Minority Report Season 1 Finale Review

This Minority Report review contains spoilers.

Minority Report Season 1 Episode 10

Looking back at the first season of Minority Report, it seems like there was plenty of room for more substantial storylines like the one in the finale. This ending is solid and leaves open many possibilities for a future season if there is one, but the missteps along the way have minimized its potential. With both the Memento Mori and Blomfield having their plans foiled, the pre-cogs seem safe for now, and their path to success was fraught with suspense and punctuated with unexpected twists. If only the whole season had been like this!

Having an actual minority report for the first time was a nice touch in this episode, although it turned out to be more of an additional clue than an alternate fate. Moving the senators to a bunker seemed to be an obvious snafu, though, and the idea that it could reach 99 degrees, even in an airless underground shelter, was a bit hard to swallow. But once again, Wally’s machine helped Dash get the crucial detail that saves the day.

The operatives that stormed Wally’s place being off the books was also an unexpected turn that worked nicely. It hadn’t been clear that Blomfield’s rogue mission was so unsupported, but it certainly helped the credibility of the events that unfolded. The possibility remains that, even with him out of the picture by the end of the episode, his supporters could still come after the precogs. It’s a shame to see Reed Diamond leave, though; he’s such a great villain.

Perhaps in the most dangerous position is Wally, who was technically the one responsible for Reed Diamond’s departure, so to speak. His sacrifice was both noble and worrisome, but his actions tied in nicely with the flashback of him knowingly lying to the young psychics as they’re first put in the milk bath during pre-crime. Having him commit the crime instead of Arthur (who otherwise probably would have gone through with it) had much more impact.

The best moment, however, had to be when Vega bent over the milk baths with the unconscious DIA agents nearby and said, “Put them in,” thus fulfilling Agatha’s long held prophecy. She didn’t know about that quote even though the audience did, and the revealing of Vega’s actions as assistance rather than betrayal gave closure to the ongoing skepticism of Dash’s partnership. Perhaps now Arthur and Agatha will allow her into their circle of trust.

As compelling as the story was, though, many of the characters never did solve the problem of likability and chemistry. Where Blake showed real depth in previous episodes, here his character was once again as flat as he started out the season. Dash’s nobility got a boost from Agatha’s comment, “He always was the strongest of us,” but his bravery doesn’t always seem to spring from a deep, personality-driven place. And of course Vega, although she had strong emotional moments, never stood out as someone who was comfortable in her own skin or with those around her. Because of this, viewers never really bonded with any of the major characters.

The storytelling in Minority Report was great, even excellent in some installments including this finale. The ideas of free will, personal freedom, and fate were not always center stage, but glimpses of potential sometimes shone through. Unfortunately, with characters that never endeared themselves to viewers, the other positives become irrelevant. As the final review of the season, the criticisms overshadow the few points of praise, which get lost in their own minority report.