Disney+ post-apocalypse thriller is lo-fi, but all the more relatable for it
Heaven (second season) ★★★★
Phil Collins Another Day in Heaven It serves as a recurring musical motif in this entertaining and occasionally inspiring series about secrets and lies in an underground bunker community that may be humanity’s last gasp. This is a suitable choice. A mid-tempo earworm with an upbeat melody that masks a melancholic tale of homelessness and neglect, it’s a popular parable about inequality. And so in a way Heaven.
For the uninitiated: An environmental catastrophe (massive volcanic eruption in Antarctica) quickly followed by a man-made disaster (nuclear war) destroyed civilization as we know it. The 25,000 lucky (and carefully selected) survivors of this sanctuary must survive long enough to ensure the survival of the species.
In its second season, the series is torn between the bunker and the outside world; Here comes the adventure of silent Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown), who failed to prevent the assassination of President Cal Bradford (James Marsden). He believes that his wife Teri (Enuka Okuma) somehow survived despite not being able to reach the shelter three years ago, and that he was there too, along with who knows how many others.
But what if he finds her and she’s not alone? This is the nightmare scenario that Sam Redmond (Julianne Nicholson), the tech billionaire whose money funds this bunker, has always feared and plotted against.
The bunker is a perfectly preserved slice of Everytown, USA. There’s no sunlight, but a bank of small nuclear power plants ensure there’s enough energy to grow fruit and vegetables, recycle water and waste, and keep this self-sufficient world running. However, if there are many more mouths to feed, the equation is disrupted.
The dilemma of having and having not haunted the late president, who may have been chosen for his telegenic qualities but was not as frivolous as it seemed. They’re certainly making Sam’s personal psychologist Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi) uncomfortable, as is the mounting evidence that sweet-faced agent Jane Driscoll (Nicole Brydon Bloom) may be a full-blown psychopath. And sure enough, they end up right under the nose of Link (Thomas Doherty), the leader of the aliens who make their way to the Colorado hideout and demand entry.
As science fiction progresses, Heaven pretty lo-fi, so much more The Truman Show not including Silo. There’s not much to suggest that this is anything other than our world or any other time than now. I suspect this is intentional; Without distractions, ethical dilemmas come closer.
Collusion between big money (technology, mining and oil) and politicians means that the few determine the fate of the many. The hoarding of incalculable resources by the privileged means that many more people outside make it difficult. Ignoring science and warnings of impending collapse by those who could do more than build a shelter played a role in this disaster.
Has an awesome explosion story (similar to the celebrity episode) The Last of UsThe film stars Shaelene Woodley as a former tour guide who survives the apocalypse by hiding in the basement of Graceland. But mostly, Heaven It sells its deliciously familiar blend of political intrigue, crime procedural, and survival drama, while subtly encouraging us to think twice about the true cost of doing nothing, like a Phil Collins song.
Heaven (season two) will premiere on Disney+ on February 23.
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