horton, John Glover, Stacy Haiduk
Created By: Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris
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I saw a couple of episodes while riding an “Lifecycle” for 45 min at the “Heath Club” before I discovered gyms. We were Yugoslav Immigrants. I had been raised with pure Capitalists that were solely interested he coming here to make $$$. I didn’t know growing up this meant God was illegal for them. We had zero spiritual talk, ever. I learned English in school. I bought a Dictionary (finally!) at 15 by which time I had to move out as violence and $$$ were neck/ neck at home. I read random pages. One day I saw YHWH – God’s earliest written name in Hebraic. Pronounced YAHWEH (eventually Anglicized into Joshua). I was watching this show the next day. The Horton character told his Italian-Roman Catholic Detective Partner something so they could part and he could go back to capturing evil escapee souls from hell . He casually said “You go your way, I’ll go YAHWEY”. (For God, Joshua). I had worked so dementedly obsessed with English, and tried to escape the evil at home 24/7. So this show resonated with me as “bad guys got in trouble” and “killing your wife’s rapist/murderer” will ultimately be seen as different in nature. Also, my parents were not bereft of a God greatness. It was a relief to escape a hell were 2 Narcissists were taking turns being God OR all hell had broken loose. It was much simpler to be in with other viewers contemplating God being God. I loved the show . I also came later to be a fan of it’s predecessor REAPER. This and “I sold my soul to the devil for “XYZ” but have changed my mind… Help! Go hand-in-hand and I usually am always entertained.
Where can I watch Brimstone Hulu isn’t showing it.
Sadly, it is currently not available for streaming nor has it been released on DVD or Blu-ray. You may be able to find episodes on YouTube, though.