Persons Unknown...

[Tom Hendricks]

Anyone still watching this besides myself? I have enjoyed this mini-show. While I won't say it is the greatest television show of all time, I like the characters a lot. The stories have been a bit slow, but they have moved the plot along. Unfortunately in my area they moved it off regular NBC and moved it to the cable version of NBC. I was lucky to check my DVR, so I could still record it.

 

[1001001]

I've watched it, primarily now just to see how it ends.

This had so much potential, but has been completely mucked up by nonsense (IMHO).

Not great TV, but at least we'll get a complete story.

 

[Starbreaker]

I noticed they're putting an episode solely online. I guess that happens when you're literally the worst rated NBC show of the year.

 

[1001001]

You're right.

Episode 11 is being shown on NBC.com only. Episodes 12 and 13 are being combined into a two hour finale.

Talk about a big "screw you"! We're not even going to bother airing the episode before the finale. If you want to see it, find it online.

 

[Ruaidhri]

I've continued to watch it, and been fairly entertained. I feel like they're trying just a little too hard to make it complex. Instead, it's just complicated.

But I've been a Jason Wiles (Joe) fan since Third Watch and given how little he seems to work I look forward to his stuff.

I guess I won't be watching episode 11. I haven't found a Canadian network that airs the show, and you can't stream NBC.com from Canada. Blech.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I gave up a while back, but I'll watch the last ep I guess. They just don't have the knack for creating characters that make you give a damn about them. Usually the writing is at fault but in this case, it's the writing and the actors. The millionaire with the dead wife and the psych patient lady are the only ones I can stand (plus the Chinese maitre'd who was in on the plot, but then they went and offed the guy). The lead male and female characters are very off-putting and the scruffy journalist is one of the most unwatchable actors I've ever encountered.

 

[1001001]

I've continued to watch it, and been fairly entertained. I feel like they're trying just a little too hard to make it complex. Instead, it's just complicated.

But I've been a Jason Wiles (Joe) fan since Third Watch and given how little he seems to work I look forward to his stuff.

I guess I won't be watching episode 11. I haven't found a Canadian network that airs the show, and you can't stream NBC.com from Canada. Blech.

I'm watching it right now. I'll post the summary (in spoiler tags) in a few minutes if you're interested.

... and the scruffy journalist is one of the most unwatchable actors I've ever encountered.

Agreed. He's terrible.

 

[1001001]

If anyone outside the United States cares....

Spoiler: Episode 11 "Seven Sacrifices"

Liam continues to pursue Janet, showing her a bit of the "backstage stuff". He tells her that he lost his family in a fire before coming to The Program. Joe and the chick from Battlestar Galactica try to warn Janet about Liam and his treachery. Joe tells Janet he knows she is trying to manipulate Liam, and warns her it won't work. Liam later admits he lied about his burn scars. He did it during his turn through the Program.

Reporter guy and the editor woman make it back to San Fran and he is immediately arrested. She loses her job, apartment, etc. The Police take the thumbs and eventually reporter guy is released while 6 of the thumbs end up with the Director of the Program. A one eyed Night Manager (the first one) bears them to her. Reporter guy hid the 7th thumb in a bottle of tequila.

The dumb guy and the Ferris Bueller guy discuss the pros and cons of joining the Program. Dumb guy in favor, Ferris Bueller guy against.

Marine guy and scarf killer roam around doing pretty much nothing except watching the others and commenting on it.

Finally, Liam tell the Director he has turned Janet. She thanks him, says "goodbye" and order the "flushing" of the whole town, saying the pollution has gone too far.

 

[Corran Horn]

You're right.

Episode 11 is being shown on NBC.com only. Episodes 12 and 13 are being combined into a two hour finale.

Talk about a big "screw you"! We're not even going to bother airing the episode before the finale. If you want to see it, find it online.

Wow, that's horrible. I have every episode on my Tivo but I haven't watched yet. Not sure I will now.

 

[1001001]

So was I the only one who saw this whole thing through??



Actually, the ending wasn't horrible (IMHO). I can live with it.

Still they didn't tap 1/10 of the premise's potential.

Overall I'd give the series a C.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I have it on the DVR to watch it tomorrow. I still have to watch the episode only available online. I'm looking forward to the conclusion. I will take a "C" average show for the summer that's scripted over reruns and reality shows.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I taped it but all I got was baseball. Anyone care to summarize what the series was allegedly about in 100 words or less?

 

[1001001]

I taped it but all I got was baseball. Anyone care to summarize what the series was allegedly about in 100 words or less?

Spoiler: Series Finale

Not much is revealed about the program or the corporation behind it, other than it's a non-profit in Iowa, and has been around along time.

When the Director decides to flush the town, the captives escape by pretending to kill each other (it actually worked better than that sounds). Everyone gets away but Joe. Unfortunately Iraq Soldier guy is captured and tortured to reveal where everyone went. We learn that Janet's mom is indeed involved, but has tried to protect her from the program. Obviously this was set up many years ago.

Anyway, everyone is eventually recaptured, and they wake up back in the hotel. There are two groups, one of new people (including reporter guy), and one of the old crew. The new group is led by Joe down one elevator to the lobby where the Ambassador's daughter is now the Night Manager. The others go down another path, and end up on a giant freighter ship. The original Night Manager greets them, saying "Welcome to Level Two". Fade and cut.

Oh and it is implied, but never directly said, that big dumb guy is actually one of them. And Editor chick is in some nasty cage obviously about to be "disappeared", along with the Ambassador.

There was more but I think I'm over my 100 word limit.

Honestly it was a pretty decent ending and obviously set-up for a sequel that will never happen.

 

[Ruaidhri]

I taped it but all I got was baseball. Anyone care to summarize what the series was allegedly about in 100 words or less?

Spoiler: Series Finale

Not much is revealed about the program or the corporation behind it, other than it's a non-profit in Iowa, and has been around along time.

When the Director decides to flush the town, the captives escape by pretending to kill each other (it actually worked better than that sounds). Everyone gets away but Joe. Unfortunately Iraq Soldier guy is captured and tortured to reveal where everyone went. We learn that Janet's mom is indeed involved, but has tried to protect her from the program. Obviously this was set up many years ago.

Anyway, everyone is eventually recaptured, and they wake up back in the hotel. There are two groups, one of new people (including reporter guy), and one of the old crew. The new group is led by Joe down one elevator to the lobby where the Ambassador's daughter is now the Night Manager. The others go down another path, and end up on a giant freighter ship. The original Night Manager greets them, saying "Welcome to Level Two". Fade and cut.

Oh and it is implied, but never directly said, that big dumb guy is actually one of them. And Editor chick is in some nasty cage obviously about to be "disappeared", along with the Ambassador.

There was more but I think I'm over my 100 word limit.

Honestly it was a pretty decent ending and obviously set-up for a sequel that will never happen.

Loved the music around the two groups gathering in the hallways and getting into the elevators.

All during the show's run they kept running commercials saying "Before the summer ends, all will be revealed." Uh, not so much. Disappointed we won't get to see more. I'd love to know where it was going.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I got to watch the online episode and the two final aired episodes yesterday. I wanted to germinate on them before I rendered my opinion.

First I'll say going into this, knowing it was going to be a 13 episode mini-series I was totally cool with that. I was expecting a beginning, middle and end. As with most books or novels. However thats not what we got. We got a beginning, a sluggish maple syrup middle and no ending.

What is funny thought, I'm actually a bit satisfied with how it ended. How you ask, for the most part I really enjoyed the characters. I actually cared for Joe, wanted to learn more about his character. My only wish would have been to actually learn what this whole test is about and what the 'company' is actually trying to accomplish. However we didn't get that and for me, it is as much of a letdown as Lost.

Like Lost, this will now totally be forgotten. Considered that no one really watched it, its real easy for that to happen. However I know something is going to remind me of it in the future and I will say, "what potential."

I wish someone else would give this format another chance. It is perfect for the summer.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Took me a while to figure the keystone.

But in the last episode when I saw columns of kennels surrounded by barbed wire fences and guards with dogs and positively soviet weather, a switch in my brain flicked over and I understood the series completely.

They're Nazis.

Then I facepalmed as I recalled how often that they had said that the Mansfield Group had been founded 55 years ago, you know, smack dab upon the conclusion of WWII... Gods, wikipedia says that Mengele spent most of his life postwar hiding out in South America.

Well, that tracks.

Was Picardo playing Mengele?

But yes, as I was saying, this is how you build a MASTERRACE.

Though honestly if this is how the nazis wanted to run their prison camps before the Geneva Convention got rammed up their asses, Robert Hogan wouldn't have stood a fucking chance.