User Reviews

A chipper Sam Waterston enters the futuristic office of psychiatrist Judy Davis and asks, "Is this where I'm supposed to be?" The reason he has to ask is because he doesn't know what's going on from one minute to the next. He has Korsakov's syndrome, or so the story tells us, and has amnesia for the past 24 years. He believes, for instance, that he's still 41 years old, that his wife and kids are waiting for him, and that he's head of a firm that manufactures secret weapons.

I don't think I can go any further in describing the plot. Medical discretion forbids it. But there's nothing stopping me from mentioning that Korsakov's syndrome -- wait a moment. Let me get into my lab coat. Yes. Thank you. Korsakov's (or amnesic-confabulatory) syndrome is when you draw a blank and make up stories to fill in the blanks. That isn't exactly what Sam Waterston does. He's just ablated 24 years of his life. Korsakov's syndrome is also associated with thiamine deficiency due to chronic alcoholism. There have been various proposals put forward to add thiamine to drinking alcohol but these proposals are routinely blocked by those who are convinced that doing so would just encourage alcoholism. The same logic applies to the argument that teaching people how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases leads to promiscuity. Thank you. Let me get this coat off.

This story can be read as a kind of assault on certain foreign policies of one of our recent presidents, but I got something slightly different out of it. It's not about any individual but about cultural hubris. Many of us are convinced that our way of life is the best. It's the nature of the beast, and the belief isn't limited to Americans. The French applauded when Napoleon announced that he would bring democracy to the rest of the world at the point of a gun. I saw this story as a great big red STOP sign.

I've always liked Sam Waterston and he doesn't disappoint here. Judy Davis is equally good but the part compels her to look worn and pasty and it's a little depressing. In fact, the whole story is depressing. Let me put it this way: If you enjoyed "Fail Safe," you'll love this.

I don't know what the other episodes are like. I pray they're not so weighty, that they have a few moments in which the audience doesn't feel as if it's time for another Zoloft.

It has some effective moments, the performances are excellent and the concept is good... but the basic doomsday weapon plot is really dated and it seems like a revenge fantasy for people who think George Bush is evil incarnate.

It skips over any details that might create doubt in the viewers mind about its conclusions and contrives some real howlers for emotional shock. The Major is whisked away from her family to the bunker, told they can't come. Is that how it works? Close up of the Presidents wife's wedding ring still on the incinerated corpse. Future President told his weapon system could destroy the world... he ignores it. The whole thing is just too transparent and blunt.

Oh, and they toss in a bunch of environmental gotchas at the very end, just to cover all the "Evil U.S. destroys the world" bases. ... who says Liberals aren't patriotic? Sheesh.