Post by Ice Cream Planet on Jul 21, 2014 12:59:01 GMT -5
'Out? Who said I was out?': Episode 2 Recap
He's back.
After the second series premiere's detour into the past and the mythology of Milner, Carvel, and The Network, Episode Two snaps us right back into the present. A number of months have passed since the first series finale, and this episode serves both as a 'where are they now?' bit of exposition and the start to a new mystery. So, a quick rundown of where the characters are in the present:
*Ian and Grant (who is believed to be dead by the majority of Britain) are shacking up together; Ian is back doing IT (poor guy).
*Jessica is imprisoned by The Network, and undergoing interrogations to find out what was the adjustment Carvel made to Janus. Her new interrogator, Ross, is opting for a gentler approach. Probably a good idea: a guard said the last person to interrogate her ended up with a screwdriver in his spine.
*Milner is still in charge of The Network. She is also behind the 'V-Day' Initiative.
*Michael Dugdale is working, against his wishes, with Geoff, on the Russian. He has a beautiful house, but Alice and Jen are nowhere to be seen. He has also inherited Conran Letts' posh office.
*Becky is still struggling with Deel's and is saved from suicide by Donaldson, who offers her a years supply of medication provided she find out where a rival scientist got information to write a book all about the disease.
*Wilson Wilson has survived being stabbed by Jessica, and is now working with The Network. He also has a sharp new wardrobe, complete with a leather eye patch.
*Speaking of survivors, Lee, one of the two hit men from the first series opener, survived being shot by Wilson. However, he now has a bad lung and a paralyzed arm.
*Pietre found work as a plumber, has a beard, and is comfortably settled into domestic life. However, a visit from Lee reminds him The Network wants him back.
Apologies if that was a rather artless rundown; I wanted to be succinct.
Watching this episode of Utopia, I was struck by how its scope has simultaneously become grander and more intimate. The premiere episode illustrated the far international reach of The Network, which will almost certainly play into future episodes. However, this episode felt more personal and intimate. Instead of immediately launching into a million new storylines, Kelly slows down and allows us to peek more into the inner lives of the characters. Take, for instance, Jessica's sessions with Ross. The scene where she cries, saying she would have been a shit mum, packed an emotional wallop. That said, it was all about characterization, not so much plot. Kelly has stated in interviews he wanted to explore the depth of the characters and get more philosophical in series 2. A bold move, and one that I personally think is a smart choice. Take a show like Scandal; after so much plot, so many turns, so many 'shocking' developments that they ceased to be shocking, the whole affair felt both boring and ridiculous. The characters had more or less become exposition vessels.
In comparison, by slowing down, Utopia feels like it is gearing up for something even more exciting. Pietre saved Donaldson and the gang from Milner's SWAT team, and this new allegiance is certain to attract the wrath of Milner and the Network. I, speaking only for myself, cannot wait to see where they go.
Grade: A
Miscellaneous Thoughts:
*I loved how Jessica's cell had bright yellow bars; even when imprisoned, The Networks knows a little color goes a long way!
*Speaking of yellow, is green officially replacing it? Lee's green bag when he went to meet Milner, Dugdale's house has a greenish tint to the lighting, and the green title card, etc.
*After the boxy cinematography of the premiere, the wide screen, candy-colored glory of Marc Munden's direction felt even more wondrous.
*Cristobal Tapia de Veer's score remains the best one I've heard on television this year.
*Rewatching the episode, I just realized Becky, Grant, Dugdale, and Ian still don't know that Milner is Mr. Rabbit. I suspect a rude awakening is in their imminent future.
*I'm actually quite happy Lee survived. I think Paul Ready is an excellent actor (his wink at Wilson was both hilarious and horrifying), and I love how he balances menace with a sort of dapper elegance. Plus, on a purely superficial note, I think he's handsome as fuck (he's also my choice to play Dirk Bogarde should they ever make a biopic about him).
*Donaldson has been recast: Ladies and gentlemen, let's say hello to Michael Maloney!
*Leave it to Jessica to turn the Bible into a weapon.
*Quote of the episode: 'It's a honey pot, show a bit of fucking honey!' Runner up: 'That's not even Goth music!'
He's back.
After the second series premiere's detour into the past and the mythology of Milner, Carvel, and The Network, Episode Two snaps us right back into the present. A number of months have passed since the first series finale, and this episode serves both as a 'where are they now?' bit of exposition and the start to a new mystery. So, a quick rundown of where the characters are in the present:
*Ian and Grant (who is believed to be dead by the majority of Britain) are shacking up together; Ian is back doing IT (poor guy).
*Jessica is imprisoned by The Network, and undergoing interrogations to find out what was the adjustment Carvel made to Janus. Her new interrogator, Ross, is opting for a gentler approach. Probably a good idea: a guard said the last person to interrogate her ended up with a screwdriver in his spine.
*Milner is still in charge of The Network. She is also behind the 'V-Day' Initiative.
*Michael Dugdale is working, against his wishes, with Geoff, on the Russian. He has a beautiful house, but Alice and Jen are nowhere to be seen. He has also inherited Conran Letts' posh office.
*Becky is still struggling with Deel's and is saved from suicide by Donaldson, who offers her a years supply of medication provided she find out where a rival scientist got information to write a book all about the disease.
*Wilson Wilson has survived being stabbed by Jessica, and is now working with The Network. He also has a sharp new wardrobe, complete with a leather eye patch.
*Speaking of survivors, Lee, one of the two hit men from the first series opener, survived being shot by Wilson. However, he now has a bad lung and a paralyzed arm.
*Pietre found work as a plumber, has a beard, and is comfortably settled into domestic life. However, a visit from Lee reminds him The Network wants him back.
Apologies if that was a rather artless rundown; I wanted to be succinct.
Watching this episode of Utopia, I was struck by how its scope has simultaneously become grander and more intimate. The premiere episode illustrated the far international reach of The Network, which will almost certainly play into future episodes. However, this episode felt more personal and intimate. Instead of immediately launching into a million new storylines, Kelly slows down and allows us to peek more into the inner lives of the characters. Take, for instance, Jessica's sessions with Ross. The scene where she cries, saying she would have been a shit mum, packed an emotional wallop. That said, it was all about characterization, not so much plot. Kelly has stated in interviews he wanted to explore the depth of the characters and get more philosophical in series 2. A bold move, and one that I personally think is a smart choice. Take a show like Scandal; after so much plot, so many turns, so many 'shocking' developments that they ceased to be shocking, the whole affair felt both boring and ridiculous. The characters had more or less become exposition vessels.
In comparison, by slowing down, Utopia feels like it is gearing up for something even more exciting. Pietre saved Donaldson and the gang from Milner's SWAT team, and this new allegiance is certain to attract the wrath of Milner and the Network. I, speaking only for myself, cannot wait to see where they go.
Grade: A
Miscellaneous Thoughts:
*I loved how Jessica's cell had bright yellow bars; even when imprisoned, The Networks knows a little color goes a long way!
*Speaking of yellow, is green officially replacing it? Lee's green bag when he went to meet Milner, Dugdale's house has a greenish tint to the lighting, and the green title card, etc.
*After the boxy cinematography of the premiere, the wide screen, candy-colored glory of Marc Munden's direction felt even more wondrous.
*Cristobal Tapia de Veer's score remains the best one I've heard on television this year.
*Rewatching the episode, I just realized Becky, Grant, Dugdale, and Ian still don't know that Milner is Mr. Rabbit. I suspect a rude awakening is in their imminent future.
*I'm actually quite happy Lee survived. I think Paul Ready is an excellent actor (his wink at Wilson was both hilarious and horrifying), and I love how he balances menace with a sort of dapper elegance. Plus, on a purely superficial note, I think he's handsome as fuck (he's also my choice to play Dirk Bogarde should they ever make a biopic about him).
*Donaldson has been recast: Ladies and gentlemen, let's say hello to Michael Maloney!
*Leave it to Jessica to turn the Bible into a weapon.
*Quote of the episode: 'It's a honey pot, show a bit of fucking honey!' Runner up: 'That's not even Goth music!'
