If the news about government use of personal data has caused you concern lately, take a look at Lifetime‘s series The Lottery. Yes, Lifetime. Whether or not you enjoy the types of series and TV movies upon which the network has built its reputation, this series represents quite a new turn.
The production values, direction, and even the script to an extent have a Lifetime feel to them. But the storylines, wow. When Lifetime called this a “conspiracy thriller,” to be honest I didn’t really believe it. I was wrong.
I’ve told you in past posts that the basic premise is that the world has become infertile, that the birthrate suddenly and dramatically decreased until there have been no new births for five years. And then suddenly, a lab is able to create 100 viable embryos. And they don’t know how or why.
This being a Lifetime series, I thought that the emphasis would be on all the women who want to be mothers, and on the women who had donated the eggs. Sure, there’s some of that. But the real emphasis is on what has become a very scary government. The level of intervention is really frightening. Conspiracy and subterfuge and espionage and national security and the needs of the one versus the needs of the many; seriously, it is a very disturbing and thought provoking series, and I definitely recommend it. They even have one character who reminds me very much of the Cigarette Smoking Man.
The Lottery premiered nearly four weeks ago, but you can catch up On Demand or on mylifetime.com, depending on your cable provider. Do it. It’s not as edgy as, say, an FX series, but this show deserves your attention. I just finished watching the gasp-worthy twists of episode 3 and it compelled me to write this post. I really want to see what’s going to happen next.
Check out the trailer, then bingewatch the first three episodes before the fourth premieres on Sunday night:
Trailer: The Lottery – Sundays at 10 on Lifetime
The Lottery, starring Marley Shelton, Michael Graziadei, David Alpay, Athena Karkanis, Yul Vasquez, Shelley Conn and Martin Donovan, premieres Sunday, July 20 at 10/9c on Lifetime.
