For a network that originated as a home for music videos, MTV has become quite the tour de force when it comes to producing hit scripted television shows.

In addition to long-running, better-than-it-looks “Teen Wolf,” MTV is also home to critical favorites “Awkward” and “Faking It.” For this reason, it’s disappointing that the network’s newest drama, “Finding Carter,” misses the mark.

On paper, “Finding Carter” probably looked like a guaranteed smash. Carter, played by Kathryn Prescott, ends up in jail after a night of fun with friends. Instead of her mom, Lori — played by Milena Govich — showing up to bail her out, a social worker comes to inform her the woman Carter thought was her mother was in fact her kidnapper. Carter is immediately forced to move home with her real parents, Elizabeth and David, played by Cynthia Watros and Alexis Denisof, respectively. Also at her new home is her twin sister Taylor, played by Anna Jacoby-Heron, and self-titled “replacement child” Grant, played by Zac Pullam. Naturally, tensions arise as everybody tries to adapt to the change in the status quo.

If this premise sounds in any way familiar, it is because it’s the exact plot of the novel series “The Face on the Milk Carton,” first published by Caroline B. Cooney in 1990. I would suggest reading the book instead. It will take less time than watching 12 episodes of “Finding Carter,” and it’s honestly a bit better.

My biggest issue with “Finding Carter” lies in the fact that the characters are so unlikeable. It is not the actors’ faults at all. For proof of Prescott’s acting ability, check out “Skins,” another onetime MTV show that was sadly canceled in its first season. It is really hard to find a character to root for. Elizabeth managed to destroy Carter’s trust after just hours of being reunited, although she has been in a slow process of rebuilding it as the season wore on. Even David, the parent with whom Carter immediately bonds, has his own dark secrets he’s hiding.

Secondly, the show has drifted so far from its original premise in only 11 episodes. No answers have been given as to why Carter was kidnapped in the first place. As a matter of fact, Lori hasn’t been seen in the past three episodes. Instead, the show has shifted focus to Carter’s relationship with human disaster Crash, played by Caleb Ruminer. The relationship is boring and tends to bring out the dullness in both characters to the point that I find myself fast-forwarding through their scenes together so I can find something interesting to watch.

That said, there are a few redeeming qualities in the show. As mentioned above, Elizabeth is in the process of rebuilding her relationship with Carter, and the scenes between Prescott and Watros are at times the best parts of the episodes. Alex Saxon steals every scene he’s in as the loveable Max, one of Carter’s friends from when she was living with Lori. Carter’s friend group is filled with some strange and interesting folks as well, including Ofe, played by Jesse Carere, a friend who manages to run the school’s betting pool. If there was a web series solely devoted to Ofe’s and Max’s crazy adventures, I would probably watch that instead.

The first season finale airs Sept. 16, and so there is still hope for the season to end on a high note. The preview showed a glimpse of Lori with full crazy eyes talking to Carter, so it is safe to bet there will be a cliffhanger as well. Don’t worry, MTV has already renewed the show for another season. However, unless “Finding Carter” gets the kinks out between the end of this season and the start of the second season, I think I will just look online to see how the cliffhanger resolves itself.

Bottom Line: Although it has an interesting premise, “Finding Carter” is dealing with some serious growing pains.

1.5/5