Season 2 of “Under the Dome” has come and gone, and much to my chagrin, no characters ate each other. But there is always hope of season 3, right? Maybe (CBS has yet to renew it).
In this season 2 finale, lots of characters made their final appearances, including the Microsoft tablet, which Hunter tried to use to find a Wi-Fi signal (it was the Dome’s fault—not Microsoft’s).
Like pretty much every episode this season, we were introduced to new characters, only to see them mercilessly killed. One man picked the wrong day in the dome to do farmwork, and a huge piece of equipment landed on and electrocuted him. Barbie and Julia tried to rescue him, but gave up quickly once the voltage threatened, taking his screaming son from the scene.
Meanwhile, Pauline, who was stabbed by Lyle last week, was under the care of Sam with Nurse Rebecca Pine. (Sidebar: Is it wrong I didn’t realize Sam was a doctor? I thought he was just a reclusive alcoholic.) Big Jim was extra protective of his wife, while Pauline wanted to know what became of Melanie, who was dragged into the crater.
“Do you think she’s ok? That she made it out?” – Pauline
“Anything’s possible.” – Junior
Not to play Devil’s Advocate, but very few people come back from being sucked into a hole.
Later, when Big Jim went on the hunt for saline to help his ailing wife, Pauline confided in Rebecca Pine.
“The Dome’s done with me. I saw my own death,” she said. But Jim wouldn’t let her go, and the only person who could help end her life was Rebecca.
Goonies Never Say Duh
In order to find Melanie, who got sucked into a giant crater, Joe decided they needed to go into the hole, so he, Norrie, and Hunter went spelunking, entering the crater and discovering a cave (but no One-Eyed Willy) filled with monarch butterflies. When shit started to get real, with rocks tumbling and threatening to kill them, they returned to the surface. Their hypothesis: This was their escape out of the Dome.
Soon, Julia and Sam rallied the entire town to head over the river and through the woods to the big-ass crater, filling schoolbuses of Chester’s Mill civilians and transporting them.
As “Under the Dome” goes on this hiatus, I will not miss the Boring Ballad of Norrie and Joe. Their heart to heart in this episode further enhanced this notion when Joe told Norrie that without the Dome, they wouldn’t have met, which he would have been sad about: “Whatever’s out there, we’re gonna face it together.”
I’m hoping it’s a tornado.
Plus, we all know that Norrie is only hanging with Joe because he’s the only kid her age in the Dome. Once she gets out, she’ll find other sad saps to mope around with.
As Chester’s Mill townspeople piled into school buses like sheep to slaughter, Norrie pleaded with her mother.
“I’m one of the four hands,” said Norrie. “I need to stay here.” Where has Mom been, seriously? Doesn’t she know Norrie made the Four Hands squad?
Pauline Goes Out Old Yeller Style
After Junior went back to the garage, he discovered his mother’s terrible artwork (a blond woman spewing blood) and realized that maybe his mother was the one in that picture. You know, since she was spewing blood ever since she was stabbed.
But he would have to save his mother fast, since Rebecca had agreed to poison Pauline with morphine in order to let her die peacefully. Big Jim was also too late, after ransacking poor Andrea’s house for saline.
“Take care of Junior,” said Pauline. “I love you all.” Which is why I cowardly hid from you for 10 years.
Seeing Rebecca Pine with a syringe in her hand, Big Jim realized that Chester’s Mill’s favorite science teacher had overdosed his wife.
“She said it was what the dome wanted,” said Rebecca Pine.
Big Jim was furious, punching Sam and taking a hammer to Rebecca Pine, killing her almost instantly.
There have been many deaths on the show, but this was the most gruesome and senseless. (Even Linda being crushed by the Dome was kind of welcome). Rebecca Pine was brought on the show only to be killed? How little we knew ye.
Coming to check on his mother, Junior discovered a dead Rebecca Pine. Sam awoke and told him what had happened, and Junior decided to go after his father.
“There’s no talking with him. Only dealing with him.” – Junior
Big Jim took a dead Pauline to his garage, placing her comfortably on the couch, before attacking her shitty artwork and bargaining with God.
“I’ll make you a deal. If you bring her back right now, I won’t murder every single one of your special little friends. I won’t slit Julia’s throat. Shoot Barbie in the heart. Burn those kids alive. Okay? You got three seconds.” – Big Jim
Guess what. Still dead. Big Man Upstairs was not taking calls from Big Jim.
Big Jim covered Pauline’s body with a blanket, doused her and her shitty artwork in gasoline, and lit the place on fire. A Viking burial.
“Under the Dome” Season 3 is Hiring!
In the woods, Barbie offered directions to the townspeople about entering the crater, even though he had some naysayers.
“How do you know this is safe?” A man, his wife, and son approached Barbie.
“I know because I’ve done it before,” said Barbie. Although technically, it was a different cave.
Before ushering folks into the crater, Julia and Barbie embraced. If their two-week relationship could survive this whole Dome thing, it could survive anything.
Everyone headed into the cave (which was probably smart since Big Jim was on a rampage), although they were all trusting Joe to lead them, which was a questionable decision.
Right before Julia was about to get into the hole, Andrea, Chester’s Mill’s favorite hoarder, called Julia to come to her house quickly. Julia, who was there in two shakes of a cat’s tail—even on a wobbly leg—entered to find Big Jim with a gun on poor Andrea. Sam tried to contact the redhead on the walkie-talkie, but with Big Jim looming, she told him everything was fine.
Sam revealed vital information too late: “You should know Pauline is dead, and Jim killed Rebecca. He’s out there somewhere.”
In a matter of seconds, Big Jim killed Andrea, shooting her in the head. (If you’re keeping score, this is three big deaths in the episode—three new characters that had been introduced this season. “Under the Dome” season 3 should be hiring!)
“Sam forgot to mention that Rebecca murdered Pauline. I gave the Dome a chance to return her to me. And it declined.”
Big Jim had gone off the deep end. But not because of the whole dome thing. Instead of just shooting Julia point blank, he decided to run after her with a bludgeoning object instead because he didn’t want her to die a quick death (typical Bond villain mistake). Who knew a hoarder’s house would make for such a good place to be murdered? So much stuff to toss. Unfortunately for Big Jim, Julia somehow had a hidden switchblade and stabbed Big Jim in the foot, causing Julia to run off.
The Descent
After most of the townspeople are in the crater, Barbie discovered he couldn’t find Julia, so he ran to find her.
And as Junior headed toward the crater, Big Jim trailed behind him, looking for Julia. In a climactic showdown, Junior shot his father.
“This is my town, little boy,” said Big Jim, clutching his dying body.
“Enjoy what’s left of it,” said Junior.
Barbie eventually found Julia and carried her to safety into the cave, but unfortunately, one valley was too big for them to cross, especially with Julia’s ailing leg. Julia told Barbie she couldn’t make it and that he was the one in Pauline’s dream, the one that was going to get everyone out. As Barbie went to join the other townspeople, Julia was left on the other side, along with Junior, who joined her shortly after.
Barbie met up with the townspeople, although they were just milling about since they had no direction without him.
“We saw the butterfly go down there,” said Norrie. “We think it’s a sign.”
Beautiful monarch butterflies filled the cave, illuminating everyone’s faces. But as quickly as they appeared, they disappeared, revealing to the Chester’s Mill people that they were caved in.
“Barbie, what do we do now?” said Joe, at the most inopportune moment.
After Norrie freaked out and screamed at the wall, Barbie discovered one monarch butterfly attached to the wall. As Barbie touched the wall, it lit up and disintegrated, revealing Melanie.
“Follow me,” she said. “We’re going home.”
What did you think of the finale? Was it all you hoped for? Is Big Jim dead? Would you tune in for season 3?
