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Season 1 – Under the Dome

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Under the Dome Jun 2013 Drama Sci-Fi Mystery & Thriller Entertainment Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Based on the best-selling Stephen King novel of the same name, "Under the Dome" follows the residents of Chester's Mill, Maine, as they find their small town suddenly cut off from the rest of the world by a transparent dome. While some people start to panic, a small group of citizens -- led by Army veteran Dale Barbara -- tries to maintain some semblance of peace and order, while also attempting to learn the truth about the mysterious barrier, the purpose behind it -- and, most importantly, how to escape it.

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Under the Dome — Season 1

Under the Dome — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Under the Dome is an effective and engrossing horror/mystery with airtight plotting and great special effects.

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Critics Reviews

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Maureen Ryan HuffPost 09/23/2013
Under the Dome turned into a giant mess; to stick with the house metaphor, there was mold in the basement and the plumbing didn't work. Go to Full Review
David Hinckley New York Daily News 06/25/2013
3/5
It's not profound and it may take a while to reach terrifying, but as a campfire story, a fresh batch of characters in a time-tested tale, sure, why not? Go to Full Review
Matt Zoller Seitz New York Magazine/Vulture 06/25/2013
More so than most series, mystery-driven genre shows demand a wait-and-see attitude from viewers, so I'm tamping my enthusiasm accordingly. But this Dome is promising. Go to Full Review
Jace Lacob The Daily Beast 03/29/2019
Under the Dome manages to be a domestic drama, a disaster film, and a horror-filled science-fiction tale rolled into one, with some romance, humor, and pathos thrown in for good measure. Go to Full Review
Michelle Tauber People Magazine 03/29/2019
The pilot establishes an eerie claustrophobic dread, and well-budgeted special effects add intensity. But I do hope the writers don't string out the central question too long. Go to Full Review
Christopher Stevens Daily Mail (UK) 07/20/2018
3/5
Crammed with familiar Stephen King themes: the ravens, the dank woods, the clinker-built houses, the sheriff who sleeps in his own cells. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Sarah S @RT55319345 Oct 7 Absolutely enthralling premise. Something Hallmark-y about the execution. The mediocre acting, terrible script, & frequent plot holes were somewhat permissible only because of the epic mystery of it all. See more stefan C @RT89536469 Apr 23 Like The Revolution serie great idea sometimes the story is weak! See more SkyRo P @TheMovieSearch 10/29/2024 "Under the Dome," available on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime, has become our new family tradition, and we're diving into it together. Created by Steven Spielberg, this captivating series aired for three seasons from 2013 to 2015. I can hardly believe I had never heard of this show before; it’s an absolute gem! The premise of a town suddenly enclosed by an impenetrable dome is both thrilling and intriguing, leaving us eagerly guessing why it’s there. The series is packed with action, suspense, and adventure, sprinkled with some amusing moments. Overall, it’s an incredibly entertaining experience. We often find ourselves glued to the screen until around 10 PM, and we’ve already finished the first season! The first season is a fantastic blend of character development and storytelling. Without a doubt, Julia has emerged as our favorite character, closely followed by Barbie. Their performances are simply outstanding! I recognized Rachelle Lefevre from other projects, but watching her in this series has truly impressed me. She’s definitely climbed onto my list of top 20 favorite actresses—her acting is phenomenal! We also enjoy the character Joe, and I particularly like Angie. Interestingly, my son has taken a liking to Junior, a character designed to be unlikable. I can't quite understand his fascination, but he believes Junior will have a positive transformation as the story unfolds. While critics have praised the show, audience reviews seem less enthusiastic, potentially due to the later seasons—but I personally think it’s a great series! The mysterious alien element keeps you guessing about what’s really happening. Although it has its cheesy moments, the overall quality shines through. I highly recommend giving "Under the Dome" a watch; you won’t regret it! See more Dan S @RT14235760 04/07/2024 It's honestly not that bad but people are 100% accurate when they say that the dome found the dumbest people to trap. Season 1 is cool as it's still got the freshness of introducing the show and characters and initial drama as well is setting up the mystery of the show. Season 2 starts getting shaky and that's reflected in the ratings. They kill off some characters and it makes you wonder if they asked to be killed off so they can work on different projects. The new characters to take their place aren't very pleasant and the characters they keep from season 1 just start becoming more annoying. Either way though, I'm going to finish this half paying attention because the concept is still pretty interesting and if you don't look very hard the cringe isn't that bad. See more patrick p @RT18576604 10/26/2023 I really feel like they couldn't pack more sub plots into the first couple episodes of a TV show. Everyone from the town leaders to the cashier at the convenience store seems to be up to something and it all needs to be introduced at once. This show is a mess, but showed so much promise for being based on such a decent novel. Unfortunately it missed the mark for me. See more steve d @RT35616104 07/26/2020 An interesting story with some great charterers that really makes you interested in where it is going. See more Read all reviews
Under the Dome — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 24, 2013 Pilot The residents of Chester's Mill find themselves trapped under an enormous, transparent dome; panic escalates as resources dwindle rapidly. Details Episode 2 Aired Jul 1, 2013 The Fire Panic is heightened when a house catches on fire in Chester's Mill, but the fire department is outside of the dome. Details Episode 3 Aired Jul 8, 2013 Manhunt After a former deputy goes rogue, Big Jim asks Barbie to help keep the town safe; Junior determines to escape the dome by going underground. Details Episode 4 Aired Jul 15, 2013 Outbreak The people of Chester's Mill panic as a meningitis outbreak hits the town, threatening their limited stock of medical supplies; Julia looks for answers about her husband's disappearance. Details Episode 5 Aired Jul 22, 2013 Blue on Blue Residents of Chester's Mill are surprised when they are visited by loved ones from the other side; everyone prepares for a threat from outside the dome. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 29, 2013 The Endless Thirst As the town's water supply dwindles, people start to fight for the remaining resources; Julia uncovers a strange connection that two Chester's Mill residents have with the dome. Details Episode 7 Aired Aug 5, 2013 Imperfect Circles Big Jim decides to take action when his authority is threatened; a baby's arrival coincides with a death. Details Episode 8 Aired Aug 12, 2013 Thicker Than Water Junior is shattered when he learns the truth about his mother's death; Julia becomes acquainted with the powers of the mini dome. Details Episode 9 Aired Aug 19, 2013 The Fourth Hand Barbie and Big Jim realize their lives are more intertwined than they knew when a mysterious woman makes an appearance in Chester's Mill. Details Episode 10 Aired Aug 26, 2013 Let the Games Begin Julia unravels after learning the truth about her husband's disappearance; Maxine shares her plans for the town with Barbie. Details Episode 11 Aired Sep 2, 2013 Speak of the Devil Big Jim manages to turn the town against Barbie; Maxine targets Barbie's closest ally. Details Episode 12 Aired Sep 9, 2013 Exigent Circumstances Big Jim keeps the residents of Chester's Mill riled up as the hunt for Barbie continues; Norrie and Joe look for a new place to hide the minidome. Details Episode 13 Aired Sep 16, 2013 Curtains Secrets are revealed; Big Jim wants to finally put an end to Barbie; after receiving a shocking visit, Angie, Junior, Norrie and Joe learn the identity of the monarch. Details
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Season Info

Director
Niels Arden Oplev, Jack Bender, Kari Skogland, Miguel Sapochnik, Peter Leto, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
Executive Producer
Neal Baer, Stephen King, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Stacey Snider, Brian K. Vaughan
Screenwriter
Brian K. Vaughan, Adam Stein, Scott Gold, Caitlin Parrish, Peter Calloway, Soo Hugh, Andres Fischer-Centeno, Daniel Truly
Network
CBS
Rating
TV-14 (V|S|L)
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Entertainment
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jun 24, 2013