As the fall season ends, rumors abound about "Pan Am" and its future on ABC. After being bumped from its time slot, "Pan Am" continues to receive on-air promotion from the network as well as a significant presence on social media. While it would be wonderful if ABC kept this forward-thinking show, it looks unlikely. "Pan Am" fans have many reasons for loving the show and have posted comments about it on ABC's site. Here are the three things I'll miss most about it.
Relatable Characters
The four female crew members on "Pan Am" have distinctly different personalities. However, I still relate to each of them at various points in time: Colette (Karine Vanasse) feeling like an outsider in Germany, Kate (Kelli Garner) and her independent spirit, the naiveté of Laura (Margot Robbie), and the bohemian lifestyle exhibited by Maggie (Christina Ricci). The male characters and love interests in the show are also worth noting. Flying as co-pilot, although he's at least as qualified as the pilot, is Ted (Michael Mosley). Ted's gentlemanly overtures toward Laura are sweet and heartfelt, though he's quick to feel hurt when she declines his advances, or when his friend and pilot Dean (Mike Vogel) asserts his authority.
History and Destinations
As a history enthusiast, I enjoy seeing the way "Pan Am" delivers real historical events through the eyes of the characters, especially when their personal experiences coincide with worldly matters. In "Unscheduled Departure" (Season 1, Episode 8), the crew faces an emergency landing in Haiti due to a passenger's heart attack. Once there, the crew witnesses first-hand the violence and political upheaval caused by Papa Doc's chaotic rule. Knowing what little I do about Haitian history from news pieces that ran during the earthquake, I found the historical information conveyed in the episode immediately useful in understanding recent world events.
Family Discussions
I really enjoy the family discussions that result from "Pan Am." After the "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" episode, I called my grandmother and discussed what life was like when Kennedy gave that speech and what she felt it meant for the world. I might not have ever known about her feelings or personal experience on the topic had I not asked those questions. Prior to discussing that episode with my grandmother, I'd had a very skewed view of how Americans viewed Kennedy. Raised in an Irish American family in a liberal region of the country, I'd thought that only a small percentage of voters really opposed Kennedy and his policies, but my grandmother helped me understand how this president had a part in the rapidly changing socio-political landscapes of the United States and the world.
TV is often criticized for driving families apart, but "Pan Am" proves that entertainment can be educational and gripping. Hopefully this show won't accompany "Firefly" and other shows canceled before their respective networks could realize the true potential of the fan base.
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