Coming from the minds behind "Dark," my expectations from this show were understandably high; thankfully, the pilot episode manages to live up to the expectations in large part. The signature style of Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese's "Dark" is present, and, unlike many debut episodes, it doesn't waste time with unnecessary exposition. Emily Beecham's portrayal of Maura Franklin in this episode was the highlight of what seems to be a solid cast. The visual effects and set design were generally high quality, although a few sequences looked cheap, something "Dark" never suffered from. The writing is the episode's strongest suit; it establishes a compelling mystery and dives straight into the story without wasting time. I came away from it with a head full of theories, and if the show is anything like "Dark," you can expect to be engaged in some serious mental gymnastics. This is a show that not only keeps its audience's attention, but also necessitates it. Impressive start!
Rating: 7.8/10 (Impressive)