John Porter to Live Again – in the USA

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Cinemax

Chris Ryan’s Strike Back with Richard Armitage is coming to Cinemax this fall. The series is going to be called “Strike Back: Origins” to help clear things up for fans who saw John Porter die and die again in Episode 1 of the re-tooled version.

I Wonder if Richard Armitage’s recent rise in popularity and exposure has anything to do with it? I can’t wait for the promos – something none of us here in the states were able to see when the original aired in the UK. Not only the promos excite me – but the reviews, the fan reaction and the comparisons to the second series.

56 thoughts on “John Porter to Live Again – in the USA”

  1. I suppose the original is suddenly looking like something that would rate well, with not only RA in but also Andrew Lincoln who will also have a solid fan base post Walking Dead.

    I didn’t realise it hadn’t been aired in the States- all I will say is that you are in for a treat! I haven’t seen the sequel ( I took wise advice that one can’t unsee that scene so decided I wouldn’t watch it at all) but I understand the sequel was dreadful. I’m predicting a whole lot of Porter lovin’ going on this fall!

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  3. My husband also loves the “real” Strike Back. His only series we have watched together (he’s seen CA and TH in theatres and on our home TV). Yes, Not surprised really that HBO/Cinemax is cashing in on two talents who have developed solid fan bases here in the US. Oooh, maybe RA and Andy can do some more of those 60 Second interviews?? 😉

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  4. I bought the DVD’s of *the* original series from the UK as I have a Region Free DVD player. I couldn’t *not* have John Porter in my possession, as it were. 😉 I did watch all of the first series of Project Dawn only because I couldn’t rest until I found out who had betrayed John. Grrr! 😦 I was more than a little traumatized by “that scene” and you’re right – you can’t unsee it! *shudders* Yet another series where he could have had a much better exit. Shades of Spooks/MI-5 series 9 anyone? Yet I’m thankful Richard is no longer a part of it once I saw the direction Cinemax was taking it. Come on! Richard was incredibly sexy as Porter without having to resort to the explicit scenes that seemed to happen at the drop of a hat in Project Dawn. The violence was so over the top at times that it made it almost laughable – something I *never* found with the original.

    BTW – Scott and Stonebridge don’t *begin* to compare with Richard, IMHO! 🙂

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      • That would be *really* great if that was to happen – even if I don’t live in NYC! If they did, would he still be able to ride the subway incognito when he goes there?? Of course it could be the cause of some serious accidents involving distracted drivers! 😉

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          • Bus shelters would be a great idea! Come to think of it, I haven’t heard of him having problems on the tube in London, presuming he still travels on it. We get HBO here in Western Canada so I hope they will show “Origins” here too even though I doubt his face will appear on bus shelters. 😦 Lovely thought though!

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    • Thanks Teutcher – I read that whilst eating lunch! The bit about the worms appearance on the battle field was particularly interesting…

      ( no smilie available for a slightly queasy look)

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      • Quite the turn-off *particularly* when you are eating! Sorry about that! Queasy is the way I felt too! 😦 I learned a bit about round worms back in the day when I was a nurse but I didn’t know about their proclivity for making quick exits when the need arose! Yikes!!

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  7. It’ll be very interesting to see what current Cinemax fans make of the Original. I’ve read comments from people who’ve watched both and some prefer the high octane action of the new version- a largely male perspective I think.
    I read Alan Sepinwall’s reviews for a series I love- ‘Justified’, so I’ll be looking out to see his take on it.

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        • Ah, I don’t know anything about that–haven’t kept up with the show at all–I just know that first ep was full of gratuitous sex and violence. One of the Cinemax people even bragged about it, more or less, as I recall. My take was “Boobs, Bullets, Backsides, Blood and Bombs.”
          And those guys are pale imitations of John Porter, IMHO.

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          • Your “take” was spot on FL! They could have left out #’s 1, 3, and 5 and severely cut back on 2 and 4 IMHO. John Porter’s SB managed fine the way it was and as you said, the two guys that replaced him (yes it seems it needed two!) don’t reach his standard as far as I’m concerned. Actually, for me, I doubt if anyone could. 😉

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          • What worries me is that people who have only seen the second SB will think this is going to be in the same vein. If I knew nothing about RA I’d probably not bother watching because I would assume it was going to be boobs, guns and gore. I might even catch that the handsome actor from TH was in it and think less of him for being in that sort of thing.

            So I fear that a lot of people who might enjoy it will be lost and also that the adolescent who enjoys boobs, guns and gore will think it lame.

            They are going to have to do some clever marketing.

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            • This may be true.I don’t know. But the way cable works, there are “encore” shows and “in demand” So in addition to our “marketing” to get a female audience, reviews will also help.
              But it’s a good point, if reviewers to write about it before it airs, that would help.

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  10. Strike Back is very popular on German TV, free and Pay TV also. The first season (with RA in it) was aired for the third time in the last two weeks. Have watched season two because of wanting to know who betrayed Porter, but the third one is so brutal that it becomes nearly ridiculous (as mentioned before). Of course I got the DVD (on TV you only got the dubbed version)…

    BTW, like Andrew Lincoln in “The Walking Dead” and am curious to watch RA together with Sarah Wayne Callies (AL´s wife in TWD) in “Into The Storm”.

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  11. Well I don’t get Cinemax so haven’t watched the U.S. version but have co-workers who love it. I don’t know how they will react to the original. They didn’t “know” there was one mind you until I mentioned it this week nor that it was originally British. They think it is British based but with Americans in it you see. It will be interesting to hear how they like the real one when it arrives. I too hope they put Richard on big billboards and on bus sides. I often feel that the Brits do understatement so much better. We do drama well here and I loved 24 but we also can be so over the top as well and though some of it may be entertaining there is definitely something to be said for the way the Brits do it that is in its own way so much more satisfying. Not a Walking Dead fan but I’d say that the reason for bringing Origins in certainly has to do with Lincoln and with RA’s current success in their careers. Yes, Cinemax is attached somehow to HBO as you get Cinemax if you take HBO. I just never cared much for what Cinemax offered. Now I’m working out a way to get those 6 episodes with RA!

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    • My provider doesn’t always package Cinemax with HBO, but even though I have the DVDs and even though I’ve watched multiple times, I’m going to watch on TV. I’m hoping we can generate some buzz so more people see it than the current StrikeBack fanbase.

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