The Passage

The Passage, which shows considerable promise in these early episodes. Thanks to Gosselaar and Sidney, the all-important human element goes hand-in-hand with all the sci-fi ins and outs.

Overall, it’s a series with the promise to intrigue, terrify and bring nuanced tales of fanged villains back into the weekly fold (it’s been a long time since “True Blood.”) Just don’t call them vampires.

The Passage may not reach the grandiose and tragic heights of Cronin’s books, but it has the potential to be equally satisfying: It’s pragmatic, aggressive, and most of all, present.

To the extent that The Passage is political, it's the age-old horror/sci-fi skepticism about science empowered by government but untempered by moral considerations, the same perspective that's driven everything from the big ants of Them! to the relentless microbes of The Andromeda Strain.

It's a lot of plot for 43-minute episodes, but creator Liz Heldens aptly threads the needle, balancing disparate elements into an action-adventure series with just enough mythology and mystery to keep the audience guessing. As an emotional anchor, Gosselaar's hunky, post-"Saved by the Bell" persona is perfect for a father figure/GI Joe/tortured soul like Brad. His has natural chemistry with the young Sidney, who deftly stays on the right side of the line between cute and cloying.

A better-than-average show of its type ... For now, "The Passage" should appeal to those who like their popcorn TV less touchy-feely and more action-oriented than NBC’s fall hit, "Manifest." For those interested in similar vampire-infection material done with more subtlety and menace, the four seasons of "The Strain" can be streamed on Hulu.