Just when you thought it was safe to watch television again, Stephen King returns with a new project, “Under the Dome,” that seems destined to keep you hiding under the covers of your bed after watching it. Creator Brian K. Vaughan (“Lost”) adapted King’s novel — appropriately enough, about a city that finds itself under a giant dome — into a 13-part series starring Mike Vogel (“Bates Motel”), Colin Ford (“We Bought A Zoo”), Rachelle Lefevre (“Twilight”) and Dean Norris (“Breaking Bad”) as city dwellers who struggle to determine how to get out, and what it means that they’re stuck there in the first place.
Thus far, the critical consensus seems to be that the Monday (June 24) premiere gets the series off to a promising start. MTV News rounded up a cross section of some of these reviews to give potential viewers a sense of what they’ll be in for when and if they decide to go under the dome with the show’s cast and creators on CBS at 10 p.m. ET.
Initial Impressions — Go!
” ‘Under the Dome’ feels like summer, in the best possible way. Not in the withered way so much television feels like summer, as if the heat has blanched and sapped away any motivation or creativity, but like summer used to feel at the movies: With school out of session, and even the grown-ups taking a couple weeks off, it was finally time to let your daydreams run wild.” — Tim Molloy, The Wrap
How Does It Stack Up To Other King Adaptations?
“It only seems fair to point out from the Dome outset that King’s TV track record is particularly dismal. [But] We could all use a good summer TV diversion around now, and if tonight’s entertaining, intriguing premiere turns out to be a fair guide, Dome could be just what we’ve needed.” — Robert Bianco, USA Today
How Well Does It Set Up The World Within The Dome?
“The storytelling (Brian K. Vaughan, a “Lost” veteran, gets the teleplay credit) at least has the potential to be absorbing for 13 episodes. An awful lot seems to be going on in Chester’s Mill even before the dome comes down.” — Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times
‘Under The Dome’ Star Dean Norris Talks Stephen King, The End Of ‘Breaking Bad’ And More!
How Faithful Is It To King’s Source Material?
” ‘Under the Dome’ is based on the 1,100-page book of the same name, it is a full-fledged, open-ended dramatic series. Graphic novelist Brian K. Vaughan, brought on as executive producer and writer, was given King’s blessing to take the story of a small Pennsylvania town suddenly trapped by a mysterious barrier wherever he felt it needed to go. Which is under that wacky dome as quickly as possible. For a story of such wide and possibly allegorical ambitions, the pilot seems in an unnecessary rush to get the party started.” — Mary McNamara,The Daily Beast
No Comments