Under the Dome Review: Pink Stars are Falling in Lines

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While Under the Dome is driven by the mysterious invisible force field that surrounds Chester's Mill, that's not the only suspicious activity in the town. Could all or some of the mysteries be related?

The devastation caused by the Dome's appearance was effectively demonstrated without being over-the-top. The cow cut in half was disgusting to witness, but it was a way to relate what killed some of the town's residents without showing their deaths. The plane and truck crash were both devastating. There's no escaping the Dome from the road or the sky.

Under the Dome Premiere Pic

The pilot was successful in introducing the characters, their relationships, and challenges that face the town. With the exception of Barbie, I didn't find any of the characters extraordinary. Instead, they appeared to be typical of what you would expect in a small American town. 

For a closed-society story such as Under the Dome, that didn't bother me as it might on other shows. What I did find intriguing was the town's dynamics, including the fishy behaviors. Why was Big Jim stockpiling propane? And why did the Sheriff turn a blind eye to Jim's activities?

On the surface, when the townspeople find out they don't have an energy shortage, but are out of food and other necessities, they will question whether Big Jim knew the Dome was coming. Even though, it doesn't appear Jim's involved, Junior's proclamation that he knows what's going on will only further support that his father is involved.

While the propane stockpiling may not be connected to the appearance of the Dome, it's possibly connected to Barbie's appearance in town and the murder of Julia's husband. Though, Barbie could have been there negotiating a different deal. 

Either way, it was creepy that Barbie was going to stay at the home of the man he murdered and with the dead man's wife. Julia and Barbie had some hot chemistry in their interactions regardless of the distance between them. Since she believes her husband was having an affair, would she consider hooking up with Barbie?

The two of them are the ones I'm most interested in watching. As an ex-military man with secrets and an investigative reporter, they are most likely to push people's buttons and make things happen in this newly closed off town.

As far as the Dome itself, the challenges that are facing the town were only briefly touched upon, but each episode they should play a larger role in the story. As resources run out, will a Lord of the Flies atmosphere take over? Or will leaders step up and effectively run the town?

With Big Jim pushing for more power and with Duke's death, I fear for the town. While he could provide control over the town, a dictator is not what Chester's Mill needs. And, with his psycho kidnapping son, they are the family to fear.

There were several outlier characters who could play a major role in figuring out what's going on. DJ Phil and Dodee have control of the communication. If they are able to break through the Dome to either hear or contact the outside world, they will be pivotal in solving the mystery.

Joe has the determination and understanding to investigate the dome and uncover its origins. He may be a teenager, but he could have a major role to play due to his inquisitive nature. Plus, he could be easily dismissed and overlooked. 

Could the seizure that he and Norrie had be a significant clue? A means of communication by an outside, even alien force? They both repeated the exact same phrase, "The pink stars are falling in lines." What does that mean? Since Norrie is from out of town, it heightens the mystery.

Overall, Under the Dome premiered with a compelling story that is based around the force field. The individual mysteries wouldn't be as interesting on their own, but when introduced in the closed-off town of Chester's Mill it adds to the intrigue.

Were you sold on Under the Dome? Will you be tuning in to watch again next week? Which character did you find the most compelling?

Pilot Review

Editor Rating: 4.7 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.2 / 5.0 (296 Votes)

Carla Day is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter and on Google+.

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