And that is the fall-back of this show. All goes relatively well till episode 11, but the last two are just disastrously badly written. They obviously had to cut the story short, so short that some dialogues and events literally drop down from nowhere without introduction. Also irritating advertisement of last two episodes answering all the questions is complete b. Perhaps they were hoping for the second season? There was a nice start but in the end the whole thing went way too complicated. Sometimes less is more.
This story could have worked as a mini series if they had made a proper ending. The show has been compared to Lost, but somehow the atmosphere reminded more of that in the Lost Room or even the 4400. The setting is quite traditional following human behaviour in isolated and confined environment; in this case seven strangers wake up to find themselves locked in their hotel rooms in a small town build to look like it is from 50s. They know nothing about how or why they were taken or even by who. But they soon learn through the hard way that there is no way out. They are been watched continuously through surveillance cameras, they eat only at the Chinese restaurant, and they have a "night manager" at the hotel. The town part is more mental rather than physical in nature. The second story line provides more action following two journalists who find out the connection between disappearances and mysterious Organization that seems to see and be everywhere. And of course everything and everyone is somehow connected, and everyone has something dark in their past.
Some characters play well together like Jason Wiles' mysterious Joe Tucker, Alan Ruck's rich tormented Charlie Morse, Sean O'Bryan's used cars salesman Bill Blackham and Lisa Holmes' "how can she know so much of medicine if she is a teacher?" Moira Doherty. Unfortunately the lady lead Janet Cooper played by Daisy Betts is severely one dimensional, and the fact why there is something about Janet that makes everyone falling for her and question their lives doesn't open up for a viewer. This is obviously somehow important as Joe is somehow special, but 13 episodes created more questions than answers.
Overall the whole thing left bad taste to mouth. Without those last two episodes even 8 stars, but with them it goes down to 4-5.
This story could have worked as a mini series if they had made a proper ending. The show has been compared to Lost, but somehow the atmosphere reminded more of that in the Lost Room or even the 4400. The setting is quite traditional following human behaviour in isolated and confined environment; in this case seven strangers wake up to find themselves locked in their hotel rooms in a small town build to look like it is from 50s. They know nothing about how or why they were taken or even by who. But they soon learn through the hard way that there is no way out. They are been watched continuously through surveillance cameras, they eat only at the Chinese restaurant, and they have a "night manager" at the hotel. The town part is more mental rather than physical in nature. The second story line provides more action following two journalists who find out the connection between disappearances and mysterious Organization that seems to see and be everywhere. And of course everything and everyone is somehow connected, and everyone has something dark in their past.
Some characters play well together like Jason Wiles' mysterious Joe Tucker, Alan Ruck's rich tormented Charlie Morse, Sean O'Bryan's used cars salesman Bill Blackham and Lisa Holmes' "how can she know so much of medicine if she is a teacher?" Moira Doherty. Unfortunately the lady lead Janet Cooper played by Daisy Betts is severely one dimensional, and the fact why there is something about Janet that makes everyone falling for her and question their lives doesn't open up for a viewer. This is obviously somehow important as Joe is somehow special, but 13 episodes created more questions than answers.
Overall the whole thing left bad taste to mouth. Without those last two episodes even 8 stars, but with them it goes down to 4-5.