Bloody handprints, dashboard-stashed guns, and menacing flipping switchblades? It must be a Stephen King story! Our Under the Dome pilot review will help you decide if CBS’ summer engagement is worth a stab (minor spoilers).
Under the Dome presents a small town in the U.S.A. suddenly trapped under an invisible dome. As the force field appears, it cuts everything in it path in half, including people, homes, and civilization.
The concept of being trapped behind a sound-absorbing impenetrable wall is the sort of nightmare fuel King’s books and films are known for. The car crashes, severed limbs, and spliced cows all gleam with that special Stephen King gross-out flair.
Fans of shows like Lost and Breaking Bad will be pleased to know that Under the Dome‘s pilot had touches of these spectacular series.
Dean Norris (Hank, Breaking Bad) acts as both a sleazy councilman and father to the town loon, Junior (Alexander Koch). While Norris brings his acting expertise to this role, Koch’s unsettling attempt at this generation’s Hannibal left an odd impression on this reviewer. We’re interested to see how these two will nefariously come together to bring ruin to Chester’s Mill.
Lost actor Jeff Fahey brought back fond memories of island plane crashes and power struggles as the town sheriff. Joining Fahey from the Lost party is season 3 through 5 story editor and producer of the hit sci-fi show Brian Vaughan. Let the Lost parallels commence.
Twilight actress Rachele Lefebvre is an exciting addition to the ensemble. She acts as a naive journalist housing Barbie (Mike Vogel, Bates Motel), who had just finished wiping the blood of her husband off his hands as he shook hers.
Two children stranded by their parents are portrayed by The Secret Circle‘s Brit Robertson and Colin Ford (Supernatural, Push). While Robertson was the most dynamic actor in the pilot, Ford’s simple teenboy wonderment left us disappointed.
Under the Dome promises kills, thrills, and chills as the secrets of its trapped residents are revealed. We’re most interested to see how Lefebvre’s character will react when she discovers that Barbie is the hitman who offed her husband.
The pilot aired to record-breaking numbers for summer television, reaching 13 million viewers, and earning a 3.2 rating in the 18 to 49 group. The show will air as a 13 part mini series.
The full pilot can be streamed off of CBS’s website.
Under the Dome airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.