The first episode of Netflix' new "Between" web series (2015) reminds me a hell of a lot of "Jericho" (2006). It takes a frightening science fiction premise and then generally fails to execute anything terribly scary or thrilling. "Jericho" told the story of a small town surviving a mysterious nuclear holocaust — it looked to be a serialized "The Day After" (1983), but ultimately became a chipper, too-safe family drama that almost seemed to channel "The Waltons" (1971).
The premiere of "Between" introduces us to the small town of Pretty Lake, where a mysterious illness is killing anyone over the age of 22
which is kind of convenient for the young-adult target audience that this show is going for. The show sounded like an update of "The Andromeda Strain" film adaptation in 1971. But after we see the town quarantined, it seems to borrow a page or two from the television treatment of Stephen King's "Under The Dome" (2013). (I disliked that book, and have heard some pretty mixed things about the TV show.)
"Between" has a few things going for it, like well-scripted characters and capable young actors. But it has problems with pacing and tension. There's a nice flourish here and there, including the shot you see below. But for a TV show about a potentially world-ending plague, it fails to scare. I'd give this first episode a 6 out of 10.
What's the deal with naming the town "Pretty Lake," anyway? Is it intentionally generic for thematic reasons, or just lazy screen writing? Are neighboring towns "Big Mountain" and "Long River?"
