Has everyone bailed on this show? I thought it was pretty decent this week. With a miniseries format, the premise won't have enough time to wear out its welcome. Definitely the best of the myriad Lost ripoffs that have come and gone.
Persons Unknown, ep 2
- Thread starter Temis the Vorta
- Start date
Count me in the viewing pool. Eps 1 and 2 are up at Hulu for US netizens.
Episode 2 amped their situation up quite a bit. A sonic fence is keeping them prisoner, not the implants. And at least they are talking to each other about (most of) the situation, instead of like the Lost crew, keeping their mouths sealed. Morse and Blackham-the terror twins, torture the poor night clerk, Sgt McNair finally says his name, and Doc Moira bonds with party girl-but we don't see her getting her implant removed, is it still in her leg?, And Creepy Grandma is getting creepier by the minute. Doesn't seem as if she's being coerced, since there was no indication she was being observed while talking to the kid.
This place is no ordinary 'village'. There's no way to explain the van's little ride without involving a little sci fi. On another board, a poster suggested they could've been tranquilized, and towed back to the town, but the van was moving forward when they woke. Unless the van was built by Knight Industries.
Episode 2 amped their situation up quite a bit. A sonic fence is keeping them prisoner, not the implants. And at least they are talking to each other about (most of) the situation, instead of like the Lost crew, keeping their mouths sealed. Morse and Blackham-the terror twins, torture the poor night clerk, Sgt McNair finally says his name, and Doc Moira bonds with party girl-but we don't see her getting her implant removed, is it still in her leg?, And Creepy Grandma is getting creepier by the minute. Doesn't seem as if she's being coerced, since there was no indication she was being observed while talking to the kid.
This place is no ordinary 'village'. There's no way to explain the van's little ride without involving a little sci fi. On another board, a poster suggested they could've been tranquilized, and towed back to the town, but the van was moving forward when they woke. Unless the van was built by Knight Industries.
The gag with the van is that the road just makes a wide circle. Presumably, the materials were choppered in, which is feasible, just insanely expensive.
It's not a sonic fence, though. That's Lost. This is a giant outdoor microwave. I don't know why they don't tear up wires, jury rig a non-conducting handle, then put them into the field.
Nor do I understand why they don't trash the cameras. The cameras by the way seem to have people remotely operating them, since the camera POV shots are not fixed.
While the cameras are out, they can make weapons, then fire the place. When the bad guys come, they make their move. CIA girl in particular should be ready for drastic action, being convinced no physical harm will come to her.
It's not a sonic fence, though. That's Lost. This is a giant outdoor microwave. I don't know why they don't tear up wires, jury rig a non-conducting handle, then put them into the field.
Nor do I understand why they don't trash the cameras. The cameras by the way seem to have people remotely operating them, since the camera POV shots are not fixed.
While the cameras are out, they can make weapons, then fire the place. When the bad guys come, they make their move. CIA girl in particular should be ready for drastic action, being convinced no physical harm will come to her.
It is shaping up to a pretty poor series--I gave it 2 episodes and I'm out. Boring cookie cutter characters and really off-the-wall idea that just seems stupid. The idiots are discussing their plans to escape right in front of the watching cameras. Plus the series looks to be trodding over very well worn territory a la SAW with prisoners turning on each other.
Because as we saw at the end of the episode when they are destroyed another one is waiting to replace it. Although that doesn't prevent them from just covering them up with a piece of cloth.
I'm going with this show being sci fi for now.
When they entered the village because they were blinded by the light, why not jam on the breaks and throw the van into reverse immediately? The van won't stop because of the pain fence (or whatever it is), assuming it was reactivated right after they passed through.
When they entered the village because they were blinded by the light, why not jam on the breaks and throw the van into reverse immediately? The van won't stop because of the pain fence (or whatever it is), assuming it was reactivated right after they passed through.
I'm enjoying the show, but hate every time they cut back to the outside world... totally takes me out of the story, and the reporter is dull as dishwater.
Yeah I don't like the reporter's story either. And the big twist at the end of the most recent episode about him...sorry, I don't buy that hookup for one minute! 
When does this show even come on? I've seen episodes 1 & 2
Mondays at 10 ET/9C. YOu haven't missed much. I found the show to be lame and plodding. I've already stopped watching it. I add it to the sf/f arc-based mystery series that writers can't seem to get to work.
The Gates held my attention more after one episode--now whether that show turns out to be something good or it fizzles--remains to be seen but it has potential.
The Gates held my attention more after one episode--now whether that show turns out to be something good or it fizzles--remains to be seen but it has potential.
I like the cop on The Gates but the characters are far too familiar. I already feel like I know exactly how the stories will go for the vampires and were-teens and can make a pretty good guess for the witchies. The next few episodes had better have some stuff I didn't see coming because the writing is way too predictable so far.
With Persons Unknown, I can pretend that the writers have some brilliant revelation to make in the final episode, and maintain a sense of expectation. I'm bound to be disappointed but at least I'm not bored right now.
Did anyone in the universe not guess that the police chief who "retired to Mexico" was actually murdered?
With Persons Unknown, I can pretend that the writers have some brilliant revelation to make in the final episode, and maintain a sense of expectation. I'm bound to be disappointed but at least I'm not bored right now.
I'm halfway through the recent BBC series "Survivors", and have just started "Persons Unknown", and have noticed very similar character choices.
The mother separated from her child, the slutty blond girl, the bad boy with a history (in Survivors he's a criminal from prison, in Persons Unknown, don't know yet having just started watching).
The mother separated from her child, the slutty blond girl, the bad boy with a history (in Survivors he's a criminal from prison, in Persons Unknown, don't know yet having just started watching).
Just to show how pervasive those tropes are, Lost had 'em too:
the mother separated from her child - Claire
the slutty blond girl - Shannon
the bad boy with a history - Sawyer
not to mention:
sweet character who turns out to be a mental patient - Hurley
selfish jerk - Sawyer again
mysterious guy with a possibly murderous past - Sayid
take-charge guy with military training - Sayid again
creepy bland guy who was there when they arrived, and is
probably in on the plot - Ben
the mother separated from her child - Claire
the slutty blond girl - Shannon
the bad boy with a history - Sawyer
not to mention:
sweet character who turns out to be a mental patient - Hurley
selfish jerk - Sawyer again
mysterious guy with a possibly murderous past - Sayid
take-charge guy with military training - Sayid again
creepy bland guy who was there when they arrived, and is
probably in on the plot - Ben
I don't know why people bail so easily/early. I believe it takes three episodes, at minimum, to establish a series (in fact, some writers often begin the scripting stage with episode three) so I don't agree with giving up on a series after episode two - it's far too early.
Actually, this second installment was even better than the first - for me at any rate. I'm definitely back for next week and am even enjoying the out-of-village experiences. This is much better than "Lost" or the recent rehash of "The Prisoner" (and also resembles slightly something I wrote back in 2002 - so it must be good, eh?).
Call me a keen viewer...
Actually, this second installment was even better than the first - for me at any rate. I'm definitely back for next week and am even enjoying the out-of-village experiences. This is much better than "Lost" or the recent rehash of "The Prisoner" (and also resembles slightly something I wrote back in 2002 - so it must be good, eh?).
Call me a keen viewer...
I'll bail on a series that's too painful to tolerate. But Persons Unknown is well above my pain threshold. Or is that below? Whatever, bottom line, it's not another Happy Town...or Bionic Woman...or Eastwick...or Harper's Island... or Cavemen...
But Persons Unknown is well above my pain threshold. Or is that below? Whatever, bottom line, it's not another Happy Town...or Bionic Woman...or Eastwick...or Harper's Island... or Cavemen...
This is not better than Lost... wow.
Nah...Lost was amazing...this is just an okay show. But even then, it beats 90% of the stuff on TV.
The remake of The Prisoner was more imaginative (and for those who hung on till the end, turned out to have a reasonably clever twist idea) but was way too boring and inert. Persons Unknown keeps things zipping right along.
The remake of The Prisoner was more imaginative (and for those who hung on till the end, turned out to have a reasonably clever twist idea) but was way too boring and inert. Persons Unknown keeps things zipping right along.
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