Based on the first two episodes and the preview, this series is off to a good start. But it's worth seeing more about the characters than the story.
Ten years ago a story about alternate universes might have been novel for the general public, but now it's old hat. As a result, it does take too long to set up the basic premise. We get it. There are actually several theories in physics as to how alternate or multiple universes could exist, so the particulars while plausible aren't all that important. What it does do is set the ground rules for switching between universes.
What does matter is that the two leads are smart actors playing smart people. They don't do dumb things. I have always been impressed with the roles Ms. Connelly has chosen throughout her career. While some of her projects have misfired, she always plays complex characters. Mr. Edgerton has one of those "I've seen him somewhere before" faces, but he carries off the lead character, even the science part.
It's clear that the author and scriptwriter Blake Crouch is equating alternate universes with roads not taken in life. We see it in lots of ways throughout both episodes. This provides the drama to what otherwise could be a rather dry subject. It's the real reason to keep watching.
What we are left after the first two episodes is more of a promise. From the preview at the end of episode 2, it looks like the pace is about to pick up. I never read the book, but hopefully Blake Crouch will have some new twists in store for the alternate universe meme. From a brief scene at the beginning of episode 1, there's even a suggestion of how it will end. Maybe you can always go home again, as long as you accept the fact that it might not be quite the same.
Ten years ago a story about alternate universes might have been novel for the general public, but now it's old hat. As a result, it does take too long to set up the basic premise. We get it. There are actually several theories in physics as to how alternate or multiple universes could exist, so the particulars while plausible aren't all that important. What it does do is set the ground rules for switching between universes.
What does matter is that the two leads are smart actors playing smart people. They don't do dumb things. I have always been impressed with the roles Ms. Connelly has chosen throughout her career. While some of her projects have misfired, she always plays complex characters. Mr. Edgerton has one of those "I've seen him somewhere before" faces, but he carries off the lead character, even the science part.
It's clear that the author and scriptwriter Blake Crouch is equating alternate universes with roads not taken in life. We see it in lots of ways throughout both episodes. This provides the drama to what otherwise could be a rather dry subject. It's the real reason to keep watching.
What we are left after the first two episodes is more of a promise. From the preview at the end of episode 2, it looks like the pace is about to pick up. I never read the book, but hopefully Blake Crouch will have some new twists in store for the alternate universe meme. From a brief scene at the beginning of episode 1, there's even a suggestion of how it will end. Maybe you can always go home again, as long as you accept the fact that it might not be quite the same.