Last night, ABC Family debuted a new series about a girl who gets super genetic powers on her sixteenth birthday and then ends up having to save her whole random race of genetic mutants from some other random enhanced beings who are chasing her down (or something like that). She also can die and come back to life (supposedly nine times... because her particular superpowers are cat-like). While we enjoyed the premiere of this summer romp for what it is, it definitely brought to mind more than a handful of other series that have come before it. (Keep in mind we're basing this on the pilot of the show, not anything from the book series.)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Commonalities: Genetic powers kick in during their teenage years, shady people follow them around, people want her dead, fun non-super BFFs help out, passion can hurt someone, kick-ass moves.
Both Chloe and Buffy got their powers as teens (the ability to do a roundhouse kick is a gift that keeps on giving) and then were followed by mysterious folks who were secretly trying to keep them safe. In Buffy's case, it was the Watchers; in Chloe's, it's the other people of her Mai race. Vampires want to kill Buffy; Chloe's got a guy from a secret organization trying to push her off tall buildings. Buffy's got her Scooby gang; Chloe's got her pals Amy and Paul who end up involved in her deadly capers (albeit sometimes as bait). And while Buffy's kisses weren't deadly like Chloe's are, she did turn a vampire evil after having sex with him.
Dark Angel
Commonalities: Genetically different teens, cat-like poses, tend to seek safe haven in high places.
Both teens are genetically enhanced: Max was bred to be a super-soldier, while Chloe appears to have been pre-disposed to save her race from danger. They both do this bad-ass crouching pose and can move around super fast. And just like Chloe hikes to the top of Coit Tower in order to avoid danger, Max seems comfortable seeking refuge atop tall structures as well.
Gilmore Girls
Commonalities: Mom-daughter relationship, fast-talking.
While we expected all the genetic bad-assery, what was refreshing about Chloe King was the relationship between Chloe and her mom, which was reminiscent of Lorelai and Rory. Both pairs talk at a mile a minute, seem to have a very easy and casual friend-like relationship and apparently have no boundaries when it comes to talking about personal matters.
The X-Files
Commonalities: Trust No One.
The second we saw the message from Chloe's dad that said "Trust No One," alluding to some sort of larger conspiracy, our Mulder-loving radar perked up. While we don't need alien pregnancies, there's definitely a lot of shadiness around Chloe's adoption that has some potential for more X-Files-like moments.
Teen Wolf
Commonalities: Love interest is spawn of hunter, claws come out.
While Teen Wolf also just debuted a few weeks ago, it is a bizarre coincidence that the love interest for Scott and the love interest for Chloe are both the offspring of the men that are trying to kill them. And while Chloe's cat-like and Scott's more canine, their claws protruding and retracting into their fingers provide a similar effect.
Heroes
Commonalities: Testing of powers, indestructibility, adopted.
We know mentioning Heroes brings back some bad memories, but think back to Season 1 when Claire was just a cheerleader who found out she had powers and started tossing herself off of things to see how she'd heal. Chloe does a bit of that, too, and while she may have a limited indestructibility timeline, she does come back to life after major trauma. Also, both girls had bizarre origins, with HRG taking Claire from her birth parents to keep her safe and Chloe's own sketchy adoption. And both of them ended up questioned their parents about their abilities.
Full House
Commonalities: Shots of San Francisco.
It is admittedly a stretch, but with all the footage of the famed city and its Golden Gate Bridge, can you blame us for hoping that we get some Kimmy Gibbler action at some point?
My So-Called Life
Commonalities: Underage clubbing, never been kissed.
There was a moment where Chloe grabbed her friend to sneak into a club that really reminded us of when Rayanne dragged Angela around. What a thrill for both normally straight-laced girls to do something a little wild and break out of their molds. Also, both girls are obsessed with being kissed and just generally moon over boys.
Doctor Who
Commonalities: Limited number of lives.
While it hasn't been tested as of yet, it has been stated in the past that Time Lords like The Doctor are only able to regenerate themselves 12 times (something to do with deteriorating molecules or science-y stuff like that). And while some ancient prophecy says that Chloe gets nine lives to save the Mai, the man trying desperately to kill her says that he'll kill her as many times as it takes.
Life Unexpected
Commonalities: Annoying best friend, those awful hats.
Amy might grow into a person we can tolerate, but right now she's like nails on a chalkboard, much like Tasha. And both BFFs have a very similar look with the light skin and the dark hair. Oh, and on Life Unexpected, Lux sported those awful beanie hats while on Chloe King it's Amy's turn. Just one more reason for us to dislike her.
Did Chloe King remind you of anything? Sound off below.
See the five ABC Family characters that you'd want to have as your BFF.
Does every teenage girl really wish she had cat-like superpowers? We claw for an answer in this video:
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What about Charmed? Shots of San Francisco, unexpected genetically predisposed powers, some baddie trying to kill you as soon as you discover said powers, being the most powerful/chosen/special one of whatever supernatural thing you are... It's got it all!
You missed the bit where she killed the first person she Kissed! That is so Lost Girl.
Also in Teen Wolf, cats go crazy when the guy is around, and dogs go crazy around Chloe.
Thanks for this! I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw strong parallels to Buffy and Dark Angel. Don't forget that, like in Dark Angel, the main heroine can kill the boy she likes with just one kiss (the season with the technovirus)! Another show I got reminded of was the second season of Hex, in which the main character has a thing for the son of a main bad guy.
...and tell me Paul doesn't remind you of a poorly-written Xander Harris! (from Buffy)
Glad I'm not the only one who has a Mulder-loving radar :-)
ABC Family's own KYLE XY. Think about it. Trade "Cat person" for "Grown in a vat". Its the whole "teenager running around Vancouver, trying not to look like Vancouver, while mysterious baddies chase them, and as a mysterious conspiracy plot unfolds, amongst Teen Angst".
When I think of genetic mutations, I think of only one thing: "The Secret World of Alex Mack" (and of course, the beautiful Larisa Oleynik).
I love this show it's thee best!!! PS Aleks thee best part watch it
Lots of shows have similar plots, an this show is FANTASTIC!! I love the characters and I agree Alek is the best part. You truly should watch this show you won't regret it
Lots of shows have similar plots, an this show is FANTASTIC!! I love the characters and I agree Alek is the best part. You truly should watch this show you won't regret it
I love Alek!!!!
I watch it every tuesday and it's my favorite show of all time, so watch it, please you love the crazy love triangle the actors make it so good (I am voting for Chloe and Alek all the way)
Get caught up in the Nine Lives of Chloe King (abc family, 9 pm after Pretty Little Liars)
I watch 1 episode and fell in love with this show
This show is the most interesting, and amazing (ALEK) so even if it is close to other shows the actors and actresses make it a smash hit
Try watching it won't disappoint you
It's a good show
this show was awful and i'm glad it was cancelled, hopefully to make way for something better.
i watch lots of crap on telly, seriously, lots, especially teenage drama type stuff as i'm a sucker for it, even more so if it involves super-powers. i was a huge fan of buffy and angel, i'm even enjoying the new teen wolf, but the nine lives of chloe king was just pants in my humble opinion.
it's not a bad idea for a show as the formula is tried and tested, but there was just something off about it. i dont think i made it past the second episode.
i'm sorry if this offends anyone who does like the show, but honestly, it just wasn't right... it was a bit too far fetched. at least with buffy the vampire slayer and teenwolf everyone has heard of vampires and werewolves, but the mai? wtf are they? some ancient race of cat people, okay....
this was effectively cat-woman the teenage years, with an over-embelished back story that made little sense. maybe if it was actually set in a gotham city background or felt like it was leading there it may have been better. that may be a far cry from the books, but sometimes to make succesful TV you have to make it appeal to a wider audience and butcher the original story a little.
maybe the books were better, but the translation to screen didn't turn out right. as someone who usually looks out for and highly supports these kinda shows, this one just wasn't up to the cut. a second season of no ordinary family would've been better.
Seeing that two co-stars from the short lived tv show The Gates are almost playing the same characters (Chloe King: kisses someone and could kill them, and Teen Wolf: is probably going to turn into a wolf shortly) The Gates would have to be one it reminds me of. The Gates could have been so much better too...
Really your not going to bring up X-Men. Rogue's first kiss putting her boyfriend into a coma and Chloe killing her first kiss. Also they both got there powers when they were teenagers and they have that whole no getting intimate with people problem.
A. I still wonder if her kiss truely did kill the boy considering Brians dads comment on no one having seen entering/leaving the building.
B. Sometimes the different AKA the Mai is refreshing since it can take the old and create a spin and I love learning about different races and ideas (book wise the Carpathian series while about vampires puts a whole new twist that I love) and I remember a cat race I beleive was called the Mai or something simular from a few years back before I ever heard of the Nine Lives of Chole King
C. The love triangle between Brian Chloe and Alec is just sexy! I like Brian but Alec seems so much less complicated and more for Cloe
and lastly D. I would ENVY the relationship Chloe has with her mom if I didn't have the same one with mine.
I beleive that cancelling this show would be TERRIBLE
I love this show. I never watched any of the other shows named like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the X-Files and others, but this is really a good show and I like that there is action and romance with all of everything else going on. I think it would be a terrible idea to cancel the show.
Who cares there are so many movies and T.V shows that are a lot a like for example they are making another Batman what is that like the 10th Batman. Yes yes Batman is a classic but still... I personaly like this show and I am sure there are those who do not, but to each is there own not everyone has the same taste in entertainment.
It may not be the most original or witty or best made show, but there is something that draws me in, and I can't seem to stop watching. I wasn't even that impressed with the first episode, but I can't help but come back for more. I truly have become invested in the storyline, and I'm enjoying the similarities AND differences from the books. Great show. I would hate to see it cancelled!
I will be slightly damaged if the show is cancelled! Like you brought up, this takes me back to Buffy! I grew up watching Buffy, so this is just great. The right amount of corny-ness to bring back fond memories.
Nooooo it can't be cancelled! I absolutely love this show! I don't even care that it has similar plots like other shows :P lots of shows take ideas and change them around... But I don't care.
Plus it doesn't help that Alec is amazingly gorgeous!! Lol ;)
Pleeease don't cancel this show :(
This show is absolutely terrible. While the plotline and story are interesting,the acting itself is not believable.
It doesn't remind me of any of those
It doesn't remind me of any of those
The are no new original stories . Every book, t.v. show, movie, play, etc. are all based off of the same old stories with a new spin and take on the original plot. If you think about it you can most likely find that most of the shows that people all know and love are alike in some way, shape, or form. There is no reason to end a show because you can tie it to other shows. If that is the case then there would be T.V. at all.
While I wouldn’t call The Nine Lives of Chloe King completely original, it’s much more than simply an amalgamation of these other shows too. I’ve been busy catching up on it on my iPad, during lunch breaks it’s a pretty enjoyable show. And I’m so glad I’ve been getting the time to watch it. There are a ton of reasons I like being an employee and subscriber of DISH Network and the fact that they have the TV everywhere technology is one of the larger ones. It’s hard to describe just how freeing and convenient it is to be able to stream all of my programming anywhere I go. And by all my programming, I really mean all of it; live broadcasts, prerecorded stuff on my DVR, everything. There’s no monthly fee and it works great. It’s perfect for people who travel or live an on-the-go lifestyle. And right now I’m proud to say there’s a great offer to get the Sling Adapter free! Check it out: http://bit.ly/mKO2XE it is certainly worth a few minutes to look into.
It hasn't been cancelled yet. No decision as to whether the show is coming back or not has been made yet. So this is categorized in the wrong place.
I really hope that they reniew this show and It hasn't been canceled yet, but it isn't looking good at all. I think that the time/date slot sucks and if it had a better one then there would be more viewers. I agree that I don't think that her kiss killed that guy. That wasn't her first kiss. Her first kiss was with Paul when she was like six (I know, probably doesn't count, but still) and I don;t think that was the first time she died. I can't remember what episode, but the mom looks at an article that was talking about a child soul surviver. You know that was chloe, and she's not invinsible, so she must have died then also. Anyways, I love the show I hope that there is a season 2!! Plus Alek and Chloe have to get back together!
she didn't kill him. she only maimed him. The assassin actually killed him. Her kiss is potent and potentially lethal, but in certain doses
It reminded me more of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch than anything else. Special powers arriving at 16, and squeaky clean, with the main character having a good family relationship. This show is obviously darker, but no less kid-oriented, in my opinion. I watched it because I like the lead actress, but felt a bit weird watching a kids' show as a middle-aged person.
Love this show. Hate abc for canceling it. They should give it one more shot.
I love this show!! Why! Why did it have to be cancelled!!! :( Please bring it back!!!!! Please! I am begging whoever is producing this!! Please!!! (I really hope it comes back in january like some sites say it will...)
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i liked this show the gates and no ordinary family they were much better then some of the thing that are on tv now. Like the shows about teenage moms i may be wrong but its seems like it encourages teens that hey if i have a baby at 16 maybe i can get one tv too. I think there needs to be less reality shows and more Syfy. i live in reality everyday and sometimes it nice to get away from it. Bring Chloe back.
i loved this show i hated to see it canclled.BRING CHLOE BACK
bring chloe back
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ABC sucks they on show us half of the show they had a second season ready and cacled it abc says that the did not cancle it they simpley made a decision Theyb are stupid nenr watching one of their shows again
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