by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

In a bleak dystopian future, L.A. has been overtaken. A mysterious occupying force has dominated part of Southern California, and has erected a giant wall to separate and control the area into “blocs”. Citizens live in fear of the human corroborators (known as “Redhats”), and struggle to survive day to day life. From the minds of Carlton Cuse (LOST) and Ryan Condal (Hercules), Colony presents a creative new Sci-Fi story that is something that we have never seen previously explored on television.

Colony focuses on the story of the Bowman Family, who have been attempting to find their son who went missing when the invasion took place. While searching for his missing son, Will Bowman (Josh Halloway, LOST) is revealed as a former Federal Agent to the Colony Transitional Authority. Will is given the choice to collaborate and take down the Resistance, or have his family sent to a labor camp known as “The Factory”. Is there any stopping the Occupation? Can Bowman reunite his family? Who exactly are the invaders, and what do they want?

Using the concept of the Nazi occupation of France in WWII as the underlying influence for the story, the creative team have crafted something extremely original for USA Network. Watching how people react to the occupying force, and the desire to maintain their “normal” lives is very interesting to watch. Setting the story in the near-future, everything about The Colony seems eerily plausible. While the show doesn’t come right out and say “aliens have invaded”, there are definitely some hints that are given throughout the first installment.

In addition to Halloway, Colony stars Sarah Wayne Callies ( The Walking Dead), Peter Jacobson (House M.D.), and Tory Kittles ( Olympus Has Fallen).

Overall

Colony unquestionably has a lot of potential, but the creative team will need to provide some answers to the bigger questions quickly, or they will have a challenge maintaining viewers. With a solid cast and a solid visual effects team, Colony has definitely piqued my interest, and I will be back for future installments.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Colony – “Pilot” 4 out of 5 dystopian futures.