Many have tried, but few have succeeded in adapting Stephen King’s books onto the screen. CBS is one of the few who can say just that with his 2009 novel Under the Dome that debuts tonight at 10p.
After I watched the pilot for the first time (yes there has been multiple viewings), I picked up the book and started reading it. So far, and I am not BSing you, I like the liberties that they have taken with the show. In fact they made the King of Horror’s words even more horrifying and they were pretty freakin’ scary. I won’t tell you how because you need to soak in the 13 episode event as it happens and not have anyone ruin it for you.
Chester’s Mill is just like most towns in America, but something will happen that will literally separate it from the rest of the world. Their normal lives will be anything but when a large dome transcends down on their town. No one knows how it got there and how long it will stay, but all they do know is they are trapped and no one knows how to help them. No one can get in and no one can get out. To make matters worse, all communication has been cut off and the dome blocks them from even hearing the people that are right outside of it. Besides all of that their power lines were cut when the dome came down, so they are relying on generators and whatever propane they have to supply them. And what about their food supply, how long can that last?
Each episode will focus on a day in the life of Chester’s Mill under the dome. So tonight we are looking at their first day and as intense as it is, it will only get better. Executive Producer Brian K Vaughn said, “I think you’ll see that the second episode is almost bigger than the first. It’s huge.” I can’t wait to see how they top cutting a cow in half, have a food truck smash like an accordian into the dome and have small plane fly into it as well and explode. But then again this is a Stephen King and a Steven Spielberg production, so expect greatness and then some. Can you believe in their careers that has spanned over 40 years, this is the first thing they have done together? So you know it it going to be excellent addictive television that will have you glued to your seat.
I know I am not focusing on the people of Chester’s Mill in this review, and the actors all do a great job, but tonight it is all about the Dome. As the weeks go on we will care more about them, but for now we want to know all about the fish bowl and not about the fish inside of it.
Now one thing I want to clear up, this is being describes a mini-series event, but it could turn out to be something more than that. Executive Producer Neal Baer wanted explained, “This is not a mini-series. Some people have said it’s a mini-series, but it’s not a mini-series. It’s a 13-episode series.” So it could be back for a second and/or third season and so on, that is if you watch it. And what else are you watching this summer on Mondays at 10p? Plus this is the show that will hold you over until the new shows and returning shows are back in September. This is good television for the summer (and technically all year round), something we have been lacking for a while. So set your DVRs or better yet just watch it live or a dome will come down over your house until you do. OK, I am lying about the last part, but this is seriously not-to-miss TV.
