Under The Dome • Non-Gaming • TV • Eurogamer.net

neilka 21 Jan 2013 11:36:18 24,025 posts
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The series based on Stephen King's novel of the same name starts 24th June on CBS.

The first character cast is Colin Ford as Joe McClatchey

Edited by neilka at 10:16:06 24-06-2013

sport 21 Jan 2013 11:39:24 17,064 posts
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Cool, really liked the book. Wonder if they'll stick to it.

Scimarad 21 Jan 2013 11:39:31 9,965 posts
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I enjoyed that book but I am really struggling to remember any of the characters.

chopsen 21 Jan 2013 11:40:00 21,958 posts
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Reading the book at them moment. It's really rather good.

Blerk Moderator 21 Jan 2013 11:40:36 48,222 posts
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Book was cool for the most part, but the ending was rubbish. So I hope they change that.

sport 21 Jan 2013 11:45:03 17,064 posts
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Blerk wrote:
Book was cool for the most part, but the ending was rubbish. So I hope they change that.

Yeah, don't want to give anything away, but I suspect I'll just enjoy the "journey" so to speak. Bit like Lost really.

neilka 21 Jan 2013 11:46:42 24,025 posts
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Apparently the ending will be different to allow for more seasons:

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/11/29/under-the-dome-cbs/

Last we heard, writer Brian K. Vaughan’s (Lost) script for Dome was wisely using the novel’s setup as a launch pad for its own TV-format-friendly version of the story and might even lay the groundwork for a different outcome than the novel’s ending. Also, the CBS version is definitely a series, not a mini-series, with a finale episode that will leave the story open for more seasons.

jellyhead 21 Jan 2013 11:48:35 24,356 posts
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@Blerk Has Steven King EVER written a good ending?
I can't remember a Steven King book that made me think he knew how to end the story properly. IT for example. Dafuq?

Great writer but finales are not his strong point.

jellyhead 21 Jan 2013 11:49:25 24,356 posts
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@neilka Or they realised it's better to leave Mr King's stories open ended due to my previous point

Scimarad 21 Jan 2013 11:59:10 9,965 posts
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I thought the endings for 11.22.63 and From a Buick 8 were decent, among others.

Tricky 21 Jan 2013 12:13:38 5,088 posts
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I liked the ending to The Dark Tower series. Insomnia was good too.

Otherwise, no, endings aren't his strong suit.

MetalDog 21 Jan 2013 12:13:52 24,076 posts
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He can write good endings, but they're definitely not his strong point. It's all about the journey with Mr. King.

This could be good. Better than trying to cram it all into a movie, I reckon, a lot of his stuff has suffered /horribly/ for being cut to movie length.

jellyhead 21 Jan 2013 12:14:38 24,356 posts
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I'll have to start reading his recent books then.
I burnt out on King a good few years ago but i'll have a look at those two when i'm in town for lunch. Cheers.

Scimarad 21 Jan 2013 12:21:37 9,965 posts
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It's a shame that his best movie adaptations are stuff like Stand by Me and Shawshank that I suspect a lot of people don't even realise are King. I wonder if the narration helps considering the best thing about his books are that they feel like he's telling you a story.

jellyhead 21 Jan 2013 12:25:10 24,356 posts
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Don't forget Cujo. Both the book and the film messed me up.

Scimarad 21 Jan 2013 12:27:00 9,965 posts
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I always thought The Dead Zone was pretty decent.

CharlieStCloud 21 Jan 2013 12:28:01 5,812 posts
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I thought 'Under the Dome' was an absolute pile of poo!

That's 900 pages I shall never get back ...

... : (

Deleted user 21 January 2013 12:36:05

Never read it actually. Just tentatively started Duma Key, first one of his newer books I've attempted after giving up on the appalling Lisey's Story a few years back. I love his early stuff but also the mid nineties which gave us desperation, rose madder, insomnia and bag of bones, all of which I enjoyed.

My old man rated under the dome quite highly so it's definitely on my list. I wonder if they'll do the book justice as king works seem very difficult to put on screen for some reason.

Blerk Moderator 21 Jan 2013 12:39:51 48,222 posts
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I think his stuff's too slow-burn for telly or movies for the most part. When you try to cram it all into just a few hours you lose too much, but if you spread it out over 12+ episodes you run the risk of each individual episode not being 'exciting' enough for the average viewer, and they don't break up nicely into episode-sized packages. Plus the whole "TV execs don't like shows with running stories" thing.

nickthegun 21 Jan 2013 12:54:42 87,711 posts
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CharlieStCloud wrote:
I thought 'Under the Dome' was an absolute pile of poo!

That's 900 pages I shall never get back ...

... : (

Did you read it in an independent bookshop?

MetalDog 21 Jan 2013 13:12:11 24,076 posts
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@Blerk
So much of his stories rely on slowly getting to know the people involved. Needful Things was probably the best/worst for this - the movie is fucking terrible, but the story itself is probably the best showcase of his his ear for dialogue and drawing believable characters in crazy situations. I would love to see this mini-series properly.

CharlieStCloud 21 Jan 2013 13:12:46 5,812 posts
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nickthegun wrote:
Did you read it in an independent bookshop?

Nope, cheeky sod!

On the beach in St Lucia, actually ...

... : )

Deleted user 21 January 2013 13:14:44

Blerk wrote:
Book was cool for the most part, but the ending was rubbish.

You should save this post for any future discussion about any Steven King book.

Deleted user 21 January 2013 13:15:32

Oh, we already did that.

Blakester 21 Jan 2013 13:56:36 5,234 posts
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I remember reading Under The Dome and thinking it was perfect mini-series material, so very happy to hear this.

Some great characters in there and one or two exciting set-pieces. I think the only duff part is the obligatory supernatural element which could well see it veer into Lost territory.

sport 21 Jan 2013 14:02:13 17,064 posts
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Blakester wrote:
I remember reading Under The Dome and thinking it was perfect mini-series material, so very happy to hear this.

Some great characters in there and one or two exciting set-pieces. I think the only duff part is the obligatory supernatural element which could well see it veer into Lost territory.

Wasn't it more an extra-terrestrial element? Can't remember the finer details.

Scimarad 21 Jan 2013 14:04:04 9,965 posts
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Well, it's hard to see how a huge invisible dome that is invulnerable to all weapons could have a conventional explanation, though I wouldn't really call aliens 'supernatural'. The idea was fine, it was just handled in clumsy way. People just seem to get all weird as soon as someone mentions the 'a' word.

Deleted user 21 January 2013 16:17:45

Scimarad wrote:
I thought the endings for 11.22.63 and From a Buick 8 were decent, among others.

The ending for 11.22.63 was written by his son. As for UTD, I didn't think the ending was -terrible-, mostly because it's well signposted from about a third of the way through the book rather than just happening because it needs to end.

Anyway, I really enjoyed UTD. Though I don't like the idea of this being "TV friendly", especially as this is going on network, rather than cable. I fear a lot of it may be heavily neutered.

nickthegun 21 Jan 2013 16:45:36 87,711 posts
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The problem they have is; do they make it faithful with a finite length or do they change enough that it could potentially be produced forever?

Obviously, the sensible thing is to do the former but the latter gives them the opportunity to have it run for years and years.

Although it will be interesting to see what they do with it, if only for a break from the two/three part mini series.

jellyhead 21 Jan 2013 16:50:50 24,356 posts
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I'd hope that they would plan a two or three season run kind of thing. I lose interest in most American series because they drag them on and on and on due to franchising.

I think it's been great when we've had US/UK collaborations because we get the American shows without the padding episodes.