Under the Dome season 1
| Under the Dome | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
 Region 1 DVD cover | |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | June 24 – September 16, 2013 |
| Season chronology | |
The first season of Under the Dome, an American science fiction mystery drama television series, premiered on CBS on June 24, 2013,[1] and ended on September 16, 2013.[2]
Based on the novel of the same name written by Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town of Chester's Mill, when a massive, transparent, indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. Military forces and the government positioned outside the barrier attempt to break it down, while the residents trapped inside must find their own ways to survive with diminishing resources and rising tensions. A small group of people inside the dome must also unravel complicated mysteries in order to figure out what the dome is, where it came from, and when (and if) it will go away.
The first season has a score of 68/100, based on 45 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews", on review aggregator website Metacritic.[3] The season has a score of 83/100, based on 52 reviews, on film and TV review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes; the site's critical consensus for the season reads: "Under the Dome is an effective and engrossing horror/mystery with airtight plotting and great special effects."[4]
The first season of Under the Dome aired in the United States on Mondays at 10:00 pm ET, where it received an average of 2.7/8 in the 18–49 demographic and 11.21 million viewers over its 13-episode run.[5]
Season plot
In the first season of Under the Dome, the residents of Chester's Mill must deal with the immediate aftermath when a massive, indestructible dome suddenly crashes down on the town, cutting them off from the rest of the world. Lives are lost, questions and uncertainty loom over the trapped townspeople, and, as they realize they might be stuck for a while, panic and chaos become the new normal. As the townspeople frantically try to find resources to stay alive, an opportunistic town councilman with malicious intent makes himself the de facto dictator over the town, while an unknown stranger causes secrets about the town to be revealed. As the season progresses, the characters start to learn more about the dome, including finding a mysterious egg that supposedly serves as the Dome's power source, and although every little piece of answer gives more insight into what's happening and why, every answer also causes many more questions.
Cast and characters
The cast members portray characters that were mostly taken from the original novel, "although some have been combined and others have changed jobs."[6]
Main
- Mike Vogel as Dale 'Barbie' Barbara
- Rachelle Lefevre as Julia Shumway
- Natalie Martinez as Linda Esquivel
- Britt Robertson as Angie McAlister
- Alexander Koch as James 'Junior' Rennie
- Colin Ford as Joe McAlister
- Nicholas Strong as Phil Bushey
- Jolene Purdy as Dodee Weaver
- Aisha Hinds as Carolyn Hill
- Jeff Fahey as Sheriff Howard 'Duke' Perkins
- Dean Norris as James 'Big Jim' Rennie
Recurring
- Samantha Mathis as Dr. Alice Calvert
- Mackenzie Lintz as Norrie Calvert-Hill
- Beth Broderick as Rose Twitchell
- Dale Raoul as Andrea Grinnell
- John Elvis as Ben Drake
- R. Keith Harris as Peter Shumway
- Kevin Sizemore as Paul Randolph
- Josh Carter as Eric 'Rusty' Denton
- Ned Bellamy as Reverend Lester Coggins
- Leon Rippy as Ollie Dinsmore
- Joe Knezevich as Freddy Denton
- Andrew Vogel as Carter Thibodeau
- Crystal Martinez as Nurse Adams
- Megan Ketch as Harriet Arnold
- Natalie Zea as Maxine Seagrave
- Mare Winningham as Agatha Seagrave
Production
Brian K. Vaughan and Stephen King served as executive producers along with Neal Baer, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Jack Bender, Steven Spielberg, and Stacey Snider. Danish director Niels Arden Oplev produced and directed the pilot. Baer served as the showrunner for the series.[7]
Days before the series premiere aired on U.S. television, the cast and executive producers of Under the Dome met in Wilmington, North Carolina on June 20, 2013, for an advance screening of the pilot episode. During the presentation event, the city's mayor, Bill Saffo, declared Monday, June 24, 2013, as "Dome Day", and awarded Stephen King a key to the city.[8]
On June 24, 2013, the night of the series premiere, entertainment website Vulture published an article about the economics of Under the Dome; in order to bring the expensive production (an estimated $3 million per episode) to life, CBS had struck a deal with Amazon Video that would bring new episodes to the platform four days after they debuted on CBS. That deal, estimated at $750,000 for each episode, covered one quarter of each episode's estimated production cost. Additionally, the article says that foreign markets also played an important role in the financing, bringing in approximately $1.9 million, and with the North Carolina state tax credits the show earned for filming in the state, an estimated $400,000, meant CBS had already earned back the money they paid for each episode before the episodes even aired on TV. CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves described the deals: "Combining Amazon with the international syndication deal makes Under the Dome profitable immediately".[9]
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Niels Arden Oplev | Brian K. Vaughan | June 24, 2013 | 13.53[10] |
| 2 | 2 | "The Fire" | Jack Bender | Rick Cleveland | July 1, 2013 | 11.81[11] |
| 3 | 3 | "Manhunt" | Paul Edwards | Adam Stein | July 8, 2013 | 10.71[12] |
| 4 | 4 | "Outbreak" | Kari Skogland | Peter Calloway | July 15, 2013 | 11.13[13] |
| 5 | 5 | "Blue on Blue" | Jack Bender | Brian K. Vaughan | July 22, 2013 | 11.60[14] |
| 6 | 6 | "The Endless Thirst" | Kari Skogland | Soo Hugh | July 29, 2013 | 11.41[15] |
| 7 | 7 | "Imperfect Circles" | Miguel Sapochnik | Caitlin Parrish | August 5, 2013 | 10.42[16] |
| 8 | 8 | "Thicker Than Water" | Jack Bender | Adam Stein | August 12, 2013 | 10.36[17] |
| 9 | 9 | "The Fourth Hand" | Roxann Dawson | Daniel Truly | August 19, 2013 | 10.64[18] |
| 10 | 10 | "Let the Games Begin" | Sergio Mimica-Gezzan | Andres Fischer-Centeno & Peter Calloway | August 26, 2013 | 11.11[19] |
| 11 | 11 | "Speak of the Devil" | David Barrett | Scott Gold | September 2, 2013 | 11.15[20] |
| 12 | 12 | "Exigent Circumstances" | Peter Leto | Adam Stein & Caitlin Parrish | September 9, 2013 | 9.72[21] |
| 13 | 13 | "Curtains" | Jack Bender | Brian K. Vaughan & Scott Gold | September 16, 2013 | 12.10[22] |
Reception
Critical reception
The first season has a score of 68/100, based on 45 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews", on review aggregator website Metacritic.[3] The season has a score of 83/100, based on 52 reviews, on film and TV review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes; the site's critical consensus for the season reads: "Under the Dome is an effective and engrossing horror/mystery with airtight plotting and great special effects."[4]
Positive reviews included Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter, who wrote that "the intriguing Stephen King adaption is filled with storytelling promise",[23] Glenn Garvin of the Miami Herald, who wrote that "based on the pilot episode — with its taut script, strong performances and special effects that are impressive without being overwhelming — there’s hope that Under The Dome might measure up to its unsettling print progenitor",[24] and Verne Gay of Newsday, who wrote that the show "looks like a summer winner".[25] A negative review came from Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe, who wrote that "so much is working against Under the Dome, it’s hard to get genuinely excited. While the arrival of the dome is intriguing, the characters are not".[26]
Ratings
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | June 24, 2013 | 3.3/9 | 13.53[10] |
| 2 | "The Fire" | July 1, 2013 | 2.9/8 | 11.81[11] |
| 3 | "Manhunt" | July 8, 2013 | 2.7/8 | 10.71[12] |
| 4 | "Outbreak" | July 15, 2013 | 2.7/8 | 11.13[13] |
| 5 | "Blue on Blue" | July 22, 2013 | 2.8/8 | 11.60[14] |
| 6 | "The Endless Thirst" | July 29, 2013 | 2.8/8 | 11.41[15] |
| 7 | "Imperfect Circles" | August 5, 2013 | 2.6/7 | 10.42[16] |
| 8 | "Thicker Than Water" | August 12, 2013 | 2.4/7 | 10.36[17] |
| 9 | "The Fourth Hand" | August 19, 2013 | 2.4/7 | 10.64[18] |
| 10 | "Let the Games Begin" | August 26, 2013 | 2.5/7 | 11.11[19] |
| 11 | "Speak of the Devil" | September 2, 2013 | 2.7/8 | 11.15[20] |
| 12 | "Exigent Circumstances" | September 9, 2013 | 2.1/6 | 9.72[21] |
| 13 | "Curtains" | September 16, 2013 | 2.8/9 | 12.10[22] |
References
- ^ Ng, Philiana (January 12, 2013). "CBS Sets Premiere Dates for Under the Dome, Big Brother and Unforgettable". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ ""Curtains"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ a b "Under the Dome: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "Under the Dome: Season 1 (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ Staff (September 17, 2013). "Under the Dome: Season One Ratings". TV Series Finale. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ King, Stephen (June 27, 2013). "A Letter From Stephen". StephenKing.com. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ Kenneally, Tim (October 15, 2013). "Under the Dome Showrunner Neal Baer Sells Drama to CBS, Re-Ups With CBS Television Studios". TheWrap. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ Brothers, Sheila (June 24, 2013). ""Dome Day" Has Arrived". The Wilmywood Daily. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ Adalian, Josef (June 24, 2013). "Under the Dome and TV's New Ad-less Ways to Make Cash". Vulture. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (June 25, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Under the Dome & The Bachelorette Adjusted Up Plus Final Stanley Cup Numbers". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
- ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (July 2, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Under the Dome Adjusted Up; Mistresses Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (July 11, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Get Out Alive Adjusted Up; Siberia Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 13, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (July 16, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: American Ninja Warrior Adjusted Up; Mistresses, The Bachelorette & Get Out Alive Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (July 23, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: No Adjustments to Under the Dome, Mistresses, The Bachelorette or Breaking Pointe". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 26, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
- ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (July 30, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Under the Dome & The Bachelorette Adjusted Up; Mistresses Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (August 6, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Under the Dome Adjusted Up, Siberia Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (August 13, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Under the Dome Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 16, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (August 19, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls and Mistresses Adjusted Down; No Adjustment for Under the Dome". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (August 27, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Siberia Adjusted Down; No Adjustment for Under the Dome or Mistresses". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (September 4, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Under the Dome & Mistresses Adjusted Up; Siberia Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
- ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (September 10, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: American Ninja Warrior Adjusted Up, Mistresses & Siberia Adjusted Down + Final US Open Numbers". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (September 17, 2013). "Monday Final TV Ratings: Sleepy Hollow & Bones Adjusted Up, Dancing With the Stars, Million Second Quiz, American Ninja Warrior & Siberia Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
- ^ Goodman, Tim (June 8, 2013). "Under the Dome: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ Garvin, Glenn (June 22, 2013). "Promising pilot suggests CBS' Dome could live up to Stephen King's novel". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2016.[dead link]
- ^ Gay, Verne (June 21, 2013). "Under the Dome review: Stephen King fling". Newsday. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ Gilbert, Matthew (June 23, 2013). "With ABC's Under the Dome, here we go again". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 5, 2016.