CATCHING UP: Under the Dome (Season One, Episode Ten – “Let the Games Begin”)

Hello, and welcome to Catching Up! Over the course of the next few weeks, we’re going to take a look at a few shows that will be beginning their new seasons soon. By the end, we should be all caught up and ready for current episodes. It’ll be a fun ride, one you won’t soon forget! Enjoy!

—The Editor

First aired August 26th, 2013.

In this episode we learn the least amount possible about the mini dome, which is frustrating. However, there is lots of character development, which makes up for that.

Maxine’s black market is up and running and it’s a major success. People bet on fights using items like batteries but, like in Vegas, the house always wins, here the house is Maxine. She even forces “Barbie” into the ring to fight a man he used to collect from on her behalf. Barbie decides to throw the fight to spite Maxine, but she knew he would so she bet he would lose knowing everyone else would bet on him to win. Maxine tries to seduce Barbie but he decides he’s had enough and leaves not caring anymore if she exposes his secrets.

Maxine is definitely one of the highlights of the episode and the show overall. She’s established herself as a capable villain having already gained leverage over many people in town by her second episode. There is a lot of potential for Maxine to become a major character over the course of the show and to explore her backstory further. I really hope she gets promoted to series regular in season two.

“Big Jim” is trying to find dirt on Maxine and goes to a lake house she owns and meets Agatha (played by Mare Winningman). She seems like a sweet lady, however she turns out to be Maxine’s mother and holds Big Jim at gunpoint. She begins to rant about how she and Maxine were burned in the past by the people of Chester’s Mill. Big Jim eventually gets the upper hand and takes her hostage on his boat. She falls off accidentally, but he decides to just let her drown.

Big Jim has become really used to committing murder, although this time it’s somewhat justifiable. Agatha’s character solely existed as a way of further exploring Maxine’s past but that was perfectly fine. Her death was obviously a way of setting up a major conflict with Big Jim and Barbie down the road which will hopefully pay off handsomely.

Meanwhile, Julia and Linda decide to investigate the drug activity in town. Using a key found in the Sheriff’s old hat, they learn how he was connected to the drug deals, and about everyone else who was involved, including Big Jim. Julia also finds out that her husband actually planned for Barbie to kill him so that she would get his life insurance money.

It’s about time these secrets came out, although I couldn’t believe that Linda gave Big Jim the option to go the station the next day. Just because he can’t leave town don’t mean he won’t try to run, Linda. I liked how the show not only closed the storyline of Barbie killing Julia’s husband but threw in one last twist.

Finally, Joe , Angie and Norrie recruit Junior in their mini dome club. After getting past some personal issues (like Junior kidnapping Angie), they put their hands on it and pink stars are released in the barn. It looks like this whole hands on the mini dome mystery was a new way of emphasizing the pink stars mystery. That’s a major letdown, because we’ve heard so much about them already. I hope the big reveal behind it is worth all this hype.

Thoughts/Quotes

“If I’m going to be trapped in this hellhole, I’m gonna live as well as I can.”

I’d totally watch a show about Linda and Julia solving crimes.

“As long as this dome is around, I can see us making this town our playground.”

People who touch the mini dome get electrocuted, but Julia was fine so she must be involved somehow.

If you enjoyed Manny’s article and would like to read others like it, you can read the rest of his work HERE. You can also follow him on Twitter @KN_Manny.

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