DMZ Season 1 Episode 1 Good Luck
- TVMA
- March 17, 2022
- 59 min
-
6.2 (295)
"DMZ" is a post-apocalyptic TV show that explores the aftermath of a second American Civil War. The first episode of season 1 is entitled "Good Luck," and it sets the stage for a dystopian world where society has collapsed, and the government is no longer functional. The show is based on a graphic novel of the same name, written by Brian Wood and illustrated by Riccardo Burchielli.
The protagonist of DMZ is a photojournalist named Matty Roth (played by Benjamin Bratt), who is trapped in the DMZ, or the demilitarized zone between New York City and New Jersey. This area has become a warzone, with various factions vying for control over the abandoned and decaying buildings. The opening scenes of "Good Luck" show Matty's journey into the DMZ, where he hopes to cover the conflict and find a way out.
Matty's arrival in the DMZ is challenging, to say the least. He is immediately robbed by a group of scavengers, but manages to convince them to let him keep his camera and equipment. From there, he stumbles into a firefight between two factions, the Free Armies and the Trustwell Initiative. Matty is caught in the crossfire, but he manages to capture some powerful images, which he hopes to sell to the highest bidder.
As he wanders through the DMZ, Matty encounters various people who are struggling to survive in this lawless land. He meets Zee (played by the excellent Zoë Kravitz), a medical student who is trying to care for the sick and wounded. Zee is wary of Matty, but she agrees to help him after he is injured during another firefight.
Through Zee, Matty learns more about the factions that are fighting for control of the DMZ. The Free Armies are a group of rebels who are trying to overthrow the United States government, which has been taken over by a far-right regime. The Trustwell Initiative is a private military contractor that is supposed to be restoring order to the DMZ, but their true motives are unclear.
In "Good Luck," Matty also comes into contact with other DMZ residents, including a former electrician named Sean, who has rigged up a series of generators to provide power to the area. There's also a gang of teenagers who call themselves the "Ghosts of Times Square," who are armed and dangerous. Matty soon realizes that the DMZ is a complicated and dangerous place, where anyone can turn on you at any moment.
The episode climaxes with one final battle between the Free Armies and the Trustwell Initiative, which occurs in the ruins of the Brooklyn Bridge. Matty is caught up in the fight, and he witnesses a shocking act of violence that changes his perspective on the conflict.
Overall, "Good Luck" is a stunning introduction to the world of DMZ. The show is extremely well-produced, with excellent cinematography, direction, and acting. It's a bleak and brutal depiction of a world on the brink of collapse, but it's also surprisingly hopeful, as Matty begins to see the humanity in the people he encounters. There are shades of other dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories in DMZ, such as The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, and Children of Men, but the show has its own unique voice and vision.
If you're a fan of gritty, thought-provoking TV shows that explore complex societal issues, then DMZ is definitely worth checking out. "Good Luck" is an excellent starting point, but be warned: this is not a show for the faint of heart. It's violent, intense, and emotionally challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding.