EMERALD CITY Series Premiere “The Beast Forever” and “Prison of the Abject” Review. Definitely Not the Oz You Remember.

Series Premiere, Episodes 1-2

Air Date: Friday, January 06, 2017 at 9/8c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

“A witch’s spells are her own.” – Glinda

Adria Arjona as Dodorthy — (Photo by: Rico Torres/NBC)

Emerald City brings new life to the tale of a young woman from Kansas that gets swept away in a tornado only to find herself in a strange new world. After reading a note to the media from executive producers David Schulner and Shaun Cassidy, I became even more intrigued with Emerald City. All 10 scripts were written before any filming or casting had been done, then rewritten as actors were cast and locations were selected. I also appreciate the fact the producers choose not to go with heavy computer graphics but shoot on site at various destinations around the globe. NBC has provided all 10 episodes to media for review and, while I’m late to the game on watching, I binged eight of those episodes before passing out last night.

One stormy night in Lucas, Kansas, a woman carrying a baby knocks on a door begging for help. Fast forward some twenty years later and we meet a beautiful young woman named Dorothy Gale (Adria Arjona). Throughout the two-hour series premiere, the focus remains on Dorothy and her pursuit to meet the woman who gave her up those many years ago. After a small birthday celebration at home with her Aunt Em (Holly Hayes) and Uncle Henry (Pere Molina), despite the impending storm brewing, Dorothy sets off to meet her birth mother Karen Chapman (Gina Bellman).

EMERALD CITY — “The Beast Forever” Episode 101– Pictured: (l-r) Adria Arjona as Dorothy, Florence Kasumba as Mistress/Witch of The East — (Photo by: David Lukacs/NBC)

After accidentally hitting a stranger with a police cruiser during the storm, Dorothy, along with a not so happy police dog, wakes up in a snowy, wooded area. Things only get weirder for Dorothy when she learns the woman she hit is the “Mistress of the Eastern Wood, the most merciful and stern.” Needless to say, Dorothy’s arrival to Oz has set off a chain of events that will change Oz forever. As the story continues to unfold, the first hour, “The Beast Forever,” examines the dichotomy of what it means to be someone―not only for our peace of mind and self-esteem but also how we want others to see us. Dorothy makes a birthday wish to be “more,” but isn’t sure she’s worthy of being anything other than a small town nurse. Something that disturbs me, yet also endears me to Dorothy, is her statement when she is captured in the woods upon her arrival. “I’m no one, I’m no one. I really am no one. I don’t mean anything; I don’t know anything.” Her abandonment issues despite being raised in a loving home with her aunt and uncle shines through in this statement. Will Dorothy figure out her true worth? I’m curious about the strange tattoo on her hand and what that may mean for her in Oz.

West (Ana Ularu) is so much more than her opium loving exterior shows. (Photo by: David Lukacs/NBC)

The casting is spectacular. Arjona as a modern day Dorothy is a revelation. I love that her character is Latina and fragile. Similarly, the Mistress of the East (Florence Kasumba), along with her sisters, Mistress of the West (Ana Ularu), and Glinda of the North (Joely Richardson) are magnificent to watch. Even the “Wizard of Oz” (Vincent D’Onofrio) has an eccentricity about himself. But that toupee though…he should really rethink it. I digress. East, West, and Glinda are witches in a world where magic is outlawed. But that doesn’t mean magic is truly gone. Although Emerald City relies on the use of metaphors, it’s not difficult to detect the double entendres. But the saying “only a witch can kill a witch” is about to be tragically tested.

Dorothy (Adria Arjona) stumbles upon a poor soul (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). (Photo by: Rico Torres/NBC)

Along the way to Emerald City, Dorothy meets several people, one being a handsome solider that has been left for dead. Dorothy gives him the name Lucas (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) and while he’s definitely easy on the eyes there is something amiss. He’s hiding something and whether he remembers it or not, Dorothy needs to be on her guard. Together, Dorothy and Lucas set out on the “yellow brick road” seeking the Wizard’s aid in helping Lucas with his memory, and to help Dorothy get home. The journey begins.

In watching the screener, it’s hard to tell where “The Beast Forever” ends and “Prison of the Abject” begins. I’m haunted by what the prison actually is. At the end of “The Beast Forever,” Dorothy and Lucas both get a taste of what it’s like to be imprisoned there and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. (Ok, maybe one person…). As I watched “The Beast Forever” and “Prison of the Abject,” I became completely engrossed with the lush landscapes, flowing rivers, and scenic structures that make up the Land of Oz. The cinematography and direction director Tarsem Singh takes is phenomenal. The contrast of Dorothy and Lucas writhing on the ground to them in agony in the muddy cesspool of the Prison of Abject really puts things into perspective about how the mind and our perceptions can be muddled.

EMERALD CITY — “The Lucas (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), Toto, and Dorothy (Adria Arjona) follow the yellow poppy road to the Emerald City — (Photo by: Rico Torres/NBC)

The attention to details and reimagining the way we remember the flying monkeys, scarecrow, tin-man, and lion are all done with such clever mystery; it’s really intriguing as you try to pin point when or if Dorothy will run into each of these characters. There is so much that happens within this two-hour premiere, it’s nearly impossible to describe it all without spoiling too much.

Emerald City is absolutely delightful! It’s lavish, enthralling, engaging, and you won’t want to stop watching! I’m a hopeless romantic and completely enjoyed the grandeur of it all. If you like films like The Hobbit and shows like Game of Thrones (without the incest), then Emerald City will definitely be up your alley. I hope there will be more than 10 episodes; I know there is so much more that can be told about the mysterious and enchanting Land of Oz.

Watch the Emerald City trailer here for a glimpse at what’s to come.

What did you think of “The Beast Forever” and “Prison of the Abject?” I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and tweet me @Judybopp.

Tune into Emerald City, Fridays at 9/8c on NBC.

For more on the show, go to http://www.nbc.com/emerald-city

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.