A new drama thriller series is premiering on the CW on April 19. Here are ten reasons why we can’t contain our excitement about Containment!
What if a deadly viral outbreak occurred in a major American city? That is the question that Containment hopes to answer. The show is set in Atlanta, Georgia, where an epidemic has broken out. An urban quarantine is put in place in the city, with many healthy people trapped inside the containment zone, and many people separated from their loved ones. Between trying to stay alive, keep order, and find a cure for the fatal virus, the city’s inhabitants have their work cut out for them.
Based on the successful Belgian series, Cordon and helmed by Julie Plec (showrunner for The Vampire Diaries and The Originals), the show will have you simultaneously on the edge of your seat, and internally (or externally) debating moral issues.
The show stars David Gyasi as Lex Carnahan, Christina Moses as Jana Mayfield, Chris Wood as Jake Riley, Kristen Gutoskie as Katie Frank, Claudia Black as Sabine Lommers, George Young as Dr. Victor Cannerts, Hanna Mangan Lawrence as Teresa Keaton, and Trevor St. John as Leo Greene.
Check out these ten reasons why we wouldn’t mind being quarantined in with this show for a while!
1. The focus is on the characters
Containment has the same high stakes, “end of the world” feeling as your favorite dystopian or post-apocalyptic fiction, without the burden of setting up a new world for us to learn about. It is set in present day Atlanta, Georgia, so most people are already pretty clear on the rules of the society, since it’s the one we’re currently living in!
With minimal time spent on world-building and rule-setting, the focus is immediately and consistently on getting to know the characters and their reactions to what’s going on. Containment features such a diverse array of characters, covering everyone from the power abusers to the powerless, that everyone’s perspective is unique and interesting.
2. It has suspense that rivals any thriller movie
The show has been branded as a horror, but it definitely fits better into the thriller category, in my opinion. The virus is a constantly looming presence over all of the city’s proceedings, which cloaks even the most innocent interactions with a thick tension. One misdirected sneeze could be someone’s death sentence, so adrenaline is always running high.
Illness isn’t the only thing lurking around the corner though. In desperate times, such as those experienced in Containment, order quickly falls apart, breeding an “every man for themselves” atmosphere. Nobody is safe when enemies are everywhere.
3. Chris Wood…and his biceps
Chris Wood is best known for playing the sadistic siphon, Kai, in season 6 of The Vampire Diaries. If, like me, you were just a little bit disappointed when Damon ripped his head off, you’re in luck. In Containment, he plays the less sadistic, but equally captivating Jake Riley, who is one of the very few police officers inside the containment zone.
Jake is a great character, with a lot of depth, but is also one of those characters where you’ll find yourself thinking “he should really be wearing a shirt right now,” but you just can’t bring yourself to care. Whether you want to curl up under them and wait the quarantine out, or you just want to use them for workout motivation, his biceps are a serious selling feature.
4. The badass Jana Mayfield
Jana (Christina Moses) is stuck inside the containment zone in her office at Bitscan, where she works as a Data Recovery Specialist. She is quickly thrust into a leadership role in which she is counted on to keep everybody safe, sane, and alive.
Jana Mayfield is a shining example of how awesome the women in Containment are. She has serious brains, brawn and beauty, and besides commitment, she’s not really scared of anything. Her biceps may not look as intimidating as Chris’, but you definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end of her right hook either!
5. It is grounded in reality
Just to add an extra dose of terror to the show, it is largely based on what would happen if a virus actually did break out in a major U.S. city. No, it’s not a historical drama and we’re definitely looking at the events through a Hollywood lens, but a lot of research went into making sure the show was as accurate as possible.
During the 2016 TCA Winter Tour, executive producer, Julie Plec, spoke about the research that went into the show. They had a representative from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) whom they would send scripts to, to see if the events depicted in Containment were plausible, or not. They also worked with the Georgia Department of Public Health to learn more about the hierarchy and chain of command that is followed in a viral outbreak.
Their research didn’t go to waste, because Containment definitely feels like something that could happen in America, today (uh oh!). The fact that the events are largely grounded in truth brings a strong sense of reality to the show. When characters are faced with difficult decisions, they feel real and important, and make you think about what you would do in that situation.
6. It has great romantic arcs
From love blossoming within the containment zone, to love separated by the cordon walls, to love that refuses to be, you will definitely find a love story in Containment that you can root for, if not all of them!
Don’t expect too much PDA, though. There is a strict no touching rule enforced in the containment zone. However, that doesn’t make these love stories boring. It only serves to make the moments when characters dare to bridge that 4-6 foot gap much more impactful.
7. It continues to push the CW’s boundaries
The CW is a much more flexible network than it was a few years ago, with shows like The 100 and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend greatly broadening its scope. Containment definitely fits in with the new brand, with more adult characters and adult themes. Even though Plec is well known for her work on the CW, the series wasn’t originally adapted for the network.
8. The soundtrack
Containment is one of those shows where you will want to have your Shazam app at the ready. Don’t expect many additions for your running playlist, but you will definitely find some excellent slow jams for your “chill” collection, and even a few to belt out in the shower. The best part about TV soundtracks is how they make the emotional moments of the show so much more impactful, and that is definitely the case with Containment.
9. It deals with crisis in a digital age
With power comes responsibility, and whether you like it or not, the electronic devices that connect you to the rest of the world come with power. Therefore, they come with responsibility. The question of whether the truth is always the right answer is often asked, but rarely answered in Containment, usually by journalist, Leo Greene (Trevor St. John).
The show explores how the process of dealing with a crisis is vastly different now that social media has a starring role in our world and mainstream media can’t always control what message the public is receiving.
10. There are some seriously unexpected twists
Just when you think you have Containment figured out, it will hit you with some shocking OMG moments! The premise of the show and the day to day proceedings of the characters are exciting and entertaining enough, but these twists will have you begging for the next episode. You may even want to break the 4-6 feet rule to get it!
If you’re not sold yet, watch the trailer for Containment here!
Containment premieres Tuesday, April 19, 9/8c on the CW.