TV REVIEW: “The Red Door” Opens in Under the Dome

Oh what a twisted web you weave Dome.

First there was a locker leading to tunnels leading to a cliff leading to a way out of Chester’s Mill. In tonight’s episode there’s a red door leading to a cellar leading to a new tunnel leading back to Chester’s Mill.

“The Red Door” treads heavy into the territory of unbelievability, but we’re all used to venturing there. This is the show with acid rain, hungry caterpillars and people coming back to life after thirty years.

Let’s pry open that door a little and take a peek at what went on tonight.

Barbie Dad Shows his True Colors

Shady men dressed in black, even with menacing looking black ball caps, interrogate Barbie about how he got into Chester’s Mill. “Why did you tell that woman not to jump?” they demand, showing particular interest in Julia and the egg.

Barbie won’t talk no matter what.

Dale’s dad visits him in lock up and tries to get him to convince Julia to bring the egg. Barbie says no way. Dad leaves the room and tells the security force to do “whatever it takes” to get the egg. The super nerd is summoned and Barbie’s Dad wants him to send another email to Julia.

The guy in black takes dad’s words to heart and beats Barbie up, demanding he get the egg back. Barbie turns fighting machine like we have seen before and overtakes the bad guy. Chains are no match for our hero.

Barbie confronts his Dad. Image © CBS

Big Jim Is on an Egg Hunt

Big Jim is walking tall and completely back as the town’s sheriff. He pays a visit to Julia to get information on Barbie. Jim asks why the armed guards are right outside her house. These guys must’ve been in super ninja mode because they’ve been pretty invisible since the Dome enveloped the town. They are everywhere tonight. Julia plays dumb and sticks to her Barbie is dead story.

The kids are all about protecting the egg. Junior says he’s going to keep an eye on dad, but Big Jim ends up getting confirmation that Barbie’s alive. Junior even takes Jimbo to the cliff where the older man admits everything his wife said before her death makes sense. “It’s my job to lead the people to freedom.”  Big Jim decides they need to track down a runaway egg.

Meanwhile, the teens are back on their computer with a video link popping up of Barbie’s dad telling Julia that Dale is in custody, and he doesn’t have much time left. Bring the egg or he bites it.

Melanie screams melodramatically demanding the egg not be given away. She says she feels it’s important to protect the egg.

Big Jim questions Julia. Image © CBS

The Hunt for Red Door

Lyle, Pauline, and Sam decide they’re looking for a red door at the playground to get back to Chester’s Mill. Makes sense, if there’s a locker with a tunnel to Narnia it seems logical that a red door leads to Oz. They find a red door on a playhouse at the playground but sadly it leads to the inside of a playroom.

The trio end up seeking refuge with Hunter, the super nerd working for Barbie’s dad. It turns out Hunter was Pauline’s best student. Who shows up next? Barbie! This is one happening place. The unbelievable just keeps rolling under that Dome.

Barbie spills the beans that Sam killed Angie, and Pauline can’t believe bro killed the young girl. “You killed that girl because of what I drew.” We have to go back to atone for our sins or we will never find peace. The quest for the red door continues.

Barbie sees the drawing of the red door and knows exactly where it is.

Pictured: Melanie, Joe and Norrie debate their next move. Image © CBS

Jim Is Still Looking

Big Jim creeps up onto Rebecca looking like an 8th grader asking for a date. He seeks out science teacher’s expertise in building an “egg detector.” Rebecca goes straight to Julia’s, confessing to her that Big Jim is looking for the egg. She doesn’t want to see Jim with the egg either.

Big Jim goes to the Dome wall sharing offers with the guards in black made on a sketchpad. He will get the egg if he can bring everyone out of there. The guard shakes his head no. “Me and my son?” The guard says yes and shows the location of the egg on a computer.  Jim realizes it’s at Angie’s place.

Not so fast big guy. Junior takes the egg first with Melanie badgering him about it. She says Barbie’s more important to Julia than the egg. “Her priorities have shifted.”

Junior asks seductively, “Do you want to protect it with me from now on?” She can’t resist all the sexy talk and nods yes.

Jim and Julia realize the egg is missing and they “both got screwed.” She accuses him of not loving anyone but himself. Dean Norris has one of his best moments on Under the Dome, talking about how much he loved his wife. “You try telling your boy his mom’s not coming back.” He admits he wants the egg to save the town.

Big Jim is empty handed tonight; no egg for him.

Rebecca confronts Big Jim. Image © CBS

The Red Door Leads To…

Barbie, Sam, Lyle, Pauline and Hunter sneak onto the Barbie estate. They find the red door to a cellar that now features a tunnel definitely not there when Barbie was a kid. A tornado vortex thing lives in there (no kidding) and flashes Sam back to a memory at Pauline’s funeral where Junior says “please don’t leave me with my dad.”

Barbie flashes back to meeting Melanie when he was just a little kid. They hug and she leaves with Barbie’s dad creepily watching.

They make it back to Chester’s Mill, popping up out of the lake.

Pauline flashes to the sight of the crater and the glowing pink egg. Melanie is there, eyes closed. Dead girl says this is where it began, this is where it ends for all of us.

She and Hunter pop up in the lake. No Lyle. Oh well.

Barbie says everybody needs to keep a low profile even though we’re soaking wet. Piece of cake. Pauline tells Sam to stay at the lake and find Lyle while she gets Junior and Barbie finds Julia.

Junior ends up hiding the egg in plain sight in dad’s cellar. Melanie wants to lie on a small bed down there and asks Junior to join her. First talk of protecting the egg and now hiding the egg… this kooky pair are bound by egg shenanigans.

Junior is anxious about the egg. Image © CBS

I’m Baaaack

Pauline heads back to her old house in search of Junior and runs smack dab into a stunned Big Jim. Guess what, honey? I’m not really dead.

Next week’s episode looks intriguing, dealing with Pauline’s resurrection and the return of Barbie and Sam. How Under the Dome will go more summers remains a mystery. It seems to be leading to an actual resolution and fast.  What did you think of what was behind the red door? Do you think a big, sappy reunion is in store for Big Jim and Pauline (just kidding)? And most importantly, why oh why did they insist on going back under that Dome? Wait, one more pressing question – when will Norrie get some more most excellent one liners?  See you back under the Dome next week. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a curtain to pull and all the dead characters will come back (Angie?).

Under the Dome airs Mondays on CBS at 10 pm