Meadowlands (TV)

Mysterious little towns, first popularly used in the original Twilight Zone series and brought along with creepy effectiveness in shows like Twin Peaks and American Gothic, are almost always a place I want to visit. There's just something about these seemingly idyllic settings (which are, of course, actually teeming with evil just behind those white picket fences) that lures me in every time.

The new series from Showtime, Meadowlands, is no exception. A person can only live there by invitation, and it's one that's impossible to refuse. "Everyone is here," explains one of the characters, "because they saw something or told something. Or… did something." At first, it seems to be part of a witness relocation program, but then the line blurs.

What did the Brogan Family see, tell, or do? That's the hot mystery in this eight-part series (of which I have seen four episodes) that was filmed in Britain and takes place there. David Morrissey plays Danny Brogan, an earnest man who genuinely seems to want to make a new start with his damaged family — his headstrong wife Evelyn (Lucy Chohu), and their twin teenagers, Zoe (Felicity Jones) and Mark (Harry Treadway). Each of them has not only secrets from their neighbors, but from each other. Just how sinister are these secrets?

And speaking of the neighbors… they're nutty as the fruitcakes they bring to the Brogan's housewarming party. In the first episode, which is delightfully disorienting, we learn that Mark refuses to speak, wears gloves constantly, and will only communicate through his sister. Sassy Zoe obliges him, spiting her parents, and sending her mom's guilt and worries into overdrive. Meanwhile, Danny, while checking in with his witness relocation handler, Samantha (Nina Sosanya), makes a strange discovery which clues him in on the town's true purpose.

As the first few episodes progress there's plenty of sex, lies, murder, and molestation of all manner. At this point, we still don't know if there's something more menacing than mere mortals pulling the puppet strings, or if these people are simply nasty and wicked beyond belief.

While I can't honestly say the first four episodes I viewed contain any true horror, fans of the genre who also like the more seamy, mysterious aspects of shows like Twin Peaks, or feature flicks like American Beauty, will not be disappointed.

Appropriately enough, the series premieres on Father's Day, and will run every Sunday night on Showtime for eight weeks. Please visit the official Meadowlands website for more info.

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