A heavily fictionalized and dramatized series about living and working in Los Alamos during the initial development of an atomic weapon.
The strong points: 1) Portraying the oppressive nature of operating under barebones conditions, with security and surveillance pervading every aspect of life and where military rigidity rules the roost. 2)Displaying that even the brightest and most talented scientists can succumb to the human flaws of envy and greed. 3) Demonstrating that political expediency and bureaucratic territoriality cannot be easily excised from even the most crucial government activities.
The weak points: 1) Though the scientific dilemmas are referred to, they are very poorly explained. Unless you have a special interest in the history of nuclear weapons development you'd have no clue as to what the primary conflict is all about. In fact, it would be hard to recognize that they're working on a nuclear military weapon. 2) Poor character development. It is hard to discern just what is driving anyone. Everyone is angry and nobody is likable. If you don't provide a little fleshing out all you see is bitter braniacs and bullying brass.
Overall, it's a good effort that tries hard and can keep a limited audience interested, but as others have pointed out, it looks very much like a 20 year old daytime drama you're watching for the first time. (As an aside, I loved seeing Richard Schiff again. He's basically playing the cold, mumbly, prickly Toby Zeigler persona but he does it so well you just have to smile.)
The strong points: 1) Portraying the oppressive nature of operating under barebones conditions, with security and surveillance pervading every aspect of life and where military rigidity rules the roost. 2)Displaying that even the brightest and most talented scientists can succumb to the human flaws of envy and greed. 3) Demonstrating that political expediency and bureaucratic territoriality cannot be easily excised from even the most crucial government activities.
The weak points: 1) Though the scientific dilemmas are referred to, they are very poorly explained. Unless you have a special interest in the history of nuclear weapons development you'd have no clue as to what the primary conflict is all about. In fact, it would be hard to recognize that they're working on a nuclear military weapon. 2) Poor character development. It is hard to discern just what is driving anyone. Everyone is angry and nobody is likable. If you don't provide a little fleshing out all you see is bitter braniacs and bullying brass.
Overall, it's a good effort that tries hard and can keep a limited audience interested, but as others have pointed out, it looks very much like a 20 year old daytime drama you're watching for the first time. (As an aside, I loved seeing Richard Schiff again. He's basically playing the cold, mumbly, prickly Toby Zeigler persona but he does it so well you just have to smile.)