As the saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Therefore, it’s hard to express how much shame I felt as I watched the pilot episode of Wayward Pines.
I’ve been burned on shows like this before. FOX’s summer series has all the hallmarks of bad mystery TV, from an era still obsessed with recapturing the magic of LOST. The pilot episode is littered with unanswered questions, eccentric characters and an unmistakable air of intrigue. I’ve been here before. Under The Dome, Terra Nova, AMC’s doomed revival of The Prisoner… All frontloaded with promises, only to inevitably underwhelm. Yet despite all the evidence — I want to believe in Wayward Pines.
The series follows Secret Service agent Ethan Burke (Crash‘s Matt Dillon), who wakes up within the mysterious titular town of Wayward Pines, Idaho after a sudden car crash. The town is an artifact separated from time, Twin Peaks with a healthy hit of The Stepford Wives-style retro charm. Within its boundaries is a high-profile ensemble of eccentric characters — including Terrance Howard, Juliette Lewis and Melissa Leo. The latter in particular offers a brilliantly simple take on the classic “cruel nurse” archetype, delivering a stellar monologue that delivers the episode’s biggest chill.
Like any first episode for a mystery series like this, it’s mostly an hour of worldbuilding. Infamous thriller auteur M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable) directs the pilot, reminding us why he’s still being given a shot after so many high profile flops. He’s a genuinely skilled director, painting the sleepy town in soft pastels in contrast with moments of exploration into the sharp real world. It doesn’t take a word of dialogue to realize something’s afoot in Wayward Pines — every frame is familiar yet menacing. Even a typical conversation between ex-coworkers becomes unsettling with some smart camera work. Since Shyamalan is only directing the first episode, it’s hard to say if this style will stay consistent for the series. But if the show can maintain the quality, Pines could be one of the most visually attractive displays of the summer.
I can’t guarantee that Wayward Pines will be worth your time this summer. For every exciting mystery introduced, a disappointing answer could be just around the corner. It’s high-profile cast could easily sink into overbearing quirkiness. Worst of all, it may skew answers altogether in the quest for a second season. But if you’re willing to go on blind faith, this might be the show to keep you guessing all summer long.