Under the Dome: Revelation
July 22, 2014 2:51 AM - Season 2, Episode 4 - Subscribe
Junior discovers more about his mother; Melanie discovers more about herself; Rebecca and Big Jim plan to solve the town's resource crisis.
I just don't even know what to say about this show anymore. My husband and I just use it as an opportunity to yell "DOME!" at the screen for an hour.
posted by MsVader at 7:33 AM on July 22, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by MsVader at 7:33 AM on July 22, 2014 [5 favorites]
I can't get over some of the wooden acting, though.
The new "Big Jim's brother-in-law" character -- I had to go to Wikipedia to remember his name, Sam Verdreaux -- is the worst current example; SO WOODEN.
Dean Norris: I found the costuming rather distracting this episode because they put him in an EXTRA TIGHT shirt; so every scene I was wondering if his buttons were gonna pop.
But yay, the sparkly egg is back! at least in flashback. And I liked the callback to last season's hokey "we all have to put our hands on it" plot. (Although what happened to the whole "the monarch is crowned" business?)
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 8:00 AM on July 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
The new "Big Jim's brother-in-law" character -- I had to go to Wikipedia to remember his name, Sam Verdreaux -- is the worst current example; SO WOODEN.
Dean Norris: I found the costuming rather distracting this episode because they put him in an EXTRA TIGHT shirt; so every scene I was wondering if his buttons were gonna pop.
But yay, the sparkly egg is back! at least in flashback. And I liked the callback to last season's hokey "we all have to put our hands on it" plot. (Although what happened to the whole "the monarch is crowned" business?)
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 8:00 AM on July 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
also, this comment on the AV Club recap:
Barbie's entire episode:posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 8:29 AM on July 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
Kids: We should go to Dramatic Dead Girl's house.
Barbie: No! She's not her.
Kids: We have to do it.
Barbie (frowning): All right.
Barbie: I ain't letting you kill them without me.
Jim: Don't worry. I love you bro.
Barbie (frowning): All right.
Kids: We should go where we found the mini dome.
Barbie: No! It's too dangerous.
Kids: We have abandonment issues and need a surrogate father.
Barbie (frowning): All right.
Barbie: I need to talk to you.
Julia: No! I'm about to make out with a serial killer.
Barbie (frowning): All right.
The show was bad last season. This season it has crossed over into being so hilariously bad I look forward to it again.
It was last episode but I love that the school keeps track of every student who has been in every locker going back to the 1940s. Not only that, but the page is printed and listed in reverse chronological order. That means every year they print a new copy of this book tracking 70 years of student locker assignments.
I know that's a small thing compared to the huge problems with the overall plot. But it's such lazy writing it makes me smile. I'm also trying to figure out why they made the DJ a police officer when he's not even bothering to investigate the murder of his friend. Does he still think Barbie did it? Does he think it's Big Jim? Did the actor sign a two year contract and they think he looks good in a uniform?
posted by Gary at 11:33 AM on July 22, 2014 [5 favorites]
It was last episode but I love that the school keeps track of every student who has been in every locker going back to the 1940s. Not only that, but the page is printed and listed in reverse chronological order. That means every year they print a new copy of this book tracking 70 years of student locker assignments.
I know that's a small thing compared to the huge problems with the overall plot. But it's such lazy writing it makes me smile. I'm also trying to figure out why they made the DJ a police officer when he's not even bothering to investigate the murder of his friend. Does he still think Barbie did it? Does he think it's Big Jim? Did the actor sign a two year contract and they think he looks good in a uniform?
posted by Gary at 11:33 AM on July 22, 2014 [5 favorites]
Also the school has a fully-equipped microbiology lab complete with a stock of active influenza virus and OMG SO STUPID. SCIENCE MACGUYVER.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 2:43 PM on July 22, 2014
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 2:43 PM on July 22, 2014
I really miss Brian K. Vaughan. He apparently had a big hand in the overall arc of this season, but not so much the details. Which, honestly, makes sense -- his overall-arc concepts are pretty objectively dumb, but he makes them work.
posted by Etrigan at 5:28 PM on July 22, 2014
posted by Etrigan at 5:28 PM on July 22, 2014
ARE ATHEISTS EVIL?? IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE A NON-RELIGIOUS SCIENCE-LOVER AND STILL LIVE YOUR LIFE WITHIN AN ETHICAL FRAMEWORK?? NOOOPE! IT IS ONLY WHEN SHE ENTERS A CHURCH AND LOOKS AT SACRED WATER AND STUFF THAT EVIL SCIENCE-LADY IS ABLE TO FINALLY REALISE IT'S WRONG TO 'PLAY GOD' AKA MURDER INNOCENT PEOPLE. DARWIN IS THE DEVIL AMIRITE??
Eggs! Rocks! Mini-dome! Handprints! Pink falling stars! Butterflies!
This show is so dumb but I guess I'll watch it as long as they keep making it.
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 6:17 PM on July 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Eggs! Rocks! Mini-dome! Handprints! Pink falling stars! Butterflies!
This show is so dumb but I guess I'll watch it as long as they keep making it.
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 6:17 PM on July 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
This show is so dumb but I guess I'll watch it as long as they keep making it.
Sigh. Basically, yes.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:25 PM on July 22, 2014
Sigh. Basically, yes.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:25 PM on July 22, 2014
What was Melanie protecting the egg from? Nobody had made any threatening actions towards the egg and how would she even know what cause it harm? Presumably it's alien; maybe carrots are harmful. There was just no sense to the "I just wanted to protect the egg" nonsense. From what? Nobody got violent till she ran off with it and started acting strangely.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 9:33 PM on July 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 9:33 PM on July 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
The kids in the book were so freaking cool plus they had the scariest, creepiest (and thus, funnest) storyline and I really, really hate that that they've turned Norrie into a woman scorned stereotype.
Kids: We should go where we found the mini dome.
Barbie: No! It's too dangerous.
Kids: We have abandonment issues and need a surrogate father.
Barbie (frowning): All right.
They missed the best part: "But if there's nothinbg there we're leaving!
The new "Big Jim's brother-in-law" character -- I had to go to Wikipedia to remember his name, Sam Verdreaux -- is the worst current example; SO WOODEN.
Oh god, he's Tag! It's been driving me crazy. His casting was one of the few missteps from Friends, and I'm including Cortney Cox's short 'do. Yes, I'm comparing him to a haircut. He's that bad.
What was Melanie protecting the egg from?
From us. So we'd never have to see it or know about it.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:06 AM on July 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
Kids: We should go where we found the mini dome.
Barbie: No! It's too dangerous.
Kids: We have abandonment issues and need a surrogate father.
Barbie (frowning): All right.
They missed the best part: "But if there's nothinbg there we're leaving!
The new "Big Jim's brother-in-law" character -- I had to go to Wikipedia to remember his name, Sam Verdreaux -- is the worst current example; SO WOODEN.
Oh god, he's Tag! It's been driving me crazy. His casting was one of the few missteps from Friends, and I'm including Cortney Cox's short 'do. Yes, I'm comparing him to a haircut. He's that bad.
What was Melanie protecting the egg from?
From us. So we'd never have to see it or know about it.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:06 AM on July 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
Almost forgot (my brain desperately trying to preserve its sanity) the "love" triangles. No group that includes two women and one man can just be buddies. Always with the jealousy and fighting over a guy or fighting over a woman. Or two guys and a woman. Someone having kids do that just seems ever worse than the brother-in-law and Barbie and what's her name.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 11:18 AM on July 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 11:18 AM on July 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
This is not getting any better, is it?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:41 PM on July 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:41 PM on July 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
No, but it's sooo close to lapping itself and becoming So Bad It's Good.
posted by Etrigan at 5:14 PM on July 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Etrigan at 5:14 PM on July 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
Barbie and what's her name.
Quick! Name one other character! And if you've read the book, Big Jim Rennie doesn't count.
I swear, I even have to stop and think to remember the name Junior.
On the plus side, if this was the old Spy Magazine Worst 100 list, Dwight Yoakum would be the mitigating factor.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:02 PM on July 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
Quick! Name one other character! And if you've read the book, Big Jim Rennie doesn't count.
I swear, I even have to stop and think to remember the name Junior.
On the plus side, if this was the old Spy Magazine Worst 100 list, Dwight Yoakum would be the mitigating factor.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:02 PM on July 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
Quick! Name one other character!
It is a problem. And I think maybe a symptom of an underlying problem which is: who is our protagonist, our point-of-view character?
Is it Julia Shumway? Maybe. But maybe not; she's often a wet blanket of bad decisionmaking.
Is it the kids? Maybe. But then again they're often insufferable. Also, shoehorned-in Surface placement.
Is it Linda the One True Honest Cop? Maybe. But then again she just got squashed by the Magical Magnetic Dome. (And never mentioned again, unlike Andrea who was the other victim of the episode 1 cull. Was this a "get me off this damn show" write-out?)
They can't even leave well enough alone with Big Jim, who has been pretty much unambiguously villainous -- he's a drug kingpin! he's a murderer! something-something-propane! -- but now they're trying to give him a "see, he's so decent he'd GIVE HIS LIFE for this town" redemption arc?
It's a soap opera, is what it is.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 8:16 AM on July 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
It is a problem. And I think maybe a symptom of an underlying problem which is: who is our protagonist, our point-of-view character?
Is it Julia Shumway? Maybe. But maybe not; she's often a wet blanket of bad decisionmaking.
Is it the kids? Maybe. But then again they're often insufferable. Also, shoehorned-in Surface placement.
Is it Linda the One True Honest Cop? Maybe. But then again she just got squashed by the Magical Magnetic Dome. (And never mentioned again, unlike Andrea who was the other victim of the episode 1 cull. Was this a "get me off this damn show" write-out?)
They can't even leave well enough alone with Big Jim, who has been pretty much unambiguously villainous -- he's a drug kingpin! he's a murderer! something-something-propane! -- but now they're trying to give him a "see, he's so decent he'd GIVE HIS LIFE for this town" redemption arc?
It's a soap opera, is what it is.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 8:16 AM on July 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
"Was this a "get me off this damn show" write-out?."
That's immediately the impression I got from her being so violently killed. She could have died in any manner of less gruesome ways. But then former-dead girl said "sorry" and you could see the cop's corpse wasn't a mangled thing so . . . whatever.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 11:57 AM on July 25, 2014
That's immediately the impression I got from her being so violently killed. She could have died in any manner of less gruesome ways. But then former-dead girl said "sorry" and you could see the cop's corpse wasn't a mangled thing so . . . whatever.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 11:57 AM on July 25, 2014
Chester's Mill: the only place in the world where people own Microsoft Surface™ tablets running Windows RT™. Subsequently: punished by The Dome.
I'm glad they wrapped up the "we are running out of resources so we must cull the weak" plot. That means we can jump quickly to the next plot, "we must breed to save the species". I suspect Big "Big" Jim is particularly looking forward to that necessity to save the town with his Chosen Atheist Girlfriend (of Color!).
Thank you Metafilter for sharing the pain of the show so terrible you are compelled to watch. For me the plotline that propels this to complete stupidity is the Scooby Doo Detective Agency. The lead boy (Colin Ford as whats-his-name) is particularly odious. Alexander Koch as Junior is sort of OK but mostly because he's the only character with interesting writing. I think Mackenzie Lintz may have some chops too, but Norrie is written so horribly that it's hard to see her light shine. I'm impressed Britt Robertson's agent had the foresight to have a "get murdered to escape the show" clause in the contract. Jury's still out on Grace Victoria Cox, the MC Ingenue character is pretty rough sledding.
posted by Nelson at 9:21 PM on July 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
I'm glad they wrapped up the "we are running out of resources so we must cull the weak" plot. That means we can jump quickly to the next plot, "we must breed to save the species". I suspect Big "Big" Jim is particularly looking forward to that necessity to save the town with his Chosen Atheist Girlfriend (of Color!).
Thank you Metafilter for sharing the pain of the show so terrible you are compelled to watch. For me the plotline that propels this to complete stupidity is the Scooby Doo Detective Agency. The lead boy (Colin Ford as whats-his-name) is particularly odious. Alexander Koch as Junior is sort of OK but mostly because he's the only character with interesting writing. I think Mackenzie Lintz may have some chops too, but Norrie is written so horribly that it's hard to see her light shine. I'm impressed Britt Robertson's agent had the foresight to have a "get murdered to escape the show" clause in the contract. Jury's still out on Grace Victoria Cox, the MC Ingenue character is pretty rough sledding.
posted by Nelson at 9:21 PM on July 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
(Colin Ford as whats-his-name)
Fittingly, his wikipedia page has no photo.
I'm giving actor Alexander Koch & character Junior a pass because if I was in junior high, and his hair was a little shaggier, he'd basically be David Cassidy and Tony DeFranco rolled into one.
"Was this a "get me off this damn show" write-out?."
I don't know...she gets out but Dean Norris is stuck?
posted by Room 641-A at 9:53 PM on July 25, 2014
Fittingly, his wikipedia page has no photo.
I'm giving actor Alexander Koch & character Junior a pass because if I was in junior high, and his hair was a little shaggier, he'd basically be David Cassidy and Tony DeFranco rolled into one.
"Was this a "get me off this damn show" write-out?."
I don't know...she gets out but Dean Norris is stuck?
posted by Room 641-A at 9:53 PM on July 25, 2014
In the cold clear light of morning, I'm even more astonished by the Microsoft Surface™ sponsorship of the TV show. The primary plot for their product placement is "This computer is not working!". Cuz duh, there's no telecommunications. So over and over we see nothing but the screen of a third-place market competitor displaying an error message. Microsoft paid for this?
Actually spelling this out, now I'm terrified that a future episode will have the Surface™ interfacing with the dome and somehow saving the town. Maybe we'll get treated to a hacker sequence by the Scooby Doo gang. "It's a Windows RT system, I know this."
posted by Nelson at 8:20 AM on July 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
Actually spelling this out, now I'm terrified that a future episode will have the Surface™ interfacing with the dome and somehow saving the town. Maybe we'll get treated to a hacker sequence by the Scooby Doo gang. "It's a Windows RT system, I know this."
posted by Nelson at 8:20 AM on July 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
Is the dome supposed to be God or notGod?
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 12:52 PM on July 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 12:52 PM on July 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
The primary plot for their product placement is "This computer is not working!"
Hence last week's "hey look the Internet is working LET'S ALL CHECK OUR EMAIL" nonsense. (And the ancillary "Internet's off but there's still a signal, we can track it to THIS LOCKER".)
Is the dome supposed to be God or notGod?
Oh Lord, who knows? The only constant is "I think it's trying to TELL us something" / "it WANTS us to do something".
Although things have taken a more Old Testament turn this series: plagues oflocusts butterflies, rains of blood, famine, pestilence.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 2:48 PM on July 26, 2014 [4 favorites]
Hence last week's "hey look the Internet is working LET'S ALL CHECK OUR EMAIL" nonsense. (And the ancillary "Internet's off but there's still a signal, we can track it to THIS LOCKER".)
Is the dome supposed to be God or notGod?
Oh Lord, who knows? The only constant is "I think it's trying to TELL us something" / "it WANTS us to do something".
Although things have taken a more Old Testament turn this series: plagues of
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 2:48 PM on July 26, 2014 [4 favorites]
plagues of locusts butterflies, rains of blood, famine, pestilence.
Woo! They've also had darkness, diseased livestock, and...the first born Dome-Baby that just got passed over. I'm guessing the season finale will start with everyone having a nice seder dinner and end with the kids searching for the hidden afikomen.
We had a deal, Kyle, I know it's not going to make the sidebar or anything, but I've flagged your comment as fantastic anyway.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:24 PM on July 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
Woo! They've also had darkness, diseased livestock, and...the first born Dome-Baby that just got passed over. I'm guessing the season finale will start with everyone having a nice seder dinner and end with the kids searching for the hidden afikomen.
We had a deal, Kyle, I know it's not going to make the sidebar or anything, but I've flagged your comment as fantastic anyway.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:24 PM on July 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
Didn't they originally announce this show as a limited run thing? Most likely the actors being killed off made other plans with that in mind and had to be written out, when they decided go keep this poop train running.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:35 PM on July 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:35 PM on July 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thank you Metafilter for sharing the pain of the show so terrible you are compelled to watch.
Have you seen The Strain? Sorrynotsorry.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:40 PM on July 26, 2014 [4 favorites]
Have you seen The Strain? Sorrynotsorry.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:40 PM on July 26, 2014 [4 favorites]
I would be fine with the dome just being there if it didn't take an active role. Just a dome. Like the sky or rain. Everything else that happens is down to nature, people, physics, whatever. You never find out who dropped it or why.
But, this. This is annoying. If you can't be clear about what you want people to do, just stop with the nonsensical. It's not even clearly evil--which would also be fine.
This kind of nonsense is why I never bothered getting into Lost.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 7:12 PM on July 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
But, this. This is annoying. If you can't be clear about what you want people to do, just stop with the nonsensical. It's not even clearly evil--which would also be fine.
This kind of nonsense is why I never bothered getting into Lost.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 7:12 PM on July 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
So it's gonna turn out that the Dome has nothing at all to do with the Egg and the Monarch and all that other redheaded witch stuff. That's all Goddess Moon Magic, blood retribution for the death of MC Ingenue. The Dome will turn out to be something totally different, related to the Smoke Monster.
posted by Nelson at 8:29 PM on July 26, 2014
posted by Nelson at 8:29 PM on July 26, 2014
Another nitpick: last season (Imperfect Circles) they made a big deal of the mini dome being in the exact center of the larger dome. It was in a forest with nothing nearby. This season (Heads Will Roll), they say the school is in the exact center of the dome because that's where the magnets were strongest and they had to build whatever the science teacher thought would save the day.
Lost would reward you for catching small details, to the point that they had too many Easter Eggs that didn't pay off. The Dome slaps you in the face for remembering even basic facts.
Also, despite having multiple episodes dealing with the lack of fuel everyone still constantly drives around town. I'll accept this as social commentary.
posted by Gary at 12:56 AM on July 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Lost would reward you for catching small details, to the point that they had too many Easter Eggs that didn't pay off. The Dome slaps you in the face for remembering even basic facts.
Also, despite having multiple episodes dealing with the lack of fuel everyone still constantly drives around town. I'll accept this as social commentary.
posted by Gary at 12:56 AM on July 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
Also, despite having multiple episodes dealing with the lack of fuel everyone still constantly drives around town. I'll accept this as social commentary.
The first thing to go in any apocalypse scenario is bicycles.
posted by Etrigan at 7:07 AM on July 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
The first thing to go in any apocalypse scenario is bicycles.
posted by Etrigan at 7:07 AM on July 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
The cell phones still work, right? Do they still have cable? Does anyone still have a landline? I don't exactly understand how it works, but I'm not sure why those would still work but their associated internet services wouldn't? At least the wifi versions?
Also, just curious how many people here have read the book. (It would be hilarious to have a multi-thread, multi-thousand comment, drawn-out Game of Thrones-style, books v. show throw-down over Under The Dome.)
posted by Room 641-A at 7:41 AM on July 27, 2014
Also, just curious how many people here have read the book. (It would be hilarious to have a multi-thread, multi-thousand comment, drawn-out Game of Thrones-style, books v. show throw-down over Under The Dome.)
posted by Room 641-A at 7:41 AM on July 27, 2014
I've read the book. They've diverged so far at this point that all they share is a title and some character's names.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 7:59 AM on July 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 7:59 AM on July 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
No I think there's no cell phones or cable or landline. Part of the conceit is they can't talk to the outside world, have no idea what's going on while their loved ones frantically try to rescue them. That was vaguely interesting dramatic tension for, oh, one episode when the military's big idea was to send missiles at the dome. (That's also when we learn Barbie has a Deep Secret, that he Is Known. Only they haven't paid that one off yet.) But now the outside world seems to have completely forgotten them.
Of course they can see through the dome, at least most of the time. So it'd take Atheist Science Teacher about three days to piece together an optical data link; maybe five days if she gets help from the Mystery Machine kids. Then their Microsoft Surface™ tablets would work again and all would be well.
I never thought I'd say this, but the Lost comparisons are not really fair to Lost. Despite the problems with where that show ended up it was mostly pretty good. Excellent performances by several of the cast, good characters, and some novel plot conceits (that sadly did not pay off). Under the Dome feels like a pale shadow, a SyFy Original.
posted by Nelson at 8:00 AM on July 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Of course they can see through the dome, at least most of the time. So it'd take Atheist Science Teacher about three days to piece together an optical data link; maybe five days if she gets help from the Mystery Machine kids. Then their Microsoft Surface™ tablets would work again and all would be well.
I never thought I'd say this, but the Lost comparisons are not really fair to Lost. Despite the problems with where that show ended up it was mostly pretty good. Excellent performances by several of the cast, good characters, and some novel plot conceits (that sadly did not pay off). Under the Dome feels like a pale shadow, a SyFy Original.
posted by Nelson at 8:00 AM on July 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I read the book. The show really is its own thing at this point. I think a show based more closely on the book would have been really interesting (which is why I started watching it in the first place). I can't figure out what the fuck the show's doing.
Also, Alexander Koch is the lovechild of Andy Samberg and Noah Wyle.
posted by MsVader at 9:39 AM on July 27, 2014
Also, Alexander Koch is the lovechild of Andy Samberg and Noah Wyle.
posted by MsVader at 9:39 AM on July 27, 2014
I'm going to keep an eye out for the cell phone thing. No contact with the outside is one thing, but I guess I didn't notice they didn't have cell service inside the dome is that it hasn't seem to cause the least bit of inconvenience.
I was really disappointed when they announced the show would be an ongoing series because I really liked the book's ending.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:40 AM on July 27, 2014
I was really disappointed when they announced the show would be an ongoing series because I really liked the book's ending.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:40 AM on July 27, 2014
I didn't like the book much. It was a compulsive read, as King usually is, but it felt very bleak. The takeway I got from it was "people are shits, and extreme situations just make people more extremely shitty". The book takes place over a much shorter timescale than the show -- about a week I think? -- but things go to pieces almost immediately and keep getting worse. (The Mist explores similar "things fall apart fast" territory also.)
The show is maybe capturing a bit of that misanthropy in that none of the characters are particularly likeable.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 11:38 AM on July 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
The show is maybe capturing a bit of that misanthropy in that none of the characters are particularly likeable.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 11:38 AM on July 27, 2014 [3 favorites]
The book takes place over a much shorter timescale than the show -- about a week I think? -- but things go to pieces almost immediately and keep getting worse.
Yep, a week. One key feature in the book is that Book Big Jim is way worse than TV Big Jim. Just flat-out power-mad and evil.
posted by Etrigan at 4:51 PM on July 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yep, a week. One key feature in the book is that Book Big Jim is way worse than TV Big Jim. Just flat-out power-mad and evil.
posted by Etrigan at 4:51 PM on July 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
It feels like they've backpedaled on both Big Jim and Junior now that they're into a "five seasons would be great" long haul. Season 1 Big Jim is a murderer, Season 1 Junior is a jealous delusional psychopath, but Season 2 seems to be repainting them both as not-Evil-just-Complicated-and-Misunderstood.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 5:15 PM on July 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 5:15 PM on July 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Incidentally Evil Science Teacher is played by Karla Crome who was Jess on the Misfits. If you've never actually watched the Misfits...it kind of defies description. The beginning premise is basically what if a bunch of young adults sentences to community service all got super powers? It gets progressively more insane from there. Last season involved a character who could remove another person's power by having sex with him or her, that if a person with powers takes ecstasy it reverses his/her powers, and a woman who knits sweaters with the future on them. It's fun and really out there and it makes me sad that she went from that to this especially since Iwan Rheon, currently on Game of Thrones, was one of the original cast members of the Misfits.
posted by miss-lapin at 1:56 PM on July 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by miss-lapin at 1:56 PM on July 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh, thanks, miss-lapin. I knew the teacher looked familiar but couldn't place her. (The first two seasons of Misfits were my favorite. I think the turnover hurt the show.)
Hearing so much about the book, I'm now curious. It is worth it in terms of a decent payoff?
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 2:04 PM on July 28, 2014
Hearing so much about the book, I'm now curious. It is worth it in terms of a decent payoff?
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 2:04 PM on July 28, 2014
Yup, Karla Crome! Misfits was awesome. The key to that show isn't even the superpowers. It's that unlike in most shows of that type, the characters never wonder what it all means and seldom feel any special responsibility. They just use their new powers to continue being scuzzy good-for-nothing young people. It's awesome.
There was an American remake in the works with the original writer partnering with the guy who did Chuck, but that seems to have fizzled out in the planning stage.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:04 PM on July 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
There was an American remake in the works with the original writer partnering with the guy who did Chuck, but that seems to have fizzled out in the planning stage.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:04 PM on July 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
They just use their new powers to continue being scuzzy good-for-nothing young people. It's awesome.
And murderers. Unrepentant murderers. Not sure if US TV would be cool with that--for adults maybe but probably not for what are (sorta) teenagers. I was really taken aback the first time it happened and the lack of consequences.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 2:09 PM on July 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
And murderers. Unrepentant murderers. Not sure if US TV would be cool with that--for adults maybe but probably not for what are (sorta) teenagers. I was really taken aback the first time it happened and the lack of consequences.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 2:09 PM on July 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
Oh god I am glad they didn't remake the show in the US. Oy....
Not just unrepentant murderers, but murder becomes a running joke on the show.
I guess maybe we should get Misfits on here so we can discuss it.
posted by miss-lapin at 2:12 PM on July 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
Not just unrepentant murderers, but murder becomes a running joke on the show.
I guess maybe we should get Misfits on here so we can discuss it.
posted by miss-lapin at 2:12 PM on July 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
Hearing so much about the book, I'm now curious. It is worth it in terms of a decent payoff?
Someone gave me the audiobook I like Stephen King fine but I've only seen and read his most popular stuff. I like audiobooks fine, but I've only listened to a few.
I loved it. And for as long as it is, I was really sad it ended. It's much darker and scarier than the show. Other than, Hey, Chester's Mill is under a dome! The book and the show are really very different from each other. I'm disappointed that the show abandoned the two main plot lines that were the scariest and creepiest.
It took me a few tries to get past the first couple of chapters but that's mostly because a lot happens and I wasn't able to quickly flip back to when I lost track of the characters. If you can see the potential in the show and you don't care that it's over 1000 pages long then I say go for it.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:29 PM on July 29, 2014
Someone gave me the audiobook I like Stephen King fine but I've only seen and read his most popular stuff. I like audiobooks fine, but I've only listened to a few.
I loved it. And for as long as it is, I was really sad it ended. It's much darker and scarier than the show. Other than, Hey, Chester's Mill is under a dome! The book and the show are really very different from each other. I'm disappointed that the show abandoned the two main plot lines that were the scariest and creepiest.
It took me a few tries to get past the first couple of chapters but that's mostly because a lot happens and I wasn't able to quickly flip back to when I lost track of the characters. If you can see the potential in the show and you don't care that it's over 1000 pages long then I say go for it.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:29 PM on July 29, 2014
Last year I listened to the Under the Dome audiobook while at the same time watching the first season (well, not at exactly the same time) which was a weird experiment and not one I necessarily recommend. Memories of the two stories have now intertwined in my brain. I keep thinking, for example, that Junior is much, much worse than he's ever actually been on the show, and I can't understand why the writers would ever want us to empathise with him. (Though seriously, WTF is it with dialogue like 'Aw Junior, I'm sorry your girlfriend is dead. Did you love her?' 'Yes, I really, really loved her. And that's why you should care about my character this season and try to forget that I expressed that love in a horribly abusive, Fritz-like way'.)
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 7:48 PM on July 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 7:48 PM on July 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
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I can't get over some of the wooden acting, though. I'm not sure if it's the direction, the script, or what - but yeeesh, it's bad. Dean Norris is struggling to work the material.
Also: that dramatic musical section where we had cuts to different character's faces just before the ad break (at the site of the egg) was hilarious. Unintentionally so. (Maybe Under the Dome would work better as a comedy?)
Are we going to see Stephen King again, or was it just that one cameo in the coffee shop?
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:15 AM on July 22, 2014