Bleak. Dismal. Hopeless. Many a movie tries for this, but they almost all fall sort of good fiction; they’re too explicit for their own good. Looking past the compelling atmosphere, I try to identify with people; Diana and Danny most interest me. For Diana, Danni presents an opportunity, a bit of flexilibity, a broadening of the narrow track that she had simply trudged along. For Danni, this place is, remarkably, and improvement. Does it come too late?

Rethinking this episode for a review reminded me of the famous Twilight Zone episode, “It’s a Good Life,” arguably the most harrowing story on any screen. Danni resembles Anthony only in that power is all out of proportion to empathy. But whereas the TW episode is utterly without hope, the arrival of Danni is a ray of hope. Maybe.

The stage is set. We’ve met the actors. Let the show unfold! 4 stars for promise.