BrainDead

[SmoothLover]

The casting is like six degrees of separation; The Mitzi Newhouse, meets 54 Below meets Smash. Winstead is very likeable and it doesn't take itself too seriously.

[Call_me_jorge]

It's a summer season network show. Unless it's under the dome it doesn't get renewed.

[dramamama611]

I think its pretty  terrific.  It's quirky and witty.  Don't know if anyone's watching, but it's a fun Monday night shiw.

[Mr Roxy]

This is a flat out rip off of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.They have substituted the pea pods for bugs. Putting this in Washington during an election year was genius. Love Shaloub's character. No idea if it will stay or not. Time will tell. Just notice Jan Maxwell in it.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Call_me_jorge said: "It's a summer season network show. Unless it's under the dome it doesn't get renewed.

 

Plenty of summer network (scripted) shows get renewed. Mistresses is currently in its fourth season; The Night Shift is in season three; Wayward Pines and Zoo are beginning their second seasons. 

 

As for BrainDead, I think it's fun, but the tone is a bit all over the place. I LOVED the sung "previously on" section last night. That was awesome. 

 

[ClumsyDude15]

Count me in as a fan of the show. I love the six degrees of separation Broadway edition - especially Megan Hilty and Beth Malone playing two sides of the same coin on different political sides, and the fact that Nikki M. James is once again playing the daughter of Micheal Potts. I think it's fun, quirky, and ridiculous with the charming Mary Elizabeth Winstead at the helm with Aaron Tveit playing a great foil to her. Also, Danny Pino is very easy on the eyes and it's good to see him back on TV after a great stint on Scandal this season. 

[dramamama611]

I agree to the fun of spotting all the b'way peeps.   I think episode two is beginning to get its focus on.

 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

 I do find the ants a bit creepy though....that makes me shudder more than the heads exploding!

 

[SmoothLover]

I think it is getting its footing as well. I suspect that the actors and director are working to find a unified style. Right now if is somewhere between LA Law and Veep.. I think they should let Winstead ground the show and then have everyone else truthfully push their acting styles to zaniness and let her character react. I hope they give Maxwell more to do because she has very good comedic skills.  

[Jordan Catalano]

UNDER THE DOME was cancelled last year.  Another of my summer series I watch that's coming back in a few weeks is ZOO. I really really enjoyed that last year and I'm excited for what they'll do with it next. 

As for BRAINDEAD, I'm enjoying it so far! I didn't know what to expect when it first started so I was really surprised what it turned out to be.

[SmoothLover]

I think Tveit is very good at playing characters with a bit of a veneer. It's kind of a hard thing to pull off. I think if he tapped into it further the audience would be even more intrigued by what they do not know. I appreciate the fact that he is not giving away the farm where a few of the actors seem like they are trying too hard. I thought the young black actor who discovered the bugs in the brain was spot on.

[John Adams]

I'm loving this show. The jump scares and creepiness of the bugs are a lot of fun. I definitely see the comparison to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, as mentioned, but I also see V and Idiocracy.

In terms of tone, I don't feel like the show has taken full advantage of its opportunities for political satire and  commentary yet. Now that the basic exposition is taken care of, I'm curious regarding just how far the show will go regarding those aspects.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The setup regarding how the bugs' takeover of the brains effects each of the various characters is really interesting. At first, I thought all of the characters were going to end up docile and happy, but that's proving not to be so.

I hope the plan is to limit the show's run to just until the new Fall TV season begins, and coincidentally(?), the Presidential elections. I think there's something to be said for the way the Brits create a series with a defined end date in mind, rather than the American way of milking a show season, after season, after season. I think  it's inevitable that...

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

...either the bugs will eventually reach their goal of invading the entire population (a la Body Snatchers), or the central conflict will need to shift focus to bugs vs humans - and how might that dilute the Democrat vs Republican conflict that's currently being set up?

If the show only runs until the elections, it could pack a more concentrated punch by sticking to a refined focus. I'm also curious and excited to see how the characters might further develop to become the representational voices of the Press, the Pundits, the one-per-centers, etc...

[dramamama611]

Loving this more with each episode.

 

The cat!

[SmoothLover]

The bugs in Maxwell's ears have given her character a lift. I like Winstead more and more,

[dramamama611]

YES!  I said that very thing about Winstead last night to my son.

[John Adams]

SmoothLover said: "The bugs in Maxwell's ears have given her character a lift."

Gustav gave an explanation for that in last night's episode. I don't remember word for word, but it was something along the lines of:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

...when the bugs remove part of the brain there is memory loss, but also character traits become more intense.

I love the Gustav character.

I'm also enjoying connecting the dots to the news personnel. Rachel Maddow seems obvious, and I'm not sure who Megan Hilty represents (I don't watch news that has any blond anchorwomen, so I'm assuming it's someone on FOX). I also believe I saw Jon Stewart last night...?

[Petralicious]

This is the best new show on TV!  Very funny, and maybe a little too true to life with the politics on both sides being so unlikeable.  As much as I loved the GW, the comedy on that show to me was really annoying and irritating with the overdoing of character quirks

I never knew Winstead until she was in The Returned which I liked very much and I think is coming back. But she is very charming in this. She also was great in 10 Cloverfield Lane. Cannot wait to see how she got the Lady Senators to change their minds on her brother!

[Jordan Catalano]

Hilary is the "Megyn Kelly" to Malone's "Maddow". 

 

I also love love how this is set in modern reality, during the Clinton/Trump race. 

[Petralicious]

Jordan Catalano said: "Hilary is the "Megyn Kelly" to Malone's "Maddow". 

 

I also love love how this is set in modern reality, during the Clinton/Trump race. 

 

" ha, yes. I do love how they show both Hilty and Malone reporting on the same exact story but with a completely different  viewpoint.  so true!

 

[Mr Roxy]

It is a bummer it will not be returning for 2 weeks due to July 4 th weekend. It will be interesting how it plays out and if we see it again in the fall .

[LizzieCurry]

This show is so fun, and Gustav's my favorite.

Can't wait to see how his cat starts behaving!

[John Adams]

Mr Roxy said: "It is a bummer it will not be returning for 2 weeks due to July 4 th weekend."

That's also the week Mr. Robot returns for Season 2.... SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!

 

[John Adams]

LizzieCurry said: "Can't wait to see how his cat starts behaving!"

I can't wait to see more of the ingenious ways he comes up with to keep the bugs out of his ears! The red SOLO cups were hysterical --- and yet so effective!

 

[John Adams]

Jordan Catalano said: "[Hilty] is the "Megyn Kelly" to Malone's "Maddow"."

Forgot to say, 'Thank you' for this info. Thanks!