Meanwhile, the teens (Joe, Norrie, and the newly traumatized Angie) discover that the mini-dome is not just a paperweight—it’s a transmitter. The special effects for the mini-dome are genuinely cool, and the final shot of the egg projecting a holographic map of the stars is visually intriguing. It suggests the show is leaning harder into the “alien experiment” theory, which is a bold (if familiar) move. For all its strengths, “Heads Will Roll” can’t escape the show’s signature flaw: illogical character decisions. A full quarter of the episode involves a character sacrificing themselves to flip a switch outside the radiation zone, only to realize they could have done it remotely with a rope. It’s the kind of plot hole that makes you yell at the screen.
After a shaky but intriguing first season, CBS’s summer sci-fi drama Under the Dome returned with its sophomore premiere, titled “Heads Will Roll.” Based on Stephen King’s massive novel (though, let’s be honest, the show has long since driven off the map of the book), the episode had a lot of heavy lifting to do: win back skeptical viewers, resolve that chaotic Season 1 finale, and set a new direction for the town trapped under an invisible, impenetrable bowl.
The premiere successfully resets the board, kills off the dead weight, and introduces a genuinely mysterious new plot device. The question isn’t whether the dome will fall—it’s whether you’re patient enough to wait another 12 episodes for the next non-answer.
Also, the dialogue remains clunky. Characters don’t talk to each other; they deliver plot points. “We only have four hours before the radiation kills us all!” is stated so many times it loses all meaning. Grade: B-
Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t watched the Season 2 premiere of Under the Dome , stop reading now. We’re diving deep into Chester’s Mill.
Back in town, the aftermath of the Season 1 finale is immediate. The dome has turned radioactive, killing off several redshirts and, more importantly, pushing our heroes to their breaking point. The episode’s title, “Heads Will Roll,” isn’t just a catchy phrase—it’s a promise. One of the biggest complaints about Season 1 was the pacing and the sheer number of unlikable characters. “Heads Will Roll” solves that problem by literally removing a few heads (RIP, the Reverend). The death of Coggins (the newly minted, power-hungry minister) is a highlight—brutal, shocking, and earned. It signals that the dome isn’t playing nice anymore, and neither should the writers.
Under the Dome airs Mondays on CBS. ★★★☆☆ (3/5) – For fans of campy sci-fi and Stephen King-inspired chaos only.