This summer Robert and Michelle King (creators of The Good Wife) helm a new CBS political thriller comedy about senatorial politics, government conspiracies, and zombie bugs: BrainDead. While unlikely, it is a tremendous accomplishment and, for its writers, cast, and for contemporary TV in general, BrainDead is truly an anomaly; one that I sincerely adore and cannot stop watching.
The plot is somewhat simple: alien bugs are crawling into the minds of Washington DC’s inhabitants, including its politicians, making them extreme, aggressive, and sometimes their heads explode. Really.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs the World) stars as Laurel Healy, documentarian and sister to womanizing Luke Healy, a democratic senator from Maryland. Laurel agrees to work for Luke if her father funds her latest documentary. As a constituent caseworker, Laurel encounters wacky Marylanders, an alcoholic Republican senator played by Tony Shalhoub, his dreamy chief of staff, a conspiracy-buff, and FBI torture specialists. And lots of bugs.
While this seems to come from a completely different universe from The Good Wife, the Kings have created something absolutely unlike anything on TV. And beyond it’s unique qualities, it’s good. Out-of-this-world good.
In its first 7 episodes, BrainDead has proved itself to possess remarkable humor, suspense, and powerful show-runners. The show’s comedic style – and particularly Johnny Ray Gill’s – is not only rare but also incredibly effective. Whether it be well-aimed quips about partisan politics, wacky conspiracies, unimaginable situations, deadpan remarks, or even the random oddities that enter their world (chocolate dog sculptures or bacon bug lures), BrainDead continues to create laughs and surprise.
BrainDead consistently creates alarming suspense, sometimes verging on downright scary. Early scenes are surprisingly eerie as strangers stare at Laurel while The Car’s “You Might Think” plays in the background, but later episodes are absolutely nail-biting as Laurel fights for her life.
It’s also remarkably well-written. The ever-expanding plot is magnificently orchestrated, and oddly enough, it’s believable. Brain-eating alien bugs controlling the government is lightly suggested in episode 1, but by episode 6 the argument has been presented well enough to reluctantly make us believe this insane reality.
If space zombie bugs aren’t your thing, and justifiably they may not be, the cast is a significant draw. Tony Shalhoub and Johnny Ray Gill provide astounding performances, while Broadway stars Aaron Tveit and Tony winner Nikki M. James supply more subdued and at times deeply moving performances. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, as Laurel, carries the show with her enduring and varied performance in moments of fear, determination, and loss. In such an extraterrestrial show Winstead provides the most grounding and human performance of them all. I came to BrainDead for Winstead and Tveit and my expectations were exceeded before the pilot was over.
More than anything, BrainDead is tailor-made for 2016. In this hysterical election year, the possibility that all this madness may be caused by extraterrestrial bugs is a more appealing explanation than that Donald Trump really is that way. BrainDead’s commentary extends to both sides of the aisle, highlighting the fact that climbing any political ladder almost always takes priority over helping the people, and that decisions are often made based on their potential to humiliate opponents rather than benefit constituents. While BrainDead blends consciousness with humor and whimsy, it also reminds us of the country’s dire conditions.
However, I do (of course) have a few issues. I find the dynamic of the two infected extremists, Ella and Red, shouting at each other tiring. Especially because neither has changed since becoming infected weeks ago. I also take issue with Luke – the womanizing senator – and the women in his life. Luke cheats on his pregnant wife, Germaine, with his staffer Scarlett. The affair leaks, Luke rushes home, and Germaine breaks down in what is, according to my count, only her second appearance on the show. Luke continues to cheat with a number of women with no regard for the pain he caused.
I hope Germaine and Scarlett become active characters by revolting
against Luke’s behavior or participating in politics. Anything other than just disappearing. In a show that acknowledges the modern world’s inequalities, I wish these problems were corrected within itself. Luke’s pattern of repeatedly sleeping around and being exposed is dull and frustrating; even more so because no matter how publicly he’s humiliated, it never takes any affect or carries any consequences. Germaine never gets justice! Hopefully future episodes will address these concerns, because it certainly isn’t in the show’s nature to forget anything.
Even with these flaws BrainDead is inventive, exciting, dynamic, and utterly addicting. I have adored the season so far, and eagerly await more.
BrainDead airs 10pm Sundays on CBS and is available for free with Amazon Prime.
