Could It Be Magic?

I've watched the first two episodes of Dispatches From Elsewhere, the new AMC drama.  It not only stars Jason Segel, it was created by him--he also wrote and directed the pilot.  It's based on The Institute, a documentary I haven't seen.

The show starts with Richard E. Grant staring at us.  He plays the narrator, and also, apparently, the character who's pulling the strings.  Then we concentrate on Peter (Segel), who's just another nameless worker drone.  Until he calls a number on a flyer and gets invited to visit the Jejune Institute.  And no sooner has he had the meeting than he's getting messages from the Elsewhere society warning him to get away.

So this is the game.  It's not clear who's in charge, how real it is, or what it means. It's also not clear which side is good or bad, or even if they're truly different.  But we soon meet other players who make up Peter's team--troubled transgender Simone (the main character in the second episode, played by Eve Lindley) and two others we don't know that well yet, Janice (Sally Field), a prudent older lady and Fredwynn, an over-analytical African-American.  No doubt we'll find out more about them in the next two episodes.

The show is still explaining itself, but it seems to be about finding the magic in real life.  As such, it's somewhat reminiscent of the recently-canceled AMC drama Lodge 49.  Trouble is, so far, Dispatches From Elsewhere isn't that magical.  The characters are quirky, to be sure, but not yet special.  And the things that happen are odd, but not yet compelling.

Guess I'll keep watching for now (it's after Better Call Saul), but if it doesn't get better by the fourth episode, when all the main characters are introduced, I'll be done.