THE SEASON:

I doubt many people asked for a sequel to apocalyptic actioner Legion, a poorly executed bore about angels sent by God to wipe out humanity. SyFy Network instead delivers a full season of cable-television drama in an obvious, likely necessary attempt to regain viewers who once flocked to the channel's critically acclaimed Battlestar Galactica variant. The show is only loosely based on Scott Stewart's film, but, like Legion, it wastes an interesting premise on confusing action sequences and superfluous drama. Dominion throws characters in and out of frame, promising interesting melodrama amid the futuristic Las Vegas fortress setting, but the clans are aloof and the city's inner workings are never properly explored. The TV budget shows, too, so don't expect a bunch of cool CGI demon-angels, because you won't get them.

The first episode opens with an animated prologue explaining that 25 years earlier, God disappeared, leaving his angels to wage a devastating war on humans. Archangel Michael (Tom Wisdom) rebukes his own kind to fight with the humans and becomes the direct adversary of archangel Gabriel (Carl Beukes). Dominion is set in fortified city Vega, formerly Las Vegas, where Alex Lannon (Christopher Egan), thought to be "the Chosen One" to save humanity, struggles to accept his fate and save his brethren from annihilation. Gabriel builds an army of loyal followers, both human and angel, and sends spies to infiltrate the highest ranks of Vega's government and ruling class.

From the very first episode, I knew Dominion was going to be a mess. There are literally hours of talky exposition in this first season, but most of them are spent running in circles. Viewers are introduced to leaders, diplomats, headhunters and supporting players, but the relationships remain frustratingly vague despite the endless banter. As with all good sci-fi projects, there are a number of "houses" in Vega, each with their own leaders and schemes. The most interesting is House Riesen, led by General Edward Riesen (Alan Dale), the ruler of Vega and father of Lannon's lover, Claire (Roxanne McKee). He is responsible for forcing Gabriel into hibernation, and seeks to return Vega to a form of democracy.

The whole angels-gone-bad premise could be pretty cool, yet Dominion is strangely tepid and takes itself far too seriously. The show glosses over its Biblical roots, and instead gets bogged down creating the endless Vegan factions and dissenters. At many points in the interminable first season I found myself thinking, "Who cares?" There are few likeable or interesting characters, which makes the character-driven drama all the more grating. Things improve slightly toward the end of the eight-episode season when the show expands its scope outside the halls of Vega. But by that point, it's too little too late.

Unlike Battlestar Galactica, which had interesting, well-acted roles, gripping drama and action, and plenty of great sets and effects, Dominion has little to recommend. I realize that SyFy isn't pumping $100 million into each episode, but these are some of the worst effects and props I have seen in some time. What little angel ass-kicking action there is fails to find a pulse and rivals the drama for the most boring scenes on television. It is almost shocking that the creators of Dominion could muck up the premise this badly. Repent!

THE BLU-RAY:

PICTURE:

Each episode receives a 1.78:1/1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. Fine-object detail is readily apparent, which does the cheap sets no favors. Colors are often bold and always nicely saturated, and skin tones are accurate. Black levels are good and crush is nearly non-existent. There is plenty of texture in fabrics and landscapes, and I noticed no ringing edges. Some very minor compression artifacts pop up on occasion.

SOUND:

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks are generally good, though the sound design occasionally reflects the show's middling production design. The tracks tend to be front heavy, with clear dialogue and good separation. Effects-heavy scenes do make use of the surrounds and LFE, and there are a number of effective sound pans. English SDH subtitles are available.

PACKAGING AND EXTRAS:

This two-disc set from Universal is packed in a standard Blu-ray case with hubs on both sides. The main artwork is dual-sided, and the interior features a list of the episodes. The embossed slipcover features different artwork, which is a nice touch. A code to redeem UltraViolet digital copies of each episode is included. Extras include an Extended Finale (1:21:25/HD), which adds about twenty minutes to the eighth episode; some Deleted Scenes (14:05/HD); and a Gag Reel (3:19/HD).

FINAL THOUGHTS:

All five diehard Legion fans rejoice, SyFy's follow-up series Dominion has arrived. About as accomplished as the film, Dominion is a talky, cheap-looking bore that squanders its interesting premise. The action and drama provide little of interest, and the first season's eight hours feel at least twice as long. Skip It.

William lives in Burlington, North Carolina, and looks forward to a Friday-afternoon matinee.