Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
Synopsis:
Spoiler:
This is a 1 and done 13 week miniseries similar to Harper's Island last Summer.
Starring:
Jason Wiles (Third Watch)
Alan Ruck (Spin City)
Daisy Betts (Shutter) -- I think this is her 1st lead role
Lola Glaudini (Criminal Minds)
Created by:
Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie)
Executive Producer:
Remi Aubuchon (Caprica, 24, Stargate Universe)
Trailer:
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pTADPTNyolE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pTADPTNyolE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
I'm really intrigued by this show. Looking forward to seeing how they set up the premise. Hopefully it won't be as dull as Happy Town.
This show was filmed almost 2 years ago on location in Mexico.
Last edited by DJariya; 06-07-10 at 05:22 AM.
#3
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
I'm in. At least I know that after 13 episodes, it will be finished. I like that prospect!
#5
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
While Harper's Island wasn't a perfect 1 and done show, it had a satisfactory conclusion.
#6
Suspended
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
I feel like I Saw this already.
Anyway, my wife wants to watch this, so I'll check out at least the first episode.
Anyway, my wife wants to watch this, so I'll check out at least the first episode.
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
I'm a sucker for these type of shows. I wasn't expecting much out of this but I have to say that I was pretty impressed with the pilot. A lot of "Lost-esque" questions and I'm intrigued to see where it leads. Hopefully it holds up.
#9
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
That was actually really good. I thought it was a great set up to the series and went straight to the point. Loved the tension and clausterphobic atmosphere that the Hotel scenes had. I know Michael Rymer from his directing on Battlestar Galactica and I think he did a really good job shooting the scenes in the Hotel and around the town. I especially liked the mysterious cameras around the town.
Jason Wiles character "Joe" is obviously someone with huge question marks since he wouldn't reveal who he is and what he does.
Never heard of Daisy Betts prior to this and I was really impressed with her as Janet. I also thought Alan Ruck stood out as a solid supporting character. What got a chuckle out of me was the mysterious Chinese guys and the Chinese Restaurant where Janet received that whacked fortune.
Kudos to McQuarrie in his 1st TV venture. Hopefully the next 12 episodes keep it up.
BTW, I would have never guessed that this was shot in Mexico.
Jason Wiles character "Joe" is obviously someone with huge question marks since he wouldn't reveal who he is and what he does.
Never heard of Daisy Betts prior to this and I was really impressed with her as Janet. I also thought Alan Ruck stood out as a solid supporting character. What got a chuckle out of me was the mysterious Chinese guys and the Chinese Restaurant where Janet received that whacked fortune.
Kudos to McQuarrie in his 1st TV venture. Hopefully the next 12 episodes keep it up.
BTW, I would have never guessed that this was shot in Mexico.
Last edited by DJariya; 06-08-10 at 02:31 AM.
#10
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
Now that I think about it, the setup felt like a mix of The Twilight Zone and Saw (without the traps)
#11
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
not a bad first ep, as others have said it helps knowing the show is a one and done sort of series..
I'll keep watching.. I'm sure the show is already starting to throw red herrings at us (or maybe not) and that's most of the fun of these sort of shows. I mean come on, the grandmother had all sort of motive it seems but that would be too easy!
I'll keep watching.. I'm sure the show is already starting to throw red herrings at us (or maybe not) and that's most of the fun of these sort of shows. I mean come on, the grandmother had all sort of motive it seems but that would be too easy!
#12
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
#13
Moderator
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
I wasn't very impressed with the first episode. I'll continue to watch next week, but am out if it doesn't hook me by then.
#14
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
#17
Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: HTF Expatriate
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
I thought the pilot was interesting, but it had better get moreso if it wants to hold my attention. I also thought the dialogue was bordering on awful. Just terrible terrible writing, it sounds like dialogue someone would write without ever actually saying it out loud.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
I enjoyed the show. It's not really a Saw clone since there's no gore or traps. Cube had a much different setup too.
I wonder how many of them lied about their fortunes. Did everybody get a "kill your neighbor" fortune?
I assume the restaurant will be a regular feature, seeing as how the inmates have no other means of sustenance.
I can't tell if the night clerk is in on it. He was mighty cool when the shotgun was pointed at him. On the other had the Chinese guys seemed genuinely scared.
I wonder how many of them lied about their fortunes. Did everybody get a "kill your neighbor" fortune?
I assume the restaurant will be a regular feature, seeing as how the inmates have no other means of sustenance.
I can't tell if the night clerk is in on it. He was mighty cool when the shotgun was pointed at him. On the other had the Chinese guys seemed genuinely scared.
#19
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Swimming in a tranquil sea of blue...
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
I thought it was pretty interesting, so I'll keep watching. Didn't anyone else get the vibe that the guy who doesn't want to talk about his past and the guy with the goatee maybe knew/ or recognized each other? When they came face to face the first time it seemed like there was something there, a look or something. Though I may be just looking for clues to hard! *lol*
#20
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
Wow, what horrible dialog. When they were introducing themselves, I cringed and looked away from the screen.
Thankfully, things got better. The pacing was spot on and the plot was very reminiscent of the Twilight Zone and The Prisoner and throw in a dash of Poseidon Adventure. The indie style works here, but just barely. The show could easily turn into a parody of itself.
The story twists and turns are what makes this watchable and they keep things moving along at a brisk pace. I am in for the series, but only as long as the story moves forward. If the story stalls, I am not sure I can tolerate the dialog or the acting.
Thankfully, things got better. The pacing was spot on and the plot was very reminiscent of the Twilight Zone and The Prisoner and throw in a dash of Poseidon Adventure. The indie style works here, but just barely. The show could easily turn into a parody of itself.
The story twists and turns are what makes this watchable and they keep things moving along at a brisk pace. I am in for the series, but only as long as the story moves forward. If the story stalls, I am not sure I can tolerate the dialog or the acting.
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
Oh, and don't go look this up on imdb... since it was shot so long ago, it lists the characters, the actors, and exactly how many episodes they are in. Some all 13, some 12, some 10, some 8, some 6...
#23
Moderator
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
It's nice to have light summer fare.
#24
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: On a little blue planet, third from the Sun.
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
Count me in as someone who gets a strong The Prisoner vibe from this show -- including a system to knock you out if you try to leave the premises. I half expected a big white ball to attack them as they hit the outskirts of town.
But the writers here suffer from Lost writer syndrome. WHY THE FUCK DON'T THE CHARACTERS ASK THE OBVIOUS QUESTIONS? They encounter a bunch of Chinese waiters/cooks and they just sit down and eat? No questions asked? At least they questioned the hotel clerk. And of course got no answers.
This show will probably be a JJ Abrams style dribble-out-the-answers-as-slowly-as-possible exercise in frustration.
But the writers here suffer from Lost writer syndrome. WHY THE FUCK DON'T THE CHARACTERS ASK THE OBVIOUS QUESTIONS? They encounter a bunch of Chinese waiters/cooks and they just sit down and eat? No questions asked? At least they questioned the hotel clerk. And of course got no answers.
This show will probably be a JJ Abrams style dribble-out-the-answers-as-slowly-as-possible exercise in frustration.
#25
Re: Persons Unknown -- New 13 week Miniseries -- "Pilot" -- 06/07/10
I caught the last 1/2 hour of the show - but it immediately sucked me in.. I too liked the Twilight zone / SAW vibe...
I got the impression of one of those Stephen King movies (which I have enjoyed in the past)
to mini series. We don't need another Lost, or a show that gets canceled after 10 episodes.
I got the impression of one of those Stephen King movies (which I have enjoyed in the past)
to mini series. We don't need another Lost, or a show that gets canceled after 10 episodes.