The threat of an apocalypse. It is something that humans have been thinking about non-stop. The world we live in with overpopulation, climate change, disease, war, and…well, Trump does not help matters or our worrying. All this comes out in art. Paintings, plays, television series and films have all used subjects like war, disease, famine or even zombies to push the subject forward. We don’t know how to deal with it, so it keeps cropping up.
In this CBS series the apocalypse comes in the form of an giant asteroid hurtling towards Earth on a collision course that would mean millions of deaths. Unlike many other shows or films this one uses a premise that is plausible. Despite all our advances in science and technology we know precious little about what is happening in the other parts of the universe. We like to think we are in control of our world or environment but we aren’t. Salvation plays on that fear.
Brilliant MIT grad student Liam Cole (played by Charlie Rowe) discovers that a large asteroid is on a collision course with Earth and it will happen in six months. In a state of panic he contacts millionaire technology whiz Darius Tanz (played by Santiago Cabrera) with the hope of stopping it from happening.
Without telling anyone for fear of starting widespread panic, the two geniuses along with Dr. Malcolm Croft (played by Dennis Boutsikaris) begin working on a plan to save Earth along with some help from the White House in the form of Assistant Director of Defense Harris Edwards (played by Ian Anthony Dale) and White House Press Secretary Grace Barrows (played by Jennifer Finnigan). The further they get involved in things the more they realize how there is more going on than they know about.
Instead of creating a show that talks above the comprehension level (in regards to the science involved) they have constructed something that is more about the people involved and human behaviour. How would different types of people – scientists, government types, tech millionaires – react to impending death on a large scale? That is the principle question the series poses. It doesn’t go too deep into the science rather the human element.
Less focused on the science of it all rather on the politics and backdoor dealings that go on in times of crisis, the series is a solid watch due to decent acting, involved storylines and clear direction. It is not without plot twists that will keep you guessing. To keep things moving forward the pacing is good with precious few lulls.
Special Features:
-Deleted/Extended Scenes
-What Would You Do?
-Science Fact: Technology
-Salvation at Comic-Con
