All of this means that shows such as Fox's new drama "New Amsterdam" face an uphill battle even before they hit the air. Yes, science fiction and fantasy fans are fickle, and if they don't like what they see, they can be brutal in their scorn.

Unfortunately for "New Amsterdam," the show doesn't do itself any favors, at least not based on the first two episodes of the show. There are plot points big enough to drive a star ship through, and the tone of the characters isn't consistent from scene-to-scene. It's a mess, and that's probably one of the reasons that Fox was apparently gun shy about putting the show on the air at all.

The premise of the show is intriguing, although one that's been mined in more book and TV show. John Amsterdam is New York City detective who looks to be about 35. But he's been living on Manhattan Island since the 1600s, when, as a Dutch soldier, he was killed defending the life of a Native American woman. She brought him back to life and granted him immortality until he finds his heart's "one true love."

The show's premiere episode has been improved a lot since the original version was given to critics last fall. Some scenes have been reshot, there's been a bit of recasting and Amsterdam's character has been lightened up a bit.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays Amsterdam, and he does a solid job of playing a difficult role. Amsterdam needs to at least somewhat likeable and world-weary. The passage of hundreds of years has to have affected his psyche, but he can't be so dour and bitter that he's unwatchable. Waldau walks that line very well, and he's a primary reason that the show works on any level.

But despite the changes in the show, there are still some serious problems. Amsterdam is a homicide detective, and his new partner is an angry, suspicious female detective (Zuleikha Robinson)who is unsure she even wants to work with him. If that role sounds familiar, it's because viewers have seen a similar character in shows ranging from "Life" to "The Dresden Files." With any luck, the role will evolve into something special, but right now, she's just a two-dimensional character there to be a witness to his investigative methods.

There are also some serious issues with the plot. Some scenes frankly don't make much