# Under The Dome: New Summer Mini-Series **URL:** \ **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:** 10
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/181 "2013-07-17T14:51:37Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Just about all this stuff could be happening in a show without a dome. You’re right, but the dome keeps them short on manpower and supplies, therein lies drama. I thought the one-day epidemic was pretty stupid, why did they feel the need to wrap up that plotline in one episode? Felt rushed. And why is Junior suddenly so competent? I did like that redhead is figuring out more about her husband, and I have to agree that the girl isn’t going to get out of the shelter. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/182 "2013-07-17T15:46:27Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I did like that redhead is figuring out more about her husband, and I have to agree that the girl isn’t going to get out of the shelter. Yeah. Julia will find out that her husband wanted the hit man to kill her, for the insurance. That will make it okay for her and Barbie to hook up. Big Jim could let Angie out and claim that she wasn’t a prisoner, that Junior put her in there for her own protection. I know it’s stupid, but so is the show. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/183 "2013-07-17T16:00:45Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I declare them The Glesbian and the Cresbian. For Glasses-Lesbian and Crewcut-Lesbian.\ Sorry, I can’t go for that - I frigging HATE those stupid big black glasses, and the other lesbian (you’re totally right about that, though) has a shaved head, not a crew cut. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/184 "2013-07-17T16:09:35Z")
Those names don’t work for me, I don’t remember details of appearance that way. If we’re going to be un-PC enough to use lesbian in the nicknames, why not go all the way, and use the most obvious labels? Thus BlackLesbian and WhiteLesbian. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/185 "2013-07-17T16:49:14Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > You’re right, but the dome keeps them short on manpower and supplies, therein lies drama. > . With any luck they will have to start dealing with that issue soon. So far they have yet to ration any supplies at all. Nothing that we know of that is. And yes, I too HATE those stupid black glasses the shrink wears. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/186 "2013-07-17T18:29:23Z")
I think of them as Samantha Mathis and Other Lesbian. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/187 "2013-07-17T19:47:20Z")
I like the names “Doctor Mom” and “Black Mom” (until we know what her profession is). ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/188 "2013-07-17T22:37:15Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > Since when do people get inoculated before going to college? Did Junior go to college in Ghana?!? I went to college in PA, and I had to get a meningitis vaccine to be allowed to live in the dorm. Well technically I could’ve written a letter explaining it was against my religion, but even then student housing reserved the right to kick me out if there was an outbreak. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I like the names “Doctor Mom” and “Black Mom” (until we know what her profession is). She’s a lawyer, so Dr Lesbian/Mom and Atty Lesbian/Mom would work too. Or we could just call her Angry Black Woman. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/189 "2013-07-18T00:17:07Z")
Have all the episodes been filmed? I’ve always assumed that shows without a lot of special effects might not have all their episodes in the can before the season starts There’s not a lot of post-production needed on this show. What do you guys think will happen with Angie? I see her as a major character and I doubt she’ll be killed off. Would she be susceptible to a bribe from Big Jim? He’s got a lot of money now. Would he trust her to keep quiet? I just don’t see the writers keeping her in the bunker for the rest of the season. Of all the complaints about this show, that subplot seems to be #1 on everyone’s list. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/190 "2013-07-18T00:43:25Z")
I think Big Jim will kill Angie. He can’t afford to have her getting out and telling everyone what Junior has done - it wouldn’t look good for him to have a bad son. He can’t just lock the door again and pretend he didn’t see her, either, because if he found her, someone else could, too. What are the odds that Forehead Girl is going to be killed soon? Not good, I’m afraid. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/191 "2013-07-18T01:13:45Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > With any luck they will have to start dealing with that issue soon. So far they have yet to ration any supplies at all. Nothing that we know of that is… There was a bit of foreshadowing in the pilot where Slutty Seizure Girl was complaining about them not having orange juice, and again this week with the clinic being out of gloves & gowns. It’s only been a matter of days, but yah things are going to start getting really uncomfortable. IIRC from my days working in a supermarket after 3 days without a delivery staples start running out; assuming normal buying habits. I’m guessing the generators are going to start running out of gas in a week or two, if that. > [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Yeah, but the one with diabetes IS a doctor. Should think she was smart and informed enough to take care of her own health without the help of the…what is the other one’s profession? According to my mom, who’s worked in numerous hospitals & nursing facilities, doctors & nurse are the worst when it comes to chain smoking. > [@AuntiePam](#): > > …And the sign said Chester’s Mill Medical Clinic, so it wasn’t a full-fledged hospital… I think it’s just an outpatient polyclinic; there weren’t any doctors on duty (or even in town) when the Dome came down so that rules out a hospital. > [@AuntiePam](#): > > …Big Jim could let Angie out and claim that she wasn’t a prisoner, that Junior put her in there for her own protection. I know it’s stupid, but so is the show. He might rationalize that to himself and try to convince Angie of that, but she’s not going to release her or anything. I doubt any many townsheeple will buy that line, and the ones that do will demand Junior be locked up (or at least not allowed to carry a fire arm). ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/192 "2013-07-18T01:41:35Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I think Big Jim will kill Angie. He can’t afford to have her getting out and telling everyone what Junior has done - it wouldn’t look good for him to have a bad son. He can’t just lock the door again and pretend he didn’t see her, either, because if he found her, someone else could, too. Big Jim can’t kill her – Junior would know. It’d give him power over his dad. I suppose he could tell Junior he killed her to protect Junior, but Junior loves Angie. He doesn’t want her dead. He wouldn’t handle it well, if something happened to her. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/193 "2013-07-18T04:31:23Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Sorry, I can’t go for that - I frigging HATE those stupid big black glasses, and the other lesbian (you’re totally right about that, though) has a shaved head, not a crew cut. 🙂 > [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > If we’re going to be un-PC enough to use lesbian in the nicknames, why not go all the way, and use the most obvious labels? Thus BlackLesbian and WhiteLesbian. Points taken. I revise my proposal to “Blesbian” and “Whesbian.” ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/194 "2013-07-18T13:03:00Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I went to college in PA, and I had to get a meningitis vaccine to be allowed to live in the dorm. Well technically I could’ve written a letter explaining it was against my religion, but even then student housing reserved the right to kick me out if there was an outbreak. Well, waddaya know. Thanks for that! ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/195 "2013-07-18T16:55:47Z")
I work on this show in post, so I’ve already seen the next episode. (Sorry! No spoilers will be given!) I’ll keep it related to what we’ve seen already. Few things to point out: Big Jim - He’s called that for two reasons, I think. 1, he’s Jim Senior, his son (Junior) was most likely known as “Little Jim” back in the day. It’s pretty clear that Junior feels really beneath his dad and hates living in his shadow. There is no hospital in Chester’s Mill. They only have a clinic. A three car pileup would result in helicopters flying the victims somewhere else. They mentioned during the outbreak that they don’t even have an MRI machine there. So if you’re looking to see if you’ve got a brain tumor, rare cancer, or lyme disease, you’d be referred somewhere else. Chester’s Milll is a typical King Maine town. This is why they can spend a whole fruitless episode showing the townspeople putting out a house fire (episode 2), but it’s quite annoying IMO. Yes, we already GET it’s a small town and people act differently than out here in L.A. and plenty of other places. This is why Linda trusts her fellow cop, Paul, and never expected him to attack her. Remember that with the exception of Alice, Carolyn, Norrie and Barbie, all these families went to high school together. So it doesn’t bother me that they go on with their everyday lives without constantly panicking, but it bothers me that some aren’t camped out all along the borders of the dome. It seems like all the “communication” with the military only takes place near the road near Joe & Angie’s farm. The dome - hates electronics, of sorts. We saw Frank’s pacemaker explode in the first episode, and it blocks MOST transmissions, so it obviously does’t care about entirely scrambling the military broadcast signals. Maybe that’s because it’s part of the experiment to see how the Domers react to bits and pieces of transmissions?? Or it’s a side effect of whoever is transmitting the “Pink stars are falling” messages? But why doesn’t it care about watches, smartphones, other small electronics? Overall, the show is slated for 13 episodes total, the book is 1,500 pages! it’s turning out to be they cut most of the cool stuff and leave the soapy stuff. With only 13 episodes, who cares if Peter gambled or Alice has diabetes? Too much time is spent on fluff like this so far. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/196 "2013-07-18T17:11:35Z")
I’ve always blanched at how small towns are portrayed in movies, on tv and in books. Everyone is supposed to know everyone and everyone has everyone elses backs. All small towns are tight knit and you can always count on your fellow townspeople to help you out. I spent the first 18 years of my life in a town of 2500 and didn’t even know everyone who lived on our tiny dead-end street. My parents owned a store and I knew the names of maybe a third of the people who walked in. Perhaps small towns in Maine are different. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/197 "2013-07-18T17:24:30Z")
I pretty disappointed in this show. I can suspend disbelief that a supernatural event caused a dome over a town. What I can’t do is go along with moronic, phony, behavior. People going about their lives normally (working in the diner, convenience store, etc). No hoarding or rationing of food, water, or fuel. Barbie bought a couple of extra packs of cigarettes to use as currency later. Somehow I don’t think those cigs will be much use soon when all the food is gone. Even though they have generators, they leave lights on during the day. The radio station wastes fuel broadcasting music. When the house was burning, why throw the water on the front steps instead of the actual burning house? It’s all these stupid things that make me care about this show less and less. It’s now at the level where I’ll watch it if I have nothing better and it’s sliding downward fast. I think it’s a big problem to portray apocalyptic events in film. In books, you visualize the world you imagine. In film, you can see all the mistakes. You see how everyone is still well fed, doing their hair, shaving, and staying clean and shiny according to Hollywood standards. The movie of “The Road” was one of the few where I felt I really was seeing an apocalyptic environment. I don’t understand why they don’t try to make the environment more realistic to the events unfolding around them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/198 "2013-07-18T17:27:57Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Big Jim can’t kill her – Junior would know. It’d give him power over his dad. > > I suppose he could tell Junior he killed her to protect Junior, but Junior loves Angie. He doesn’t want her dead. He wouldn’t handle it well, if something happened to her. Big Jim could easily make it look like an accidental drowning. Just hold Angie under the water and leave. It’s plausible… Angie nearly drowned on her own when she passed out on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/199 "2013-07-18T17:37:31Z")
I just noticed that the Wikipedia page for the show includes a Category link (down at the very bottom) for “TV series set in the future.” Has there been any indication that this true? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483/200 "2013-07-18T19:37:05Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > However, on the whole I thought this episode was a big upswing in quality. More believable (re)actions from characters, especially background townsfolk freaking out about the dome and spray painting help signs on the dome. > > While the speech was eye-rolling, I particularly liked the action during the hospital stand-off. It would have been better had the shotgun toting doorman _not_ been a confirmed sociopath, but ignoring that I thought that confrontation was pretty authentic. I liked the people spray painting the dome, but it appeared that they were also throwing food at it to get attention. If so, then that’s annoying and a crazy waste of food. But it was nice to see the people reacting at the dome and at the hospital and not being so blase like they have been in previous episodes. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > The more I think about it, the more I hate the lesbian couple and Forehead Girl. Do people with diabetes really have other people in their lives who monitor their insulin and food intake? I kinda thought that if you have diabetes, you have to take responsibility for your own health or suffer the consequences. The exchanges the two moms had were just so stupid, both with each other and with other people. Gee, I can’t really tell - is Doctor Mom’s diabetes going to be a plot point at some time in the future? :rolleyes: I agree with others, that people with diabetes don’t always take care of themselves, and doctors also can be bad about taking care of their own health. That didn’t bother me. But what does bother me is how obvious they were about foreshadowing how they’ll have an issue with needing insulin in future episodes. > [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I declare them The Glesbian and the Cresbian. For Glasses-Lesbian and Crewcut-Lesbian. > > I’d normally balk at using “lesbian” the primary defining characteristic of a person, but I feel like this show is saying, “Hey, these ladies are lesbians. Did you hear me? Lesbians! Capital L-E-S-B-I-A-N-S!!! LESSSSSBIANS!!!” > > Okay, we get it. They’re lesbians. Now could you tell us something, anything, about them that’s a little more interesting than that? Huh, one of the few things I would commend the show for is that the lesbian couple seems normal and most of what they’ve done and how people would react to them would be the same as if they were a straight couple. I’m more bothered by the writing about them being from the big city and how it’s so much different from this little town. > [@control-z](#): > > I did like that redhead is figuring out more about her husband, and I have to agree that the girl isn’t going to get out of the shelter. Are we supposed to sympathize with the redhead? I was somewhat hoping she died from meningitis. I know meningitis doesn’t work like they were saying it does on the show, but according to their rules she was risking further outbreak and her own life by going out. Why did she have to go right then to investigate, other than to cause unnecessary drama? Also, it seems like most people in the town know Big Jim and Junior fairly well. The teacher said something about how surprising it was that she’d be comforted by Junior having a shot gun at the hospital. It seems to be fairly well known that he’s at least a little off. Why would redhead believe Junior about Barbie randomly attacking him for no reason? > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I think Big Jim will kill Angie. He can’t afford to have her getting out and telling everyone what Junior has done - it wouldn’t look good for him to have a bad son. He can’t just lock the door again and pretend he didn’t see her, either, because if he found her, someone else could, too. My guess is Big Jim brings her into the house and locks her up there, in a windowless room. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-the-dome-new-summer-mini-series/660483.md?page=11)