June 25th, 2013
03:00 PM ET
'Under the Dome' makes strong summer debutCBS' adaptation of Stephen King's "Under the Dome" performed phenomenally for the network on Monday night. According to CBS, the series pulled in 13.14 million viewers with its first episode, making it the most-watched summer drama premiere on any network since 1992. The series, created by "Lost's" Brian K. Vaughn and produced by King, will stretch the story of a town cut off from the world by a mysterious dome-shaped force field across 13 episodes.
"It’s a potentially interesting way of dramatizing and heightening the state of small-town claustrophobia," says Time's TV critic James Poniewozik. "What if this little place, which seemed like the whole world, suddenly essentially became the entire world? Would your community become self-supporting or stifling? Would it be uplifting or a nightmare?" But given King's mastery of storytelling, adapting his work is historically hit-or-miss. Even with the creator of the book involved, the premiere of "Under the Dome" suggested that the serialized version won't quite rise to the level of King's best-seller - yet that's not to say it doesn't still have plenty of redeeming qualities. The first episode, says New York Magazine's Matt Zoller Seitz, seems to get King's style "on a primal level" - it's not "too artful" while maintaining an "air of menace," giving us a "promising" summer series. USA Today's Robert Bianco agrees that the "claustrophobic tension" established at the start is "the main thing working in 'Dome's' favor ... Eventually, viewers will expect an explanation for the dome's appearance, but the series should be able to get along for some time without that, as long as the effects of the dome's arrival continue to play out as well as they do in the premiere." The Los Angeles Times' Mary McNamara wasn't as impressed with "Dome's" pacing, as she reminds viewers that the best scary stories allow the suspense to build. In "Dome's" case, we get right to its existence and the townspeople's understanding that they're trapped all before the second episode. "Every pilot is burdened with establishing character, jump-starting the narrative and hooking the audience, but 'Under the Dome' unnecessarily force-feeds us its first hour to its own detriment. What made King the master of his genre was patience and attention to detail ... order begins unraveling here at such a break-neck pace that it's swiftly predictable," she says. Yet in the end, "There’s likely enough mythology here to keep viewers who enjoy theorizing satisfied all summer, while those looking for micro-level character-driven drama can find that in abundance as well," says the Daily Beast. "The show’s producers have wisely created a drama which functions on multiple levels ... 'Under the Dome' manages to be a domestic drama, a disaster film, and a horror-filled science-fiction tale rolled into one, with some romance, humor, and pathos thrown in for good measure." If you were one of the 13 million who tuned in to "Under the Dome" last night, what'd you think?
Next entry »Report: Liam Neeson near deal for 'Taken 3'
« Previous entryChris Brown's rep denies assault claim
 |
  About this blog
Our daily cheat-sheet for breaking celebrity news, Hollywood buzz and your pop-culture obsessions.  |
–
sup?
hello
No explanation of where the dome came from. Heck, in an unrelated matter, I'm still trying to find out how their SUVs get to wherever they go in Criminal Minds. They always fly (Learjet, not C30 Transport) to and from their cases. So, how is it their vehicles are always wherever they are?
You do know that the BAU is an FBI unit right? So they just use FBI SUV's that are waiting for them courtesy of the nearest field office.
I heard that they lash the SUV's to the wings of the plane...LOL
Personally the show had a outstanding start. Indeed, it was a big jump start into the story, yet if you really paid attention it only really started the back storys of a few of the characters as the characters who twist in the story with them. Don't know really how they are going to pull off another season when the book itself took place in a weeks time, Very intereasted in seeing how they stretch it out. It is all to flommoxing at the moment.
_Eryk
–
I miss her FACTS and capslocked nonsense about demons and such. She's a treasure. I haven't read a post from her in over a week, it seems. 🙁
–
as for 'nimrods'...that's kind of mean. What, are you a bully or something?
she's the bully that's why we are in this mess.
–
–
-
I will be there too
hmm, I don't think so.
YOUR A RIGGER WE ARE NOT
–
–
–
RH OBSESSION NOW
ALL " RETRIEVED" INFO IS CRAP
CANNOT FIGURE OUT IF A CALL IS FAKE....BUT ABLE TOO TELL ME WHO CALLS FROM MY PHONE PADS...
HER HEARING LEVEL IS ALMOST OUT....
PRINT.
PRETEND TO STAY AT TOPIC SO SHE LOOKS GOOD....PART OF THE CONTROL GARBAGE
I thought it was alright. The highlight was the cow splitting in half. It was kinda predictable. I do like the premise though, so i'll DVR it next week. I didn't even know Stephen King had written it...lol
–
–
–
DAVID FROM TURNER...CONFERENCE CALL IN 1/2 HOUR CAN WE ARRANGE IT?
–
-
I'm have to disagree with most of the comments on here. I thought the pilot episode was a perfect amount of suspense, action and mystery. I dont understand the comments about the show moving too fast, and the fact that the dome is already down in the first episode. How incredibly annoying it would be if they waited like 3 or 4 episodes. If you know something is going to happen then lets get the story moving. Lastly, to all the people whining about the show not following the book. Isn't that the point? Wouldn't you be incredibly bored to watch something , if you knew every single detail that was going to happen. One of the best parts of a story is the not knowing what will happen next. Please, do your selves a favor and forget the book, go into the story with an open mind and enjoy the crazy events that unfold. I think you might find your self a much happier person, then being so negative all the time.
Nothing but the interactions between people and groups of people caught under the dome. When it becomes dry, they will throw in a bit of science fiction and government secrets to keep it rolling along. The best thing they could do is to have those stockpiled propane tanks to leak and then the entire place is blown off the face of the earth. This show is more mindless trash and no one will be a better person for having watched it.
Y u no reerize da show based on book? It forrow story by Stephen King.
Strong writing and bite to the first episode. Very well done.
One episode, and I'm already "Lost."
Get it?
(tee hee)
PS: If it's invisible, how do we know it's a dome? Could be a box!
It doesn't stay invisible for long, it holds stains and stuff, like the cow's blood and the scorch marks from the crashed airplane. Eventually there are fires and smoke inside the dome (I like how in the tv show they had all the fire trucks leave town before the dome appears) stain enough of it to see what it is.
–
True story.
–
Just pointing out the facts: you are old (49), fat (not chubby) and on top of that, very slow-witted. Those are facts, not insults. You need to deal with that and make some changes so people don't hate you so much. You really are a hated person by many.
-
old, fat, stupid bimbo - that's you alright. Does the truth hurt?
–
–
I am a Stephen King fan so the series got my attention from the beginning. But since the dome is now in place what else could happen that would be as exciting as the cow splitting in half. Who or what is responsible for the dome, aliens, God, Military???? So I guess I will have to keep watching.
This show will fall the way of Terra Nava on FOX, big hype then pulled, why get wrapped up in a snow just to lose out to crap tv.
Terra Nova was a series, whereas I thought this is a summer series, eg. mini series of a limited run. Not sure though.
–
I was really looking forward to the premier episode. After watching every minute, I realized one is enough. Not a good program for the middle aged. We've been around too long, as has Stephen King's story lines. Signing Off.
I thought Under the Dome was action paced, intrigung, suspenseful & very compelling! and i am definitly looking forward to watching it..... Which leads me to mention another program that was packaged VERY POORLY and not given the HYPE that this show was given.........Zero Hour could have SOARED in the ratings if ABC & woud have had given rivieting reviews Zero Hour is also action packed suspensful and has all of the CAPTIVAING ingredients That makes a GREAT show! Zero Hour was cancelled but the remaining NEW episodes are shown on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. on ABC I would highly RECOMEND watching this great show. You can catch up by watching the beginning episodes on demand
test
I like the show but wondered why nobody tried digging underneath it.
Smart
They do dig under (read the book) but find that it is not only a dome, get it.
Another show with hype but it sucks....very slow, nothing makes sense at all and I won't be watching next week.
As an ardent fan of Mr. Stephen King I can not believe this "series" was produced from his wonderful novel. Totally lacked the continuity of the story and the roles of the characters. "Barbie" kills and buries someone in the beginning of the story? Didn't happen...he didn't even have a car! I realize this show is adapted from the novel but at least make a better attempt at honoring the story and the author. Have a great day!
Jack, I agree with you. Barbie and Duke are good guys and Julia didn't have a husband, and wasn't new to the area and nobody noticed the propane tanks and on and on and on....So disappointed in this first episode. SK has said he is okay with the changes for the miniseries. So far, I am not!
Agree totally...and...Junior killed that girl plus another, and Barbie had his own place so he wasn't at the house of the guy he murdered (but didn't in the book).....
King is a producer and the writers ran all of the changes by him, including the revised ending which king loved, and thank god for that because the ending in the book was sudden and ridiculous with absolutely no closure. And sure they are putting a new spin on Barbie. so he is not the hard luck drifter that got in a bar fight with junior, I kind of like the spin that he may or may not still be working for the government. If you watch game of thrones and read the books, they are constantly changing things and it actually makes the show more interesting. So very little of kings books have made good movies/tv shows/miniseries. still waiting on the dark tower. you have to stick around for more than the first hour to be able to make a sound judgement on it.
Thanks, I read the book and thought that was a change. Laughing at the posts saying what else could possible happen. Worried some people will be insulted though. (can't spoil)
So far it is nothing like the book. Number one Duke was a good man he was looking to jail big Jim not work with him or turn a blind eye to him. And Jr. didn't lock up the girl he killed her in the book. So far it is a joke. Will watch one or two more if it doesn't get any closer to the book I will just assume not watch no more. Stephen King is a master, why mess up his stuff?
it's actually a lot like the book, for some reason you are overreacting.
is another problem in productions...
I thought I'd give it a try but I won't be watching any more episodes. Too much silly drama. Just let me know what the dome is and I'll be fine with that. I tried watching "Lost" and I gave up on that too. That one started to suck way too much. More science and less stupidity, please.
The dome is a metaphor for the stifling overreach of the Obama administration's burdensome regulations and government interference in our daily lives.
–
Sure thing, AD. I'm sure you conspiricy theorists can twist ANY film or series into a metaphor for Obamas evil helathcare reforms or more socialist muslim secret ideology. God you people annoy the $h!t out of me.
they tell you what the dome is in the first episode
@Ad You are incorrect and over reaching with your theory. Stephen King, himself, stated in an interview with Time magazine:
"I was angry about incompetency. Obviously I'm on the left of center. I didn't believe there was justification for going into the war in Iraq. And it just seemed at the time, that in the wake of 9/11, the Bush Administration was like this angry kid walking down the street who couldn't find whoever sucker punched him, and so turned around and punched the first likely suspect. Sometimes the sublimely wrong people can be in power at a time when you really need the right people. I put a lot of that into the book. But when I started I said, "I want to use the Bush-Cheney dynamic for the people who are the leaders of this town." As a result, you have Big Jim Rennie, the villain of the piece. I got to like the other guy, Andy Sanders. He wasn't actively evil, he was just incompetent—which is how I always felt about George W. Bush. I enjoyed taking the Bush-Cheney dynamic and shrinking it to the small-town level. The last administration interested me because of the aura of fundamentalist religion that surrounded it and the rather amazing incompetency of those two top guys. I thought there is something blackly humorous in it. So in a sense, Under the Dome is an apocalyptic version of The Peter Principle."
So nothing about Obama there.
you said we checked it and it was true
Imagine getting trapped under that dome with a bunch of filthy "knee grows". That alone would be nightmare enough to merit a whole separate Stephen King book.
I'd rather be locked inside a dome full of squeaking balloons than have to listen to Sarah Palin's shrieky, finger nails on a chalkboard voice.
That was 60 minutes of my life I will never get back!!!