New DOMINION

Article first published as DOMINION Review on Seat42F.

DOMINION — Pictured: (l-r) Christopher Egan as Alex Lannen, Alan Dale as Rysen, Anthony Stewart Head, Roxanne McKee as Claire Rysen — (Photo by: Ilze Kitshoff/Syfy)

SyFy’s latest series, paired with Defiance, is DOMINION. A sequel to the 2010 film Legion, though not having seen the film, I can say the show seems accessible without it, this is the story of a world overrun by angels. It’s been 25 years since Michael (Tom Wisdom, 300) stood by humanity against his brethren. Now, he lives in the most secure city in what was once known as the United States, Vega (nee Las Vegas), watching over an unstable peace that is on the verge of collapse.

DOMINION is a dystopian future for mankind, a genre that is all the rage, but injects religion into its origin, too, asking viewers to accept the God and his winged followers are not only real, but once again involved in the happenings on Earth, Old Testament-style. There’s a vibrancy not unlike the Greek gods in how Michael, Gabriel, and the others are presented, and the city of Vega feels like the Roman Empire at its height, albeit with some modern technology. Basically, it’s a mish-mash of many things, repackaged in a way that works pretty well.

Michael himself comes across as alien. His demeanor is otherworldly, his actions not exactly matching those humans around him. They regard him as someone to be respected, but he doesn’t rule over them, making for an interesting dynamic. It’s hard to tell exactly what Michael’s motivations are, other than serving the larger goal of protecting the men and women around him. With such an obtuse character one of those central to DOMINION, it should making for an interesting chemistry.

Those familiar with the movie should remember Jeep (Langley Kirkwood, Invictus). Roaming the countryside for the past fifteen years, struggling to understand the tattoos covering his body, Jeep brings in greater mystery to the proceedings. His son, the chosen one, is hidden away, though viewers will probably be able to see the obvious reveal coming from a mile away. What they may not see ahead of time is where the plot will go from this starting point.

The enemies of Vega are an army of angels led by Gabriel who want to upset the balance of power and finish what they started, wiping out all humans. With one particular warrior that looks too much like Iron Man, Gabriel is stationed quite close to the city, setting the stage for numerous battles, though making a long, drawn-out war seem unlikely.

 

The danger to Vega may be more from within, though. One of the ruling family’s patriarchs, David Weel (Anthony Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), has his own ideas about how the government should change, wanting to solidify power into a dictatorship. His rival is General Rysen (Alan Dale, Lost), the current man in charge, who favors democracy and the erosion of the strict caste system that current exists. These two represent the opposite sides of a coin, and while it’s clear from the onset that Weel is the slimy one and Rysen is noble, if things get too bad, Weel could end up being the leader Vega needs.

As well-developed as Weel and Rysen are their children. Weel’s son, William (Luke Allen-Gale, Monroe), doesn’t necessarily fall in line with his dad, having his own belief system, which includes a faith in the chosen one, something his elder scoffs at. Claire Rysen (Roxanne McKee, Game of Thrones) does respect her father, but doesn’t feel understood by him. These are not just two copies of their parents, and the interactions of the four together make for a tenuous blend of alliances and blood ties, one that seems to be interesting and fresh, rather than stock and stale.

Rounding out the cast are: Alex (Christopher Egan, Kings), a soldier that Claire loves; Arika (Shivani Ghai, EastEnders), a representative from another city; and Becca (Rosalind Halstead, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason), Michael’s human ‘companion’ and member of the ruling council. Plus, there’s an adorable impoverished orphan.

The pilot gets a few things wrong, such as telegraphing a couple big plays and making a bad guy or two a bit over-the-top. But it also gets a lot right. There’s a great mix of complex personalities, a visually impressive setting, a new take on a bleak future, and plenty of intriguing unknowns to engage the audience. I find it quite entertaining, and am definitely tuning in to see how the first season unfolds, as the trajectory isn’t quite made known in the initial hour-plus.

DOMINION airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on SyFy.

Monroe Series 1 on DVD tomorrow

Already missing FOX's House? Well, then I have the series for you! Monroe, a British show about a genius, flawed, ego-driven neurosurgeon who goes by the same name as the series, comes to DVD in the United States tomorrow. Six episodes long, a second series has already been commissioned.

Monroe (James Nesbitt, Murphy's Law, Cold Feet) is a complex character. He is described by ITV as "a brilliant and unusual neurosurgeon – a flawed genius who never lets anyone forget his flaws or his genius." It's an accurate description. The man who works on brains is awfully proud of his own, but that doesn't mean that he completely understands it. He clashes with others constantly, not one to abide by the rules everyone else must follow, and has a very hard time being a good father and husband. Surely, someone as smart as Monroe realizes personal relationships are just as important as the work that he does.

Nesbitt brings a fantastic, nuanced talent to the part. In the title role, he really captures what it is that makes the lead character tick, even if it isn't always obvious to himself. A show like Monroe needs a strong actor to head it, and this one has such a man in spades. If nothing else, watch Monroe for the great performance given by Nesbitt.

Humorous and dramatic, with a fair amount of warmth as well, Monroe ventures deeper into the personal lives of those involved than most medical shows. It's clear that a career in such a demanding, competitive field would have an effect at home, as well as at work. Now, we get to see those consequences.

Susan Lynch (From Hell, Bodies) plays Monroe's wife, Anna, while Perry Millward (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) is son Nick. These two really help give a more rounded view of the doctor, showcasing what life is like for his loved ones. Unlike House, whom Monroe will be endlessly compared to, Monroe isn't a loner, exactly. He has a family. Just what kind of family man will someone like this be? Not a good one, of course, but you'll have to watch the DVD to find out the specifics!

Monroe is also surrounded by a slew of others at the hospital, too, played by some very talented actors. Of particular note is Dr. Jenny Bremner (Sarah Parish, Hatfields & McCoys, Mistresses), a heart surgeon that is a frequent subject of discord with Monroe. Not that Bremner has it all together, either. Dr. Daniel Springer (Luke Allen-Gale, The Promise) is a wonderful source of laughs, especially when battling theater nurses or losing patients, literally. Tom Riley (I Want Candy, Lost in Austen), Manjinder Virk (The Arbor), Christina Chong (Johnny English Reborn), Thomas Morrison (Brideshead Revisited), Michelle Asante (London Boulevard), and Liz Hume Dawson (4 O'Clock Club) fill out the cast, each appearing in all six episodes.

Of course, with any doctor, there are going to be patients. It won't be hard to guess that Monroe isn't exactly an easy communicator with the people who need his help. Each episode brings various guest stars across his path, with differing results. Monroe isn't heartless, but he isn't in tune with feelings, either. So the result is a complex interaction, which makes for better entertainment, and feels more realistic. The lead character is not a stereotype, but rather, a great character study of a specific type of man.

Monroe Series 1 is presented on two discs, in 16:9 widescreen ratio, with stereo sound. Considering that the show aired just last year, it's a shame that there isn't more done to pump up the visual and auditory aspects of the series. Is this the way it aired in Britain? If so, it's regrettable. There are also no bonus features, which is a real shame. It's lucky that the episodes are good and not readily available any other way in the States, because that is all the DVD has to go on. Perhaps this isn't unusual for our friends across the pond, but for an American buyer, this release feels stripped down and empty.

Still, as I said, the show is good, so check it out. Monroe Series 1 goes on sale tomorrow from Acorn Media.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published as Monroe Series 1 on DVD tomorrow on TheTVKing.com.