The unfortunately-named, short-form series pilot “Supplements,” is packed to bursting with hints about the dystopian state of Earth in 2289. Sun flares inflict mortal burns on the unprotected. And the class divide leaves the poor to dodge the lethal flares while the rich live in a gated community, I mean domed city of Old Centauri.
This 14 1/2-minute pilot contains a visually stunning depiction of the future where Old Centauri glows atop a hill like Oz. This luxe enclave of affluence and advanced medical care is not above welcoming in some of the poverty-stricken nomads who wander outside for use in medical testing and the production of a supplement that prevents aging.
Kiirke and her younger brother Jute, seeking money to save their grandmother, travel to Old Centauri and fall into the clutches of the nefarious corporation that produces the Supplement because they have special highly-monetizable genetics. This is the set-up of a series of indeterminate length for which writer/director Sarah Phillips is seeking funding. See the series website at https://www.supplementstheseries.com/.
Phileon Productions, 2019.
Setting the visuals aside, there is nothing new here. The plot, as much as one can tell from a 14-1/2 minutes helping, is unimaginative. But what really holds the pilot back is the flimsy dialogue and and paper-thin performances. The dialogue is purely a transactional means of moving the plot along or spelling outright what the characters are feeling. The lead actors are fairly new to film and TV. It is perhaps this lack of experience that makes their performances so very, very on-the-nose.
Though “Supplements” is lacking in many ways, it is not bad. It is like a skinny kid that needs to do some weight-lifting. The problems are remedial. With a better or better-directed cast and an overhaul of the dialogue this could be a winner. It is hard to tell from such a short sample if the series would take flight but it has potential. The pilot has won awards such as the ‘Best Short Form Series Pilot’ at the SOHO International Film Festival and ‘The Visionary Award’ at SeriesFest 2020, so somebody really likes it.
While you are waiting for this science fiction series to be picked up, try these “The OA” (Netflix), “Dark” (Netflix), “Misfits” (Pluto TV for free), or “Dollhouse” (Hulu/Amazon Prime).
