Sue Thomas FBEye
Sue Thomas FBEye - Television Series
Shown on Hallmark Channel (Sky channel 150)
Lots of people have asked me whether I had watched the program ‘Sue Thomas FBEye’ which is shown on the Hallmark channel, as like the main character, I’m deaf and assisted by a Hearing Dog, there the similarities must end, as regretfully I’m not pretty and blonde, nor do I work for the FBI. However, I must say and this is not being biased that my dog ‘Hettie’ is much prettier than ‘Levi’ the dog in the show.
The series is loosely based on the life of Sue Thomas who was profoundly deaf and worked for the FBI. The actress playing Sue is called ‘Deanne Bray’ who for a change in TV or film is actually deaf.
In order to review this program I decided to watch about 10 episodes. Each of the episodes contained a different story but underlining themes ran throughout.
The main theme is about Sue having to overcome her colleague’s apprehension about having a deaf FBI agent with a Hearing Dog on the team.
The America that is portrayed is overwhelmingly suburban, conservative, white, middle class as this is the target audience that it is aimed at. I am being critical of the America that is portrayed in this case because it is too one dimensional.
However, there are a number of things to commend indeed applaud. There was no swearing, no nudity, no sex and no violence which is refreshing. There were a number of other deaf or disabled characters appearing more than once, these were played by real deaf/disabled people and not just in a token sympathy parts. The program raised and dealt with relevant deaf issues from an adult as well as from a child’s point of view in a realistic way. In one sense the America that is portrayed regarding dealing with deaf issues as well as integrating the deaf into mainstream society seems much better and more ideal than my experience here in the UK.
But in the end a big 0/10 for Hallmark as this programme was not subtitled.
Ian Joyce