The CW’s new thriller “Ringer” starring pop culture icon Sarah Michelle Gellar will be a BIG Hit. The show is suspenseful, nicely written, dramatic, mysterious and edgy while maintaining a cerebral and thought-provoking essence. The opening sequence provided the suspense needed to get audiences captivated and find out why a mysterious hit man was out to kill Bridget Kelly (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Who is Siobhan? Who is Bridget?

Credit: CW Network

It is important to realize that Gellar’s biggest TV role was as Buffy Summers on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” which aired 1997-2003 on The CW and UPN. Her role as a ass kicking vampire slayer is not one she is portraying in “Ringer.” Though just as dark, Gellar has matured in her acting ability and grown with time. She is no longer the young 20-something girl who came to stardom in roles like “Cruel Intentions” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” This new role requires Gellar to take on a bipolar character playing Bridget Kelly and Siobhan Martin, two women whose lives are just as identical as their physical appearance.

We learn that Bridget is a recovering drug addict in love with her narcotics sponsor Malcolm Ward (played by Mike Colter) and has escaped testifying in a trial that could potentially put her 6-feet under. FBI Agent Victor Machado (Nestor Carbonell) is now on the hunt to find Bridget as she is now considered a fugitive. Victor tracks down Siobhan Martin to find the whereabouts of Bridget but unbeknownst to him, she is now Siobhan and not copping to the fact she has switched identities upon her sister’s untimely “death.”

Credit: CW Network

With Siobhan temporarily out of the picture, Bridget begins to think she can escape her horrid life back in Wyoming. Her hopes are quickly dashed as she learns her marriage is a sham and her husband despises her every existence. There seems to be a lot of confusion in the Martin’s Park Ave condo. The terms of Andrew Martin’s (played by Ioan Gruffudd) and Siobhan’s marriage seems to be a match made of murder and Secrecy. Andrew’s teenage nymphomaniac and drug addicted daughter, Juliet Martin, seems to have a deep hate towards Siobhan/Bridget and anger with her father. Tensions run high between Andrew and Bridget as he is not aware of why his seemingly estranged wife is “different”. As people in the hood would say, Bridget is acting “brand new.”

The dynamics of their relationship will be a pleasure to explore.  Andrew seems to have a few tricks up his sleeve.  Love is clearly not on their agenda. Something BIG is going on behind the guise of a perfect marriage. Maybe Andrew and Siobhan/Bridget are not in love but Siobhan’s best friend Gemma Butler (Tara Summers) is trapped in a loveless marriage to Henry Butler (played by Kristoffer Polaha). Gemma suspects Henry is having an affair and believes she has pinpointed the culprit. Little does Gemma know, apparently Henry and Siobhan/Bridget are having an affair and Siobhan is pregnant with Henry’s lovechild.  Drama, drama, drama.

The episode ends with a suspenseful twist as Siobhan is alive and well in Paris. Before her born again act is noted,  audiences are left with why Siobhan has a bounty on her head.  Though Bridget thinks her assailant came to collect his pay on-behalf of crime boss  but he cashed out with a bullet to the chest.

Drama, drama, drama! Too much for one night but enough to keep my attention. “Ringer” is executive produced by Pam Veasey (“CSI, NY,” “The District”), Peter Traugott (“Samantha Who?”) and Emmy Award-winner Richard Shepard (“Ugly Betty”).  With a great team of writers, producers, directors and dynamic cast, the show has a lot of potential. Though I generally appreciated the pace and mystery, I can’t help but believe the show has a few errors that must be fixed ASAP.

First off, the producers must realize the special FX and production values are quite horrible and need retouching. Early scenes in the pilot episode where Bridget and Siobhan appeared together were not believable. The production looked as if a 10-year old child stole their big brothers MAC PRO and went crazy on Special FX.

I am sure because the freshman season must prove its worth as a great investment and money is tight but production quality is important. Overall, I give the show an A+ for effort and great storytelling. Now the big story is the “Ringer” and the story behind the mysterious characters.   How are all the stories from Wyoming and New York City interconnected? Guess we’ll have to watch to find out.