Is Persons Unknown the new Lost?
[HMG] – When their favorite suspense series closed on May 23rd, many of its 12-million addicts felt just like the show — Lost. The networks have all tried to claim a successor, but critics say NBC may just be right.
On Tuesday the folks at the Peacock debuted a mini-series called ‘Persons Unknown’ that is scheduled to last the whole Summer. And, unlike ‘Lost’ the makers of this show swear there will be answers to the upcoming riddles.
The concept is less twisted than Lost: A group of people with no common bond are all kidnapped. In one case a mother out walking with her daughter is rendered unconscious and spirited away — right in front of her child.
Once she recovers she finds herself in a strange hotel room. And the door’s locked. And she’s not alone. Time slowly passes and more victims appear. There’s a man in a suit, another in military attire, and a woman wearing only a bathrobe who was snatched in her sleep.
Then it gets weird.
Outside the hotel our heroes discover a deserted village. There’s a town square, a Chinese restaurant and lots of quaint shops. There is even a Sheriff’s office — filled with phones that don’t work.
And if they try to leave they are each rendered unconscious.
Anyone able to comprehend the pretzel-like intrigue of that 1960′s British classic, ‘The Prisoner’ will love this.
But the question remains, is it ‘Lost’?
Most reviewers would seem to vote ‘no.’ The writing and characters both have far less depth. Although the premiere does a laudable job at creating the framework on which the rest will be based.
But this is Summer – That annual snooze-fest of reality and re-runs where networks bury their failures, hoping people might watch.
‘Persons Unknown,’ however has the potential to shine — despite being surrounded by unfettered dross.
It has the creative potency to be among the best, most engaging shows NBC ever made. The debut was worthy, and if the people responsible for putting ‘Speidi’ on prime time can follow that through, this is one not to miss…
No way the Pilot was near as good as the Lost pilot. However, if the show continues to give mysteries and refrains from spoon feeding us answers, I think it will have to suffice.
At least until LOST the movie.
i have to say that lost was way to hard to follow and i’m happy with the results of this show i just hope it can keep the suspense and not repeat itself like most shows falling flat