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Now that Revolution on NBC is off for the summer, I think the Sci Fi lovers will switch to CBS to watch Under The Dome, the sci fi thriller based on the Stephen King book.
Go to the show's website www.underthedome.com and watch the previews (if you haven't already seen them on TV). But after the preview, enter your address and zip code and you will see where you live is "under the dome." It's a nice promotional touch, CBS.
Great first episode but already we know that when someone has a seizure and starts to mutter about stars that it's a clue to the story. Lots of sub-plots in this, and since there won't be much inter-action with the outside world there will have to be a lot of sub plots under the dome to keep the story interested. So if you think this is going to be just a series about making the dome go away you're mistaken.
I was talking to a friend who suggested that the dome is meant to protect this town to keep it from being destroyed in some galactic catastrophe.
I was thinking about last night's episode -- episode #2. We now know that the dome is penetrable -- by radio waves in certain places and by water. Because water can get through then oxygen gets through so the people under the dome will not suffocate.
None of the "dome people" had a seizure in episode #2 so we didn't get any more clues about "the stars" but in the previews we see more seizures in episode #3.
After two episodes I'll say it's a good show... but if Revolution were on in the same time slot, I'd be watching Revolution.
Watching tonight's episode: it's getting more interesting because we are finding out more about the residents and how they "change" being cooped up under the Dome. Some of it is trite: a police officer cracks; the local newspaper editor (who apparently can't publish her paper -- what no back up generator, or is the printing press outside the dome?) has a predictable back-story of screwing up in the big city; and of course the "hit man" Barbie just by coincidence is given temporary housing by the widow of the man he came to town to rub out.
Okay, I'm sticking with it. Still a good show but I really look forward to the next season of Revolution on NBC.
The July 15th episode had to compete with news coverage of the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin death trial, but if you missed the episode you didn't miss much. Much of the episode was about an illness that swept through the community but in the end enough antibiotics were found and the town survived. There really weren't any clues given about the dome and in the next episode (according to the previews) the military will fire a rocket at the dome.
The beautiful local newspaper editor realizes now that her house guest might have something to do with her husband's disappearance, so that sub plot will continue.
What surprised me is that two of the teens who had seizures linked to the dome made a cell phone video of the seizure they experienced together yet they kept the video a secret. You'd think that two smart kids would say -- hey, look at what happened to us and what's this all about? But it appears that they believe the "dome" wants them to keep it a secret and they are doing that. I guess that will keep the series running longer.
The July 22nd episode was the best one yet -- because it really concentrated on the dome. Sure we had some developments in the personal stories of those under the dome, but the major thrust of the story was about the dome. What is it? What powers does it have? What impact it is having on the rest of the world (magnetic, threat to world peace)? And how to get rid of it?
Tonight's episode was a big improvement from last week's. And now I look forward to the show improving in week's ahead because last week I was afraid this show was going down hill.
I am certainly glad that CBS puts episodes on its website www.cbs.com just in case CBS is dropped by Time Warner Cable. Of course we shouldn't blame Time Warner alone. The dispute is about CBS wanted bigger payments from Time Warner Cable so that TWC can carry CBS programming on its cable services.
In the meantime the last episode this past Monday was pretty good but in typical TV episodic drama style the problem was created, the suffering was presented, and the problem was resolved all in one show. This time the crisis was over the town's water supply: The water supply was cut off when a truck smashed into the pipe from a water tower, there was rioting and looting for available water jugs at the local market, the local farmer with the well wasn't willing to freely share, but then it rained and all is well back under the dome.
But at last the two kids who may have the key to the whole dome mystery have finally told someone about their seizures and their chant about the stars that they mutter during the seizures.
It's a good story, it's entertaining TV, but I really would like to see a conclusion.
If widespread illness can be cured in one episode, and if a water crisis can be solved in one episode, how many episodes does it take to lift the dome? I hope it happens before Revolution returns to NBC.
I watched Under The Dome Monday night but not on KCBS. I saw it on the CBS.com website and it was available online shortly after the TV broadcast ended. I didn't see it on TV because Time Warner is blocking CBS because of the dispute over fees for putting CBS on the cable TV system. Somebody should lock up the negotiators in a dome of their own so they end the dispute quickly. Maybe if they are cut off from the rest of the world the dispute will get resolved.
In the meantime this was a great episode. So much of the back story is now having an impact on the current story. And we got a peek at what might be the source of the Dome. But some of our favorite characters are dying off in the show. And you just knew that Barbie would some how shack up with Julia. (I want to scream at the TV "keep your hands off my Julia" because I think I have a crush on her. LOL)
This latest episode about the "war" with the farmers over water and crops and the confrontation between Junior and his father really was a very dramatic episode. It really had some worthwhile drama while it also helped push the sci-fi plot about the dome and the "egg" as well. But the main characters are getting killed and dying off and either new "stars" will be created or this series can't extend into a second season. Frankly, I hope it doesn't extend into a second season. You can drag something out until boredom sets in.
The Labor Day show is giving us an idea about how the series will end: the "Dome" is some sort of "guardian angel" for the town, it seems.
One thing that troubled me during the last couple of weeks was that there was no contact with the outside world. Wouldn't you think that there would be someone on the outisde world holding up signs trying to communicate with those on the inside? Don't you think someone on the inside would be at the wall holding up signs to communicate with those on the outside? Would the outside world stop investigating? Stop probing? Stop examining the Dome -- especially after the "gas bomb" attempt failed to bring it down?
But getting back to the "guardian angel Dome" -- was it put there to cleanse the town by some high power? And will the series end with that high power warning others that they will also be put in a Dome if they don't clean up their own acts?
Now I am getting the impression that the dome is some government project gone haywire. And I am also getting the impression that there is going to be a second season. Gosh... both of those will disappoint me. As gorgeous as Julia Shumway (Rachelle Lefevre) is, I'm not sure I can stand a second season.
Okay, what kind of season finale was that? Answer: it wasn't. It's just a pause before another run... or it is an ending which leaves you to imagine what the ending is. Is the dome coming down or was that the dome in the final shot still intact?
Under The Dome is supposed to return to CBS for a summer run. Preview is on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CZ7R-F0ZEY
Because of this thread, I started to watch season 1. I kind of wanted to watch this last year, but just forgot about it until I felt I had missed too much.
I have watched the first 7 episodes (of the 13 produced), and I think it's a pretty good show. I am interested to see the other 6, as well as watching season 2 starting on June 30th. I'm watching about one episode per day.
My one criticism of the show is how (at least for the first 7 episodes I've watched), everyone continues life as usual despite the presence of the dome. They go to their jobs, they respect the authority of the very small police force, they don't immediately hoard food/supplies, etc. I mean, finally in like episode 6 or 7, panic set in and people broke into the supermarkets to hoard things, but it took way too long. But why is anyone respecting the police? Why is the city councilman given respect/power? How is the guy with access to the only clean water in town allowed to basically control everyone and hold the town hostage to his demands, when the people could easily overpower him for the town's collective good?
It's giving too much credit for people's respect for law and order in times of crisis. I mean, we have gouging and looting when there's something simple like a blackout or an earthquake. Imagine something like the dome coming down, where people are trapped by a mysterious force? There would be pandemonium, and everyone's first thought would be hoarding supplies. The rulers would be the ones with the most weapons and alliances would quickly form.
It is based on a huge Stephen King novel (1074 pages), but differs from it a lot. For example, the lesbian couple with the teenage daughter, central to the TV story, does not exist in the book. The teenage girl Norrie Calvert exists in the book, but is only a minor character, and she was living in the town with heterosexual parents, rather than passing through. I have to think the lesbian couple angle was added by someone on the writing team who wanted to needlessly squeeze a positive gay role model into the show.
Watching season 2 now.
It's two episodes in.
SPOILER ALERT
So they killed off the Angie character, which I feel is a mistake. She was one of the main characters of the story.
I also think it's fairly stupid how Big Jim went from the flawed-but-not-evil "leader" of the town, to murderous villain, back to the flawed-but-not-evil leader, simply because he was willing to kill himself for his son. Somehow everyone forgives him and interacts with him normally, including people he tried to kill at the end of Season 1. Pretty ridiculous.
Didn't like that Maxine character they introduced near the end of Season 1. Actually glad they killed that one off.
I actually find it annoying when they introduce new "reclusive" characters to the series at this point. There's no way that would have happened in reality. No one would be keeping to themselves if a big dome formed over their town, especially given the uncertainty of resources.
I was curious what you were going to say, Dan. But I think the most difficult thing to come to grips with is that the time frame that the town has been under the dome is only two weeks.
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
That seems really weird.
Are you still watching?
I no longer make an "appointment" to watch it on TV. I watch online at some point during the week.
Monday, July 28 episode.
Probably one of the best. Now... there are a lot of loose ends, but this is Sci Fi, so loose ends are OK. But this episode brought us back to the "dome" mystery more than many previous episodes, and it really has me looking forward to next week.
You just have to love the ending with the discovery of a tunnel. Is it the tunnel out? Or the tunnel to where another egg is buried?
Well... the tunnel is the way out, if they can get word to those inside. But now we know why no one is outside the Dome holding up signs to communicate with the folks inside: the government has ordered everyone to stay away. I've wondering why there were no people with signs and electronic message boards communicating?
After last night's episode it appears the series is taking a turn. Now those trapped inside the Dome also have enemies on the outside -- and is it the government or private industry? Is the knowledge of the Dome and the knowledge of an alien life form more important than the lives of those inside?
Anyone else notice that the opening monologue has changed to say several weeks ago instead of two weeks ago?
Didn't love the whole "cliff is the way out but the government is making it too dangerous" thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
If this Dome thing happened in real life, while it is believable the government would restrict access to it, the people would demand answers at the same time, and the media would be all over it 24/7.
A character like "Barbie" could simply go to the media, state that he has discovered a way out (and escaped himself), and wants the government to broadcast messages to the people regarding how to escape. There's no way the government could justify refusing such a thing, with the media all over it like that.
Also lol @ Barbie putting on a pair of glasses and fooling the military regarding getting past them. Supposedly he was the most notable person trapped in there, so they would definitely know him, especially since he's one of their own.
As what happens with some shows, they have lost a use for certain characters.
For example, Norrie's mom (the one still alive) is no longer seen on-screen, nor is she mentioned. Norrie herself, who was such a central character in Season 1, seems to have little to do anymore, and in fact was replaced in a way by the Melanie character.
When did the outside world find out about the "egg"? And how?
Yeah I wonder that, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
Personally, I am not thrilled with the direction of the "evil corporation versus the dome inhabitants" storyline. It is unrealistic to believe that the military would hand over exclusive power to control the area around the dome to a for-profit corporation.
In reality, the military would seal it off and control the area themselves (as was implied originally).
Seemed pretty ludicrous to me that this whole story couldn't have ended with Barbie going to the media, explaining how he got out, and then having the military hold signs out front instructing people to jump. In fact, that would have made for more of a compelling story, as the characters would have to decide whether or not to bring the egg (knowing they might never get access to it again if they leave it behind), and then maybe some would choose whether to go or stay behind with the egg.
It seems that the vision Barbie had at the end of the last episode implies that Melanie is more than she appears to be, and in fact might be an alien related to putting up the dome in the first place. I'm sure it's not going to be a coincidence that she told Barbie in 1988 that they would see each other again at some point.
Just when I thought the tunnel would be the way out... the "egg" gets dropped through the tunnel and the tunnel closes. No way out for the residents of Chesters Mill, so the series will drag on into a third season. Of course the "black uniforms" are not expecting the egg to show up, so some kid will pick it up in the park and put it into his marble collection, or else it won't be discovered until next Spring's Easter Egg Hunt.
So what does the egg do on the outside? Cause havoc, of course. And maybe the "dome" does what was suspected from the beginning of the show -- protects those inside while the rest of the world evaporates or goes up in smoke or some such calamity.
But thinking ahead... keeping the egg unidentified until the city's Easter Egg Hunt will allow the producers plenty of time to come up with "Dome Eggs" to sell in stores and on the CBS website.
I knew they were going to have to do something about that "exit", or the series would have ended. I don't like being teased with things like this. The cliff with no bottom was cool, and it made me want to watch subsequent weeks to find out what happened. However, I hate when they dangle something like this and then abruptly take it away, just to drag the series on longer.
This can only go on for so long before people get tired of it.
Sadly we might not get to see the conclusion we are hoping for.
Season 1 was a hit, with 10-11 million viewers per episode (excellent for a summer series), and then 12 million for the season finale.
Season 2, which returned after a 9-month hiatus (never good), still picked up 9.4 million viewers. However, people didn't like the premiere, so it fell to 7.7 for the 2nd epsiode, and the last episode was an all-time-low of 6.29.
I'm not sure it will be renewed for a third season with numbers like these, and yet they won't have time to quickly make a finale.
I was hoping this would be the last season... even though I enjoyed watching every episode.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
As The Dome Turns... and shrinks... and shrieks. Tonight's episode had some new twists but once again in true prime time TV fashion problems are created, featured characters face death, and then all is corrected only to find a new peril develop in a one hour show.
Does the season end with the dome pushing everyone into one room at the high school or back in the diner for a final "toast" until next season?
Or maybe when the dome shrinks so much it reaches "critical mass" and explodes and destroys the rest of the world with thousand foot flames (did you catch that in tonight's show) and the show ends with Chester's Mill saved from armaggeddon?
I felt that this last episode wasn't very good. It contained too many (boring) manufactured crises -- a car accident, the dropping temperature, etc. One review of the show calls these "The crisis of the week", and I agree. I wish they would stop with these plots, because they always go the same way. Never too interesting, and they always either solve the crisis or it goes away by itself.
The most interesting parts of the show involve the dome itself and the mysteries associated with it. So the dome starting to move inward, that's interesting. The cliff to Zenith, another interesting plot device, though it was annoying when they presented that and closed it. (My girlfriend thinks that, given the producer's admission that they changed the ending of Season 2, the cliff was originally supposed to be a way out, and the show was supposed to end there.)
The new kid who was working as a double agent for the people on the outside is also a decent story.
I just wish they would spend more time on that type of stuff, and less on these weekly crises.
I had a feeling that the dome would be something protecting the world from Armageddon, given the season 1 episode where an alien told people that it was there to protect them (plus the revelation that a big bomb couldn't hurt the dome).
Given that they are now promoting the final episode as one with a "really big cliffhanger", I am guessing that the thousand foot flames are probably going to show up outside the dome and destroy a lot of the world, and then the season will end, with the people in the dome knowing they're fortunate to be there. Or something like that.
Good post, Dan, and I agree with a lot you say. But I doubt this will turn into an "end of the world" series because that would end the series. You need the outside world to keep the series going. If the outside world ends with thousand-foot flames then the series ends and there is no more story except that Chester's Mill survives inside the "dome."
I don't know how this series is going to end, but to be honest, it's time for it to end.
Final episode of season 2 coming on Monday.
Last episode was an improvement over the previous one, as it didn't have as much crisis of the week BS, and advanced the main storyline.
Two characters apparently got killed at the end.
They have a lot to cover in the final episode. It will supposedly end with a big cliffhanger.
Btw I found out that the actress who plays Julia is a socialist. Not a liberal who is accused of being a socialist, but an actual socialist. I don't know what she gets paid, but I think it's a lot. I always laugh when rich actors become socialists. Seems very hypocritical to me.
Maybe she shares her salary with all of the crew members?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
"Follow me. We're going home." Those words from Melanie ended the second season, and now we have to ponder what does "going home" mean? Does it mean going to meet your maker? After all, Melanie was/is dead. And will Barbie and the townspeople follow Melanie? Many of the townspeople do not know that Melanie is/was dead.
So... it looks like another season is ahead of us.
Apparently they have a huge, lucrative deal with Amazon to stream the show shortly after it airs, so the show turns a big profit even when the ratings suck.
For that reason, it's likely to return.
Critics hated Season 2. Most of the audience didn't care for it too much, either. This might be like "Heroes", where they put together a good first season and had a lot of people excited, but couldn't recapture the magic in future seasons.
As I predicted, Under the Dome was renewed, though you will not see it until June 2015.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspe...r-next-season/Quote:
CBS Corporation has renewed Amblin Television’s Under the Dome and Extant for next season. While Under the Dome was a great success in the first season, ratings plunged 33% on its premiere show for the second season. However, the show still ranked as the summer’s top scripted series, with 11 million viewers. While Extant was running on high expectations with Academy Award winner Halle Berry as a lead star, it failed to attract a large audience and averaged 8.64 million viewers for the season. However, it must be noted that both the shows were profitable for CBS due to its agreement with Amazon, which allowed the programming to be available on Amazon Prime, four days after the first air on CBS.
They need to get some better writers.
Thanks for the update.
No, they don't need better writers. The good writers they have should go back to finding a way out of the dome and/or removing the dome and let the series end in this upcoming third season.
I'm guessing that the Dome is a Noah's Arc to protect against the "falling stars" of Doom's Day,Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
Good theory. All along there were ideas that the dome was there to protect. And the falling stars could be anything from nuclear bombs to asteroids. Maybe the writers will make the series more current and use Ebola?Quote:
Originally Posted by ThomasClines
Season 3 premiere: what did I just watch?
You watched your life force taking hold and your personal life being sucked away.
Seriously - so the dome is some giant egg so the alien can reproduce? Suddenly the show has become "V"?
And this new therapist (AKA Egg force host) and archaeologist can find a hotel room but everyone else is living in tents and bunking up together? I hate simple plot holes like that.
Bring back to pink stars. They were more interesting.
What's even worse... watching the show for free on the CBS website is over with. That ends my time with the show. Adios.
Why not just record it on your DVR? Or do you not have that?
Yeah, the show seems to be some cross between V and The Matrix now (with the latter being frequently mentioned).Quote:
Originally Posted by jbatdorf
I agree that the pink stars stuff was way more interesting. I think the writers intended the aliens to be benevolent and protecting Chester's Mill from a disaster, allowing humanity to start over, or something like that. Remember Lyle talking about the 100 foot flames?
Now it looks like they've just gone in the direction of man versus alien invaders, which has been done hundreds of times (thousands, maybe?) since television began. Weak.
Well I said bring back the pink stars and they came back. And with a vengeance! What happened to Julia crowned as the monarch? Why did Jim buy all that propane during the first few episodes?
If I recall the propane was originally bought and stashed for some drug manufacturing.
first year was ok. Last year mediocre. This year is horrible. But I feel like I'm invested and need an ending. I just hope we do get an ending and not just a cancellation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
And what about the 4 hands on the egg and all of that stuff?? They have strayed too far.
So I'm still watching - waiting for the new 'queen' to be born. Seems like Christine is losing her hold on some people, like Jr. who just wants a girl.
Anyway, did we just drop the whole Julia was crowned Monarch by the butterflies back in Season 1? So many holes. *sigh*
This year is better than last year, actually. Last year was pretty bad. This year goes back and forth between decent and bad.
Everyone was disappointed they abandoned the "end of the world" so quickly after pretending like it was happening for one episode.
And yes, this show has introduced a ton of characters who seemed relevant and then were just discarded in silly ways (remember Phil the DJ who inexplicably became a psycho?)
The writers here really seem to have no plan for the long term as they write.
Nor should they. Ratings are bad--I just want an ending!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
The end is coming.
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/unde...-3-1201582208/
Last episode EVER is September 10th. They are not renewing the 4th season, which is just as well.
I think they were probably hoping they could continue the series outside the dome where there's some battle between humans and aliens, but it's just better they resolve the whole thing this season and be done.
Honestly it would be dissatisfying to have three seasons of this, just to have the aliens get out of the dome and continue the battle with human beings on earth.
They honestly could have compressed this whole thing into one season by cutting out a lot of the pointless crap and dead storylines. Like most of the stuff brought up in season 1 -- Pauline's visions, the 4 hands, Phil the DJ, the dome rewarding/punishing people, etc, went absolutely nowhere.
This could have been a pretty good series if the good parts were kept and the crap was thrown out.
This season has been better, but it also had too many ripoffs of others shows/movies.
The cocoon thing was a direct ripoff of the Matrix.
The human/alien child was a direct ripoff of "V" from the 1980s.
The "aliens left their home world because it was falling apart / being attacked" concept has been done countless times.
still no guaranty we'll get an ending.
Falling Skies just ended with a real ending. I gave up on Lost years before it ended and it was actually not an ending.
Just hope they wrote an actual ending before it got cancelled.
How about that non-ending ending???
The ending was what I thought it would be.
Basically, the end of one story, but the beginning of another one which will never be told due to the cancellation.
I wish they had simply filmed an alternate ending in the case of cancellation, which wouldn't have been difficult. Change the last 15 minutes of the show, and you could have had closure.
To be honest, it was very hard to wrap this up in an hour. Too many loose ends, too many unfinished story arcs, too many different directions during the show's 3-season run.
The whole "new queen" thing was lame. They shouldn't have entered that storyline, and instead left Christine as the major villain. Introducing a new villain leader in the final episode was pointless, even if they intended it to go on for another season.