Stream It Or Skip It: ‘DMZ’ on HBO Max, A Dystopian Look at NYC After A Second Civil War

Based on a comic book series of the same name by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli, DMZ is the latest project in Ava DuVernay’s extremely capable directorial hands. Premiering at SXSW prior to its drop on HBO Max, the show is a gritty story about hope and survival in the throes of a fictional Second American Civil War. With a cast that includes Rosario Dawson, Mamie Gummer, and Benjamin Bratt, the four-episode miniseries certainly has the pedigree to be a buzzworthy show. Does it have what it takes to stay in the minds of viewers?

DMZ: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: Shrouded in blue lighting, Rosario Dawson wakes up in a start, looking troubled.

The Gist: In a dystopian future (that doesn’t actually feel so dystopian based on our current political climate), the US experiences a second civil war and Manhattan has been designated as the demilitarized zone, or DMZ. Alma (Rosario Dawson), a former medic, arrives into the DMZ via a secret passage in search of her son who she was separated from during the chaotic first days of the war six years ago, risking her life to reunite with her family in the limited time she’s allowed to be in the DMZ. Meanwhile, the island has sprung up a few warring factions divided by geography, which Alma inadvertently becomes connected to.

Our Take: The most striking aspect of this show is how realistic the premise feels. Living in America in 2022 often feels like we’re on the brink of a real catastrophe in our own backyard (let alone the catastrophes unfolding across the world), so a show about a second civil war erupting in the US doesn’t feel as dystopian as it may have had it premiered a few years ago.

Helmed by the always charismatic Rosario Dawson as Alma, the show is ultimately about hope. After being separated from her son for years, Alma ventures into an unrecognizable Manhattan through the now-decrepit subway tunnels to embark on a journey through a place she no longer recognizes. Alma has never given up hope that her son is still alive somewhere in Manhattan and won’t let go of her determination to be united with her family. It’s anchored by a great performance by Dawson who tends to thrive in roles that showcase grit and composure, which are the key characteristics of protagonists for shows like this.

The cliffhanger of the first episode is predictable to anyone who has watched a show like this with a quest at the center. But it doesn’t really matter because it’s still interesting enough to keep the audience’s attention, largely due to the gorgeous direction by DuVernay. Every scene is fully alive with energy, commotion, fear, and tension, and when the scenes stand still it’s enough to make you want to look over your own shoulder.

If there’s anything to nitpick in the pilot, it’s a secondary plot that follows a young boy through Manhattan after his grandfather tells him to leave so that he’s no longer bogged down by his old age. It’s a melancholic thread that feels somewhat out of place in the larger narrative, at least in the first episode. Similarly Benjamin Bratt’s portrayal of the leather-jacket clad leader of the uptown faction of the island feels a bit stereotypical as it relates to countercultures.

But those are small nitpicks in a much grander, thrilling story. DMZ is only four parts and is fully alive in every frame. Though it treads familiar storytelling ground, the journey is still worthwhile.

Parting Shot: After a chilling realization on her way back through the tunnels, Alma defies the rules and turns back, and leaves a painted message for her son on the wall.

Sleeper Star: It’s really Dawson’s show in the first episode, as she navigates this new world, but Mamie Gummer as a helpful doctor also brings much-needed warmth to the screen in the first episode.

Most Pilot-y Line: The first act of DMZ is full of exposition, explaining how the world got this way and what the rules are for existing here now. Alma’s supervisor Mia (Agam Darshi) gives her explicit instructions when they enter the DMZ: stay downtown because there’s nothing uptown except “people at their worst,” which of course is exactly where Alma needs to go to bring her family back together.

Our Call: STREAM IT. It’s not hard to imagine this dystopian future, and DMZ offers a compelling story at the heart of the show.

Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer based in New York City. Her work has appeared on Vulture, Teen Vogue, Paste Magazine and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.