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Pan Am – The first season ends, but will there be a second?

The first (and only?) season of 'Pan Am' comes to a close as the flight crew of the Clipper Majestic rings in 1964. But will fans of the show have a reason to celebrate when ABC announces its fall schedule for next year?

- Season 1, Episode 14 - "1964"

As the first season of Pan Am comes to a close, there’s not much left unsaid (at least by me) about the chances for a second season. As far as the ratings go, the show certainly didn’t perform up to expectations. Not picking up the full back nine order was a pretty telling sign. The decision to pull an episode of the production order, and then air it later in the season without an explanation pretty much sealed the deal. I don’t have a lot of faith, despite thinking that Pan Am was a lot better than most critics ever gave it credit for. Stranger things, however, have happened in the past. The so-called season finale left many of the stories open ended enough that fans could be happy with this as an ending, but enough open story lines that a potential second season could pick up from.

Kate finally has the opportunity to get the training that she’s desperately needed since her first day on the job, but only by giving up her job at Pan Am and dedicating her life to working for the CIA full-time. I hadn’t really thought that her status as “just an asset” was what was keeping her from visiting The Farm (the not-so-secret training base for the CIA, located about 15 minutes from where I went to college). She’s left with a big decision; she’s obviously a natural for the spy game, as shown by her role in taking down rogue MI-6 operative Roger Anderson. But, as she celebrated the end of 1963 on a rooftop with her closest friends, it was apparent how much she loved her “real” life. As farcical as many thought Kate’s story was this season, it was easily one of my favorite parts of the show. And Kelli Garner has easily been one of the two breakout stars of Pan Am.

The other, obviously, is Karine Vanasse. I remember how much I disliked Colette in the pilot, but my opinion of her changed rather quickly once the season got going. Her work in “Ich Bein Ein Berliner” was outstanding, but it was also when the audience really got to know her character. If there is another story I’d be disappointed by missing out on, it would be her search for her brother. The news that she wasn’t who she thought she was could have been a negative story, but accompanied by the existence of a brother is a wonderful way to allow us to see her explore her unknown past — hopefully with Dean (not that he deserves her, but hey, I am a hopeless romantic).

Speaking of being a hopeless romantic, I was more than a little disappointed that Amanda dropped a baby-bomb on Ted just as he and Laura finally figured things out. Those crazy kids deserve to be together, but I just don’t see how that could happen with Amanda fathering Ted’s child. At least we will be spared a storyline where Amanda tragically loses the baby to serve the story purpose of getting Ted and Laura back together. I want to see them together, if for no other reason than to watch Ted meet Andy Warhol, but I’m afraid of what would have to happen, plot-wise, to make that happen.

If there’s anything else good that comes out of the likely cancellation of Pan Am is the quick death of the “Maggie Ryan, International Smuggler” storyline. It just seems … beneath her. It wasn’t that long ago that Maggie wanted to change the world. Sure she wasn’t above throwing some elbows to get ahead, but I find such a significant shift in her life goals in such a short time period hard to believe. Admittedly, the President’s assassination would have had an impact, but this just feels wrong. I enjoyed much more her relationship with Congressman Chris Rawlings … even if it meant changing the world one politician at a time.

Considering how unlikely a second season is at this point, I guess I should highlight one of my favorite parts of Pan Am that has somehow escaped mention in my reviews all season long. I loved the historical tidbits; they weren’t overpowering, they were just there. This week was the mention of Idlewild International Airport’s name change to John F. Kennedy International after the President’s assassination in 1963. It was just a quick discussion between Dean and Ted in the cockpit while on approach. It wasn’t overt, it was just there, making sure that viewers who were paying attention walked away from the episode just a little more knowledgable.

Notes & Quotes

  • “I dated a prince once.” – Maggie
    “You did?” – Laura
    “Johnny Esposito. His father was the muffler king of Clatsop County. Every time we pulled into a filling station, we were royalty.” – Maggie
  • “I guess if you really love someone, that makes them perfect, even if they don’t necessarily feel the same way about you.” – Ted
  • I didn’t like Omar much, but he did have a pretty sly way of telling Colette that she was going to be investigated before they were allowed to formally court.
  • “You’ve come a long way from the stewardess who didn’t think she could could switch a passport.” — Richard
    “That was a lifetime ago. My biggest problem was my sister on the cover of a magazine. My parents were the enemy. And this country was Camelot. “ – Kate
  • In an effort not to complain about more than I already have, I’ll skip over the fact that Pan Am skipped over showing us, real-time, as our favorite flight crew dealt, and the rest of the country, dealt with the emotional baggage associated with Kennedy Assassination. I know Mad Men did it, which would only increase unnecessary comparisons, but I still would have liked seeing that story play out in this medium.

   

Photo Credit: Eric Liebowitz/ABC

Categories: | Episode Reviews | Features | General | News | Pan Am | TV Shows |

18 Responses to “Pan Am – The first season ends, but will there be a second?”

February 20, 2012 at 4:26 PM

I’m with you, I love the show and will hate it if there are no more.

February 20, 2012 at 6:27 PM

BRING IT BACK!!!!!!!

February 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM

i hope it comes back as well!!
I think Amanda is possibly lying about being pregnant, in hopes that Ted will marry her, and she’ll actually try to get prego once they are married. She is very desperate to ‘land a man’ as she wants to have the appearance of being a regualr old housewife, as being a lesbian back then was out of the question! especially in her family, with their social status. thats just my guess though!

February 24, 2012 at 7:56 PM

I’m still not willing to give up on Pan Am’s second season. I rarely get this into a show. Please give it another season. I keep searching for a glimmer of hope that it is not being cancelled. I was born in 1964 and was really looking forward to watching a show set in this time frame.

February 25, 2012 at 3:51 AM

I hope it comes back. Yes it had a slow start, but this country/world needs more knowledge of the “jet age”. People had face to face conversations and everybody seemed to have a friendship although far removed from one another in 1964.

February 27, 2012 at 10:29 AM

I don’t watch much tv anymore. Too many of those reality tv & talent shows. I never had interest on any of those shows. Then came Pan Am. I am completely hooked! The show reminded me of my dream to travel around the world by becoming a stewardess but I wasn’t tall enough, thus not eligible to apply for the position. There are a lot of people out there who like this show. The Pan Am Facebook page has over 350,000 likes. Hope it will be back for another season. ABC, please give this show a chance for its 2nd season.

March 19, 2012 at 7:26 PM

I LOVE THIS SHOW! it is one of the wholesome shows that i want to watch! DO NOT DELETE THIS SHOW! i am so sad!!!

April 4, 2012 at 7:28 AM

i just finished the whole season 1, and i am looking forward for the next season, *fingers crossed* i absolutely agree with these opinions.

April 11, 2012 at 3:52 AM

I’m italian and I love this telefilm!! Here many people watching it!! Don’t delete this show, pleaseee!! I hope really it comes back!! Like you say “fingers crossed”…

April 11, 2012 at 10:33 PM

PanAm has improved so much and deserves another chance! I can see results that will bring back many viewers.

April 12, 2012 at 1:42 PM

bring it back. we loved it!

April 12, 2012 at 3:06 PM

Please bring it back!!!

April 14, 2012 at 2:04 PM

Bring it back only tell the real stories of adventure, the way it really happened! These women DO have a story to tell!

April 15, 2012 at 2:50 PM

BRING PAN AM BACK PLEASE, WITH REAL STORIES OF ADVENTURE, THE WAY IT HAPPENED. LET THE PAN AM PEOPLE TELL THE STORIES OF TRAVEL,CLASS, SOPHISTICATION AND ADVENTURE.

April 16, 2012 at 2:57 PM

This show was finally reaching “cruise altitude.” ABC was on the right track – bring it back!

April 21, 2012 at 8:24 AM

I love this show Please Vote,

April 30, 2012 at 1:09 AM

Bring Pan Am back…love the show.

May 18, 2012 at 9:34 PM

You’re screwing up Big Time ABC. PAN AM is an amazing show. You guys didn’t promote it enough. It has a fantastic cast & superb story line. I hope another network picks it up. PAN AM is a huge hit in Europe.

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