Dominion Season 1 Episode 1 Recap: Eight Ball In The Corner Pocket (Season Premiere)

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The first episode of "Dominion" aired on SyFy on Thursday. It's right after "Defiance". I had high hopes for the show but you know what they say about expectations. I watched the pilot twice (just to make sure I wasnt in a "mood" the first time around). Nope, not in a mood. In the show's defense, it does have a lot of back story to unload in the first episode. And it was 90 minutes long (which I think is too long for a premiere).

"Dominion" is based upon the 2010 movie "Legion". The premise of that was angels attack a truck stop where a pregnant woman is supposed to have the chosen one. "Dominion" takes place twenty five years later. A war between humans and some lower caste angels have destroyed much of the earth. Humans have retreated behind the walls of fortified cities. Vega (ie Las Vegas) is one such city. Vega is defended by the angel Michael (who turned against his brother Gabriel and the band of evil angels). Various families and factions struggle for control of the city while fighting off the angels. There is a strict caste system. There is a soldier (Alex) in love with a princess (Claire). We learn by the end of the show that Alex is indeed the "chosen one". Better be a little more careful then dude and not take risky trips outside the city walls. There's a little orphan girl (Bixby) who needs protection. There's a politician David (played by Anthony Head) who wants control of the city. His son William is in love with Claire. There are the neighboring Helena people. What's up with them? Are they all women? And what's up with the Roman vibe on this show? One family lives at the MGM Plaza and another lives at Ceasar's Plaza. In a post apocalyptic world I will be wearing cammo and not a toga.

There are a few good scenes though (like when the heavy lady angel breaks free and wrecks havoc). Uh did anyone think to maybe put a top on that cage? She is an angel ya know. I also liked the angel canons. Where can I get one of those? Overall though, the dialogue and fight scenes are really hocky. It reminds me of a Lifetime movie but with better special effects. I found the fight scene between Michael and the red clad Warrior Angel to be a real snoozer.

There are a few good actors on the show as well. Anthony Head (Giles from "Buffy") is a baddy politician but he can only do so much with the presented material. Extra points for the gratuitous nudity of the coed shower scene but that's still not enough to save the show. And extra points for the intro sequence which lets us know what happened previously.

Miscellanea:

"Beware of those closest to you."- tattoos that passed from daddy Jeep to son Alex. What does that mean? And what kind of name is Jeep?
8 balls = angels who possess humans. Why do they possess ugly people (not that I'm judging)? How bout some possessed super models? That would be more fun.

Grade: 2 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). I dont have much hope this show will get better. Check it out for yourself on the SyFy website. I'm not sure if they are going to put all episodes up there. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Am I way off base about "Dominion"?