Ghost Wars premiered on the SYFY channel October 5 and it’s okay, for the most part.

The show centers around town outcast Roman Mercer, played by Avan Jogia, who attempts to leave the remote Alaska town for a new start where he doesn’t stand out for his unusual gifts. Unfortunately for him, an accident happens which forces him to stay and face the supernatural happenings of the town.

The setup of the show isn’t anything new: The outcast with supernatural abilities needs to save the town from some form of catastrophe. This is a trope seen in the media many times in movies such as ParaNorman and shows like Ghost Whisperer. However, the show does attempt to execute it in a somewhat different way with the whole town being aware of not only Ramon’s gifts but also of a curse that has something to do with his mother.

Aside from a trope-filled plot, the show also suffers from a lack of consistency in the atmosphere. Sometimes it feels melodramatic and at other times feels dry and boring. It’d be a lot better if the show is continued on with a consistent intense feeling as opposed to the opposite which just feels flat.

Speaking of flat, some of the actors are average and don’t bring much to the table in terms of performances. While Jogia works well with what’s written, the other actors feel off, primarily Father Dan Carpenter (played by Vincent D’Onofrio). It’s difficult to tell if it’s the writing or acting that makes it feel awkward and uneven. The other actors have similar problems, but his performance sticks out more due to him having a bigger presence.

The visuals of the show vary with camera work being a stylistic choice, which works for the more dramatic parts of the show. Overall it’s neat and there’s no unnecessary shaking of the camera which can sometimes plague supernatural and horror-type shows. As for the special effects, they’re not top-tier or anything special. This makes sense, though, since this is a show with a low budget. For what it’s worth it looks fine and only dips into looking silly a couple of times.

As a whole, the show isn’t the best into terms of mystery and drama shows. It’s filled with poorly executed tropes and an inconsistent atmosphere that sometimes causes it to fall flat. While the plot is interesting, it’s accomplished in a messy way, though it does attempt something different with the town not being completely oblivious to the strange occurrences of the town. If you’re looking for a show with a well-written mystery and drama plot then steer clear of this. If you’re just looking for some decent entertainment then check it out and see if it’s your jam.