Persons Unknown - NBC

Real Teen Award

- Best show that was unjustly canceled in 2010 

The Gist

One day when watching her daughter in the park Janet is kidnapped by complete strangers.  When she wakes up in the morning she finds out that she is in an abandoned hotel with 6 other people.  After much fighting between the guests they find their way out of the hotel only to realize that their every move is being watched and the town they have been put in has no other people at all.  When they try to escape the town they all suddenly faint after a certain point.  Giving up for the day they return to the hotel to find a night manager and quickly start bombarding him with questions.  He refuses to answer their questions and they realize that the Chinese place across the street is now open for business.  Puzzled, they go take a look inside confused now more than ever.  Back in San Francisco, a reporter who works for a celebrity magazine finds out about Janet, “the missing mom” but when he tries to tell his boss she won’t hear of it and tells him to get back to gathering dirt on people.  The only thing is that he will stop at nothing to figure what happened to “the missing mom” even if he has to do it alone.

What We Think
Reviewed by The North Star

Number of Seasons: 1

I caught this show when one day I was watching the news and they were doing a special on it and interviewing the actors. This show sounded a lot like Lost which I loved  and so I thought why not try it out.  From the instant that I watched this show I was hooked.  The acting was really good and I had already profiled the characters that I liked and ones that I didn’t like.  Now every week I look forward to watching this show and seeing what will happen next.  The only thing that really bothers me about this show is the two reporters who live in San Francisco.  Although the girl grew on me as the show went on I still can’t stand the guy.  For some reason I just don’t like him.  Maybe it is the way he is obsessed with this case, or maybe it is the way he looks and walks, but for some reason I don’t like him.  The thing that I love about this show is that they aren’t afraid to do things that people may not like (ex. making people evil or killing off important characters).  Since this show showed so early that they are not afraid to do this I am always on my toes not knowing what is going to happen, and never sure if my favorite character is going to be safe.  If a show can do this than I think that it is a success in making people feel for the characters and what fate has in store for them.  The other thing that I really love about this show is the idea.  People being taken hostage for a reason unknown (no pun intended) and being put in a fake town.  Every time me and my friends try to guess why they are there the show says something that disproves our theory or something that makes us think of a new theory.  All in all, this show is a must-watch and you will not be disappointed.

Real Teen Rating~ A+: MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD WATCH!

Reviewed by Dream Catcher

I’d seen one or two commercials for the show before anyone told me about it. Still, I was intrigued. The idea sounded creepy and interesting. The acting didn’t seem too bad. So I thought I would give it a try if I ever saw it on TV. But then the North Star started watching the first few episodes and insisted I watch them too. So I went over her house and watched episodes one and two there and I was hooked. I watch every episode and then eagerly await the next one. Every monday at eight I tell everyone I’m going to watch Persons Unknown and there’s nothing they can do to stop me. No one ever protests because they’re usually sitting down next to me on the couch, eyes on the TV watching the episode too. The idea of the whole thing is so creepy and really entertaining. You never know what’s going to happen. Like the North Star said, they’re certainly not afraid to kill off main characters, so I’m always worried my favorite characters will die. The romances and friendships are another really great part of the story. They’re so real and unexpected in this situation and they’re so cute. They also do a really good job at making some characters really mean and unlikable. Sometimes I get so annoyed with the characters that I yell at the TV.  All in all, I think it’s a really great show that is definitely worth watching. IT IS EXTREMELY ADDICTING!

Real Teen Rating~ A+ : MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD WATCH!!!

Reviewed by Living Destiny

So, unlike North Star and Dream Catcher, I never saw anything about this show on tv.  I never even really heard of it until North told me about it in a little restaurant downtown on the last day of school.  It sounded interesting, so I thought I’d check it out.  But then I didn’t really.  One day, though, I got really bored, so I watched the first episode off on demand.  And then the second.  And then the third.  And then I sat there wishing it was Monday so there would be another episode for me to watch.  I was amazed at how quickly the show hooked me!  The whole concept is most definitely something close to genius.  It’s super creepy, but also intriguing.  The plot is interesting, and the dialogue is really good.  Props to the writers on this!

I am in total awe of this show.  The fact that the show actually has the guts to kill off a main character of the show so close to the start is incredible, and makes me have even more respect for the whole thing.  Every episode leaves me tense and curled up into a ball from all the intenseness (is that even a word?), and I’m always waiting for the next episode to air.

I totally recommend this show to anybody.  Even if you don’t think you’ll like it, you probably will, so try it anyway.  And watch it with friends, because then you have people to spitball your crazy theories of the whys and hows of this show off of, even though none of them will be right (and yes, I speak from experience!)

Real Teen Rating~ A+: MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD WATCH!!!


Reviewed by ShoreWhisperer

This show is absolutely amazing!!! North introduced it to me over pizza and fries. I thought that at first that it would be just a rip off of Lost, which is now off television.  You see that it would be a perfect a time to catch peoples attention… especially people who loved Lost because this has the same concept and the same feeling of being kept from information and that feeling of suspense. So I gave it a try. As in many situations I was pleasantly surprised. I hadn’t been allowed to watch Lost when it premiered. Part of my family was committed to it, so when I saw Persons Unknown I picked it up instantly. It was in ways different and unique and similar in some other aspects. The feelings between the captives are played out so well and the development of friendships and possible love is absolutely captivating. It leaves me in a frantic frenzy, after every show I want to run up to the producers and beg them to tell me all the secrets. Will Joe and Janet get together? Who captured them? Where are they? Good thing that my questions will be answered by the end of this glorious summer. I don’t think that I could wait that long! Anyway, if you have any pessimistic thoughts about this show you should put them aside and then give this show a chance because it is the most amazing thing on TV. You will soon be sitting in front of your TV captivated by the suspenseful drama that will have you on your seat for an hour once a week.

Real Teen Rating~ A+: MOST DEFINITELY WATCH THIS!!!!