Beaming, luminous, marmalade-colored missiles hit the small bubbly town of Chester Hill. A single, yet brave man Dale “Barbie” Barbara ponders into the bizarre forest, as a radiant glow strikes the audience’s face. I couldn’t foresee the treacherous mystery of “Under the Dome” but the intensity of this thriller is attributed to the fright experienced by each character. It’s similar to the claustrophobia of the arena in The Hunger Games. A group of citizens and visitors face a burdensome challenge as a crystal, glass dome-like barricade that seemingly falls from the sky and cuts off Chester Hill from the rest of the world. But as power-hungry citizens are introduced, each character’s breathtaking effects and creative differences come beyond the little dome they are cemented in. “Under The Dome” is different from a classical “survival of the fittest” setting. The captivating personalities that contradict each other allow for the characters to work together as the unpredictable selfishness of the “backstabbing” characters gives an interesting twist to the plot.
Julia Shumway and her husband recently moved to Chester Hill to pursue her passion for Journalism after a failed career in Chicago. As the protagonist, Dale Barbara meets Julia at the scene of the tragedy, I was astounded as the producer intentionally hid the alter-ego of Barbie, as Julia and Barbie take it into their own hands to evaluate the metamorphic barricade.
Brian K. Vaughan deliberately introduced the two controversial yet thrill-seeking characters, James “Big Jim” Rennie and Maxine Seagrave after the dome fell over Chester Hill. The emphasis in characterization on each of the characters’ relationships brought a spine-chilling sensation as your palms started to sweat when you recall (in the flashback) the deal they made as business partners.
The narrative unfolds in an ongoing series where it reveals the layers of complication for each of the characters. As the dome fell over Chester Hill, the viewers experienced the progressive unraveling of the characters’ identities, responsibilities, and unpredictable alliances. The consistent unpredictability of the plot adds more excitement, making every episode more alluring.
Furthermore, the suspenseful atmosphere and manipulation of alliances create more depth in the plot of the show. In particular, the character “Maxine Seagrave” expresses her presence as a crime boss who seemingly returns to Chester Hill for expansion. It left the audience and other corresponding characters stunned. The series of betrayal and intricate alliances doesn’t end there– James “Big Jim” Rennie also makes unreliable decisions as it becomes evident that he is willing to manipulate situations for personal gain as the councilman/leader in Chester Hill, these choices defy likelihood which adds a layer of riddle to the storyline.
If you want to watch a show that makes you bite your nails in anticipation and experience abrupt plot twists then watch Under The Dome. As the dome creates a shadow over the town, the symbol of manipulation portrays the personality of Big Jim as it shows the darker dimensions of humanity when there is abundant scarcity. The beaming and luminous missiles contradict the darkness of the plot and dome, as the intricacy of the characters leaves a lingering taste of suspense. Even after the dome has lifted, the town of Chester Mill still has that hair-raising feeling that sparks uneasiness.
