Critical Condition: Emergence

Emergence | TVNZ OnDemand

☆☆☆☆ “A new network show that puts forward a big supernatural-adjacent mystery expanding outward into potential conspiracy or mysticism. It’s the sort of show that they don’t much make anymore … With real tension, uncommon curiosity, and a knockout, chilling final shot, it’s a network pilot whose strength on its own merits is compounded by how unlike the rest of network TV right now it seems.” — Variety.

☆☆☆☆ “The pilot for Emergence is well above average by Lost spawn standards. It sets a mood well, doesn’t abuse its mysterious trappings and is carried by a thoroughly charming cast … A great joy is that the show’s core family is nicely and pleasantly functional.” — The Hollywood Reporter.

☆☆☆☆ “Considering we’re only one episode in, there’s still a lot that could go wrong — or go right. I’d say the early choices are encouraging, though, and the last time Allison Tolman donned a badge, things turned out pretty well. This isn’t Fargo, it’s not Lost, but better than ripping off either of those shows, Emergence might just be good.” — IndieWire.

☆☆☆☆ “Tolman, with her knack for conveying alert intelligence and sardonic skepticism, is the best hedge Emergence has against being a generic broadcast-network thriller … As for the story, intrigue manages to stay a few steps ahead of implausibility in the first hour, which is a perfectly serviceable setup episode. But implausibility has a way of gaining fast in shows like this.” — New York Times.

☆☆☆☆ “Quite promising … Tolman is a great gift to television … She can fill the screen with thought. If it’s not quite fair to say that she single-handedly transforms Emergence from a decent genre show into something richer, it’s not far off, either.” — Los Angeles Times.