# Under The Dome: New Summer Mini-Series

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 8, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483 "2013-06-08T18:24:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/1 "2013-06-08T18:24:00Z")

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The Hollywood Reporter gave a [good review](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/under-dome-tv-review-564874) for the new summer mini-series.

I am happy this is a one-shot, 13 episode series and then it is over. No worry about cliffhanger or will it be renewed or will it be canceled half way through the story.

Some big names attached (Stephen King, Steven Spielberg), so it could be worth a look!

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**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/2 "2013-06-08T18:32:52Z")

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Yeah, shows like that are only good at first anyway. I like the part where everyone is freaking out when the crazy thing first happens, but later I lose interest (and so does everyone else, like with that show Flash Forward which was intriguing at first and then boring). I hope it will be on Hulu.

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**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/3 "2013-06-08T18:46:41Z")

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I didn’t like the book but I’ll watch the show. Dean Norris is an excellent casting choice as the councilman.

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**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/4 "2013-06-08T19:01:32Z")

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> [@DMark](#):
>
> I am happy this is a one-shot, 13 episode series and then it is over. No worry about cliffhanger or will it be renewed or will it be canceled half way through the story.

There’s a page linked from your original that suggests this may not be true: here.

[QUOTE=point 3 on that page]  
“When we first started talking to Stephen, we came up with the idea of the town potentially being trapped for years at a time, and that’s something that [King said] you guys could get to do that I didn’t,” Vaughan recalled, noting it might necessitate a different ending to the series. “We pitched Stephen a far-out, big-swing idea for this to go several years, a different ending, and he was really excited by it.”  
[/QUOTE]

I don’t know anything about The Hollywood Reporter - is this likely to be guesswork or made-up, or might it be actually based on real information?

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/5 "2013-06-08T19:18:39Z")

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> [@Charley](#):
>
> I don’t know anything about The Hollywood Reporter - is this likely to be guesswork or made-up, or might it be actually based on real information?

The producers can’t seem to decide whether Under the Dome will be a miniseries or an ongoing series and they’ve made comments in public that hint at both. It’s probably likely that they’ve filmed two endings and if the ratings are huge they’ll go with the one that gives them a season 2 and if they’re just OK they wrap it up and start making a killing on the DVDs.

There was an article in the LA Times yesterday that talked about Under the Dome and it said the show is already profitable due to international sales. So I wouldn’t bet against season 2 just yet.

> **[Stephen King's 'Under the Dome' on CBS could create new TV model](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-cbs-stephen-kings-under-the-dome-could-change-model-20130606-story.html)**
>
> CBS' highly anticipated thriller, "Under the Dome," could help create a new business model for TV shows -- and encourage broadcasters to gamble on risky big-event summer programming.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/6 "2013-06-08T21:04:13Z")

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I’ll give it a try . . . even though in some respects it reminds me of \*Lost, \*as well as an old \*Twilight Zone \*ep. I guess there’s nothing new under the dome.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/7 "2013-06-08T23:24:05Z")

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I’m actually looking forward to this. Call me crazy, but I really liked the book.

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**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/8 "2013-06-09T01:43:58Z")

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I think the book started out amazing, but then it was just too dark for me, even for Stephen King. I usually complain about King adaptations not being faithful enough, but for me to enjoy this one, I think they’re going to have to make substantial changes.

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**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/9 "2013-06-09T01:51:58Z")

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I loved the book, and thought it was a nice return to form for King. His latest stuff before that was really lacking for me. Although, I think the resolution could’ve been a bit stronger.

As for the mini-series, I’m looking forward to it.

> [@Fair\_Rarity](#):
>
> I think the book started out amazing, but then it was just too dark for me, even for Stephen King. I usually complain about King adaptations not being faithful enough, but for me to enjoy this one, I think they’re going to have to make substantial changes.

As you must’ve read your share of Stephen King, I thought it was about as light as Stephen King gets, when it comes to the darkness of his more substantial works.

Just curious what you found especially dark about this one is all? I can’t think of anything in there that’s particularly unprecedented by King.

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/10 "2013-06-09T02:49:32Z")

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> [@cmyk](#):
>
> Just curious what you found especially dark about this one is all? I can’t think of anything in there that’s particularly unprecedented by King.

Speaking for myself…

That rape scene was fucking BRUTAL. If I remember right, I put the book down for a few days after that chapter because I wasn’t quite ready for the aftermath.

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**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/11 "2013-06-09T04:04:53Z")

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How are they treating the absolutely shitty ending?

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/12 "2013-06-09T04:06:22Z")

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> [@singular1](#):
>
> How are they treating the absolutely shitty ending?

Rumor has it, they changed it. To what, I don’t know.

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**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/13 "2013-06-09T04:57:54Z")

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King’s stuff has always struck me as being better in mini-series form than in movie form, so I am looking forward to this. That having been said (and not having read the book yet or read any of the spoilers), I’m anticipating the same ending let-down as in every other one of his mini-series, movies, or books (with the possible exception of The Dark Tower series).

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**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/14 "2013-06-09T05:12:36Z")

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Loved the book, can’t wait. King’s mini-series are almost always better than his movies, _The Shining_ aside.

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**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/15 "2013-06-09T12:28:18Z")

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> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> Speaking for myself…
> 
> That rape scene was fucking BRUTAL. If I remember right, I put the book down for a few days after that chapter because I wasn’t quite ready for the aftermath.

It was, for sure, but not quite unpresidented. But I understand.

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**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/16 "2013-06-09T14:51:43Z")

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I got about halfway thru the book and lost interest. Maybe because it was probably my last physical book before I switched over to Kindle and the size of the book just wasnt convenient to read anywhere. Might watch the few episodes and see if grabs me. I would be much more likely to watch if I knew it was only a mini series. I want the show to have a finale.

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**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/17 "2013-06-09T16:03:20Z")

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Yeah, I hated the explanation and resolution. It would have been better if they never figured out what caused the dome, IMHO. The point of the story is what happens inside, really.

Hopefully the TV writers come up with a better explanation, or just let it ride and focus on the human interactions within the dome.

I adore Dean Norris (thank you Dopers who encouraged me to stick with Breaking Bad), so I’m going to watch from the get-go. If it ends up crappy, hey, I still got to watch a lot of Dean Norris!

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**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/18 "2013-06-09T17:26:27Z")

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> [@Charley](#):
>
> There’s a page linked from your original that suggests this may not be true: here.
> 
> I don’t know anything about The Hollywood Reporter - is this likely to be guesswork or made-up, or might it be actually based on real information?

I didn’t see that other link - so that was a surprise.

RE: Hollywood Reporter - this is a trade magazine for film/TV studios and executives. They don’t do “gossip” or much speculation. This magazine is delivered daily to almost everyone who works at any movie studio or television network…so it is not some rag with silliness - it is considered almost a publication of public record for all things show business. Studio executives read this and expect nothing but the facts - and that is often how they know what others in the biz are doing and how well they are doing. They rank pretty high on the trust factor, and will publish a retraction if they get even a small detail wrong.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/19 "2013-06-09T19:20:43Z")

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_Simpsons_ did it!

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**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/20 "2013-06-10T00:42:12Z")

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I’m already sick of the ceaseless promos. Don’t care if it ever gets on.

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483.md?page=2)
