Once I got past feeling like the new CBS mini-series "Under the Dome" was somehow ripping off "The Simpsons Movie," I found myself engrossed by, and involved with this television show. It is set in a by now familiar landscape, the small town of Chester's Mill located in Stephen King's garden of settings, Maine. I have not read his novel upon which the series is based, and I presume that is a good thing, since I am free to question everything that happened, and will happen, without knowing the answers in advance.
The cast of the show features some familiar faces, such as Dean Norris as "Big Jim" Rennie, and Jeff Fahey as the town Sheriff, Duke Perkins. I am unfamiliar with the other actors introduced in the premier episode, but that doesn't mean they are "newcomers." Of note are Mike Vogel as Dale "Barbie" Barbara, and Rachelle Lefevre as Julia Shumway. I won't mention the rest of the cast here, as there are a number of primary characters it seems, and I don't want to get involved with simply naming people in this review.
The story involves Chester's Mill being encased in some kind of invisible energy barrier that cuts the town off from power, sound, and any means of contacting the outside world (other than holding up hand written signs for people on the other side to read). As episode one concludes, it is anybody's guess as to why this dome has appeared over the town, and whether or not there is a way to dig under it. No one, yet, has made any attempt to dig, so that remains to be seen. I suspect what will be revealed later is that the town is actually inside a bubble, not just a dome, but we'll see.
Several people are killed by the dome, via car and air crashes, and some others are injured either severely or moderately. Unfortunately, the town's doctor is (apparently) on the other side when the dome appears, so the local hospital is forced to deal with the catastrophe without the best possible medical help. Another issue is that the town's fire department is without most, or all, of its trucks, which were participating in a parade in another town when the dome appeared. Essentially, the town is left with a Councilman (Rennie), the police Chief (Perkins) and his seemingly wet-behind-the-ears deputy, Linda Esquivel (played by Natalie Martinez).
I am certainly going to keep watching the show, and if the rest of the episodes are as good as the first one, this mini-series might just break some ratings records. It is worthy viewing for science fiction fans, as well as anyone who appreciates a good mystery, and I highly recommend it.
Directed by Jack Bender, who keeps things moving with superb pacing in the series opener, there are to be a total of 13 episodes lasting over the summer months, airing every Monday night on CBS.
The cast of the show features some familiar faces, such as Dean Norris as "Big Jim" Rennie, and Jeff Fahey as the town Sheriff, Duke Perkins. I am unfamiliar with the other actors introduced in the premier episode, but that doesn't mean they are "newcomers." Of note are Mike Vogel as Dale "Barbie" Barbara, and Rachelle Lefevre as Julia Shumway. I won't mention the rest of the cast here, as there are a number of primary characters it seems, and I don't want to get involved with simply naming people in this review.
The story involves Chester's Mill being encased in some kind of invisible energy barrier that cuts the town off from power, sound, and any means of contacting the outside world (other than holding up hand written signs for people on the other side to read). As episode one concludes, it is anybody's guess as to why this dome has appeared over the town, and whether or not there is a way to dig under it. No one, yet, has made any attempt to dig, so that remains to be seen. I suspect what will be revealed later is that the town is actually inside a bubble, not just a dome, but we'll see.
Several people are killed by the dome, via car and air crashes, and some others are injured either severely or moderately. Unfortunately, the town's doctor is (apparently) on the other side when the dome appears, so the local hospital is forced to deal with the catastrophe without the best possible medical help. Another issue is that the town's fire department is without most, or all, of its trucks, which were participating in a parade in another town when the dome appeared. Essentially, the town is left with a Councilman (Rennie), the police Chief (Perkins) and his seemingly wet-behind-the-ears deputy, Linda Esquivel (played by Natalie Martinez).
I am certainly going to keep watching the show, and if the rest of the episodes are as good as the first one, this mini-series might just break some ratings records. It is worthy viewing for science fiction fans, as well as anyone who appreciates a good mystery, and I highly recommend it.
Directed by Jack Bender, who keeps things moving with superb pacing in the series opener, there are to be a total of 13 episodes lasting over the summer months, airing every Monday night on CBS.