California is on fire. Really -- I can smell the smoke as the summer fires eat up our forest. Hot summer days make you wonder, "is there anything good on TV?" I'm absolutely hooked on Under The Dome! I think it's great TV.
Here's what Under The Dome has going for it:
- Suspense. I don't know what's going to happen next, and I read the novel! I really like it that the show keeps the same feel as the book, but often goes in new directions. With something like this, The Stand could have been a massive TV show that went in directions King shied away from. (Like actually having a huge battle between Flagg and the Freezone)
- More Suspense. Why does the military make no real attempt to communicate with those under the Dome? The troops moving out heightens the mystery of the Dome. What do they know?
- Intertwined. Under The Dome is definitely becoming more intricate and intense. The lives of these people intertwine like a soap opera. Turns out Barbie is not just a drifter, he has a past. And I'm left wondering -- is he really the good guy here?
- Action. The story doesn't bog down with a lot of talking about what characters are going to do -- they do it!
- Mystery. There are a lot of mysteries here. What is the Dome? What exactly did Barbie do? Why is the army leaving?
MANHUNT:
Dean Norris does a great job bringing Big Jim to life. He’s better than the book! Norris presents a multi-dimensional man who can be both compassionate and down right rotten. Actually, we haven't seen a lot of rotten yet, but trust me, it's commin!
What the show does well is convey that Big Jim actually feels like he’s doing the right thing. "People are looking to me to lead," Big Jim tells his son. Of course, like many real people, Big Jim doesn't trust anyone but himself. Why? Because he's a fearful person at heart. But also because he has something to hide! He needs to maintain power in order to keep things under control.
"You only get so many changes in life, do not squander them," Big Jim says. We know Big Jim sees the Dome as his biggest opportunity. He’s a big fish in a small pond. Big Jim’s true colors shine bright when dealing with Reverend Coggins.
It's was nice to see Angie try a new ploy with Junior. It seems she figured out just screaming at him might not be a good idea. And suggesting they check out the cement factory tunnels was brilliant. Too bad he didn't take her with him.
When Barbie lies, he makes the very same face my friend does. I know that's random. I wonder if my friend is reading this.
The action scenes are great because, again, I don't know who's coming out alive and who's gonna get their name scratched through. I'm pretty sure Big Jim and Barbie had secure spots on the show! However, wouldn't it be interesting if the writers decided to knock one of them off?
Great lines:
"I miss texting." "It’s only been a day and a half."
"Dude, it’s the apocalypse, advisories don’t apply."
HUH? These are the things that had me talking to the TV tonight,
- When Julia follows Junior into the tunnel, he’s just a few feet ahead – why doesn’t he notice that the light is suddenly blocked by her presence?
- Junior and Julia burning all their matches, but never thinking to make a torch. Of course, once the matches are all burned up, they find their way out no problem.
- If you are the only cop in town, is it a good idea to take naps in a jail cell?
- Junior better drink his milk. . . the cow got cut in half.
- Barbie leaving his stuff laying around for Julia to snoop through. No reason to worry, if he didn’t have a marked map!
This episode is like Under the Dome meets the stand. As the epidemic spreads, we’re told, "If anyone who’s sick coughs, it spreads."
Things the town is starting to realize MIGHT be a problem if they’re stuck for long:
1. Indoor plumbing.
2. Power supply.
3. No BACON!
4. Medicine
Does the Dome do more than simply discharge an electrical shock the first time it’s touched – does make people a little crazy? Or is the situation itself pushing everyone over the edge? We learn that the Dome goes DEEP, and it really really doesn’t like electronics.
THE PINK STARS ARE FALLING:
What's up with the seizures and the line, "the pink stars are falling?"
When asked by the Hollywood Reporter about this line, Brian Vaughan said,
"It's interesting that there are two people having seizures and they seem to be totally unrelated, but yes, they're both saying, "The pink stars are falling, the pink stars are falling." We'll have to wait and see if these seizures will affect more people, where they're coming from and what their connection to the dome is. This is something that, if you've read the book, people say the exact same thing: "The pink stars are falling in lines." Our payoff will be different, our pink stars might be something different from King's novel, and something we're doing only with Uncle Steve's blessings. You'll be hearing much more about these seizures in episodes to come." (www.hollywoodreporter.com)For an interesting discussion of The Pink Stars in the novel, see writinghorrorfiction.blogspot.com
Is Under The Dome the best Stephen King television we’ve seen? I think it is.
"Dean Norris does a great job bringing Big Jim to life. He’s better than the book!"
ReplyDeleteThat's an understatement. Norris takes a one dimensional villain and is turning him into a more complex character who's cards still haven't been turned face up, thereby making him more nuanced and interesting. If played right, he could wind a real great villain.
"Why is the army leaving?"
Really, they're leaving? Wow, I missed that. If that's true, then this must be more serious then they know!
"However, wouldn't it be interesting if the writers decided to knock one of them off?"
...Erm, no.
Interesting heads about the stars falling, though. I'm hoping it's good. Maybe the Dome is slowly leaving our earth behind in favor of another dimension! Or maybe it lifts a milli-instant trapping some of the military inside with the town! Either way, I think that Dome is alive.
ChrisC
It's Alive! It's Alive!
ReplyDeleteI liked both of these episodes. Still the occasional thing that doesn't make much sense (like Barbie naively assuming the INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER wouldn't snoop through his stuff), but all in all, it's working better and better each week for me. Even the Junior and Angie stuff, which I've grown to like.
ReplyDeleteI am very unhappy that "Under The Dome" has gone from a mini-series with the promise of resolution to at least an additional season. The acting was superb until the last two episodes. The initial characters are still wonderfully deep, but it's turning into a soap opera. I fear they will run it into the ground like "Lost," with so many sub-plots that it dies for lack of interest. At least I still have the book to finish.
ReplyDeleteIt's only gone from a miniseries to an extended series in your mind; the plan all along was to make a second season when and if the first proved to be a success.
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