What stood out most to me about this pilot, beyond sharing Ben’s feeling that it feels like it’s missing a second part, is that it’s jarring to watch a pilot where the plane crash is so anti-climactic. Some of this is probably wanting to avoid directly aping Lost, but it’s so strange to get the plane crash as an afterthought, discussed throughout, and then shown in a very low-budget, low impact way. Instead, we get the ritual storyline, which is creepy and unnerving, but doesn’t have the same adrenaline rush pilots often privilege.
For me, watching this knowing that there was anxiety about the show’s sustainability, it’s a sign that they are committing to living more in that space than in high thrills, which is a safer path forward but also one that requires careful planning. And while I share anxiety about a show not achieving its long term plan in this climate, I will say that it at least shows they know what kind of show they’re making, which is more important to me than meticulous planning when it comes to being able to call audibles as necessary.
Totally agree that this felt like the first half of a more conventional 'two-episode event' type pilot. Based on interviews it does seem like they produced and shot the second episode after pickup (a year and a half later because of covid), but it still feels like episode one and two are meant to be watched together. This is further enforced (minor non-plot related spoiler) by the fact that opening credits don't show up until episode three. The credits contain footage from the entire season (which feels like a fun throwback to the types of opening credit sequences you'd see in the 90s), so this might have been production related as they had just wrapped the season when the show premiered, but it could be because the creators intend for viewers to watch the first two episodes together, then get into a more episodic rythm. Almost a cold open for the entire series.
I'm excited to revisit the first season through this recaps in preparation for the second season! I'm curious if there are any newbies in these comments, and I'll certainly enjoy hearing some fresh reactions.
Jan 10, 2023·edited Jan 11, 2023Liked by Ben Rosenstock
I think I spoke about this elsewhere, but I loved this Pilot, and rode that excited high for a couple more episodes - and then read somewhere there are six planned seasons of this show!
Now I fret: when will we get to see that opening scene in the woods within our core timeline? Some time in the 2030s? Shows get cancelled, networks get gutted... I have this low-level anxiety we’ll get narratively blue-soccer-balled and never see these chummy teens transform into fur-adorned cannibals
Ah, so have you only watched the first few, then? I recall having the same annoyance when I found out there was a five-season plan, and it is still difficult for me to imagine 5+ seasons of this. But without spoiling, I do think the last couple episodes of S1 reassured me a little w/r/t the show's long-term sustainability.
I did finish the season and certainly enjoyed it, although there were a few uneven episodes in the middle there. But alarm bells were set off when the question of, “How does these girls’ behaviour end up so altered?” is possibly, “behaviour-altering drugs”. It felt a bit too much of a shortcut…
That's fair, and I'll be curious to see what I think of that on a closer watch this time. I think I give them the benefit of the doubt a bit BECAUSE there's so much time left before the flashforward - I kind of assume that the opening cannibalism scene won't happen until the following winter (rather than the winter beginning at the end of S1), and a lot could happen in that time to loosen everyone's sense of morality. For me the real question is whether we'll get to that moment in S2, 3, 4, or 5, and whether we'll see other instances of cannibalism before we get to that specific one.
Woohoo, looking forward to revisiting this! I'm also enjoying Buffering's miniseries podcast on this (Doomcoming), so I feel like I don't even need a rewatch ahead of S2. The pilot realllly had me hooked. Though (SPOILER ALERT) I'm not sure if the full season lives up to the pilot (or even first few episodes) - might need another season to decide.
What stood out most to me about this pilot, beyond sharing Ben’s feeling that it feels like it’s missing a second part, is that it’s jarring to watch a pilot where the plane crash is so anti-climactic. Some of this is probably wanting to avoid directly aping Lost, but it’s so strange to get the plane crash as an afterthought, discussed throughout, and then shown in a very low-budget, low impact way. Instead, we get the ritual storyline, which is creepy and unnerving, but doesn’t have the same adrenaline rush pilots often privilege.
For me, watching this knowing that there was anxiety about the show’s sustainability, it’s a sign that they are committing to living more in that space than in high thrills, which is a safer path forward but also one that requires careful planning. And while I share anxiety about a show not achieving its long term plan in this climate, I will say that it at least shows they know what kind of show they’re making, which is more important to me than meticulous planning when it comes to being able to call audibles as necessary.
Totally agree that this felt like the first half of a more conventional 'two-episode event' type pilot. Based on interviews it does seem like they produced and shot the second episode after pickup (a year and a half later because of covid), but it still feels like episode one and two are meant to be watched together. This is further enforced (minor non-plot related spoiler) by the fact that opening credits don't show up until episode three. The credits contain footage from the entire season (which feels like a fun throwback to the types of opening credit sequences you'd see in the 90s), so this might have been production related as they had just wrapped the season when the show premiered, but it could be because the creators intend for viewers to watch the first two episodes together, then get into a more episodic rythm. Almost a cold open for the entire series.
I'm excited to revisit the first season through this recaps in preparation for the second season! I'm curious if there are any newbies in these comments, and I'll certainly enjoy hearing some fresh reactions.
I'm a month behind, but this is my first time viewing the show. I'm going to try to catch up with the comments as I watch.
I think I spoke about this elsewhere, but I loved this Pilot, and rode that excited high for a couple more episodes - and then read somewhere there are six planned seasons of this show!
Now I fret: when will we get to see that opening scene in the woods within our core timeline? Some time in the 2030s? Shows get cancelled, networks get gutted... I have this low-level anxiety we’ll get narratively blue-soccer-balled and never see these chummy teens transform into fur-adorned cannibals
Ah, so have you only watched the first few, then? I recall having the same annoyance when I found out there was a five-season plan, and it is still difficult for me to imagine 5+ seasons of this. But without spoiling, I do think the last couple episodes of S1 reassured me a little w/r/t the show's long-term sustainability.
*SPOILERS SPOILERS MASSIVE SPOILERS*
I did finish the season and certainly enjoyed it, although there were a few uneven episodes in the middle there. But alarm bells were set off when the question of, “How does these girls’ behaviour end up so altered?” is possibly, “behaviour-altering drugs”. It felt a bit too much of a shortcut…
*continued spoilers*
That's fair, and I'll be curious to see what I think of that on a closer watch this time. I think I give them the benefit of the doubt a bit BECAUSE there's so much time left before the flashforward - I kind of assume that the opening cannibalism scene won't happen until the following winter (rather than the winter beginning at the end of S1), and a lot could happen in that time to loosen everyone's sense of morality. For me the real question is whether we'll get to that moment in S2, 3, 4, or 5, and whether we'll see other instances of cannibalism before we get to that specific one.
*more spoilers*
Yes, for sure. I’ll give it the BoD too - especially as that sequence isn’t the true tragedy of the finale.
Also - thanks Ben, great write-up and good to think about this show again before S2.
Woohoo, looking forward to revisiting this! I'm also enjoying Buffering's miniseries podcast on this (Doomcoming), so I feel like I don't even need a rewatch ahead of S2. The pilot realllly had me hooked. Though (SPOILER ALERT) I'm not sure if the full season lives up to the pilot (or even first few episodes) - might need another season to decide.