Top 20 Questions Raised in Persons Unknown Pilot Episode

Persons Unknown is a new show that premiered on NBC on June 7, 2010. In this series, seven strangers are kidnapped and taken to individual rooms in a hotel in the middle of a ghost town. Planned as a miniseries, it is supposed to wrap up the story in 13 episodes and answer all questions by the end of its run.

While watching the intriguing and suspenseful pilot episode, I paid close attention to the events as they unfolded. Afterward, I thought about the questions it raised in my mind. Although there are many, I've narrowed the list down to the top 20 questions about Persons Unknown.

1. Why were those people chosen? While they were obviously not chosen on the spur of the moment right before being abducted, it's not clear whether there was something about each of them or whether they were simply chosen at random at an earlier point in time.

2. Who or what is behind the abductions? Possible answers include the government, aliens, and artificial intelligence.

3. Is this the first time this has happened? If not, are there other groups now or have there been others in the past?

4. How many of the abductees lied about their fortunes? We know that Janet lied, but what about some of the others? One slip of paper supposedly contained numerals, while another contained a message written in Chinese. However, we didn't see them and have no idea whether or not either assertion is true.

5. Were the abductors once abductees? Did they, like Janet, receive instructions to carry out an action in order to secure their future release?

6. Where is Janet's husband, and what was their relationship like before he disappeared? We don't know anything about why she's looking for him, other than the fact that he's gone and she probably wants child support. Did he leave of his own free will, or is he part of another group?

7. Why wasn't the night manager more freaked out about his situation? He said that he woke up there after learning that he got the job, but he doesn't question it much because he's "used to it." Does that mean that he's been there before to look after other groups? Or has he been whisked away to other locations?

8. Are all the abductees' families under surveillance? Janet's mother is being watched in her own home.

9. Is Janet's mother involved? She's strange and abusive, and her own daughter doesn't trust her.

10. Is Janet's private investigator involved?

11. How did the reporter get the surveillance tape? He said that it's not easy to get hold of that type of thing, so how did he do it? Did the abductors make sure that he got it? If so, why?

12. Where did the Chinese men come from? Were they all taken from different locations, or do they all work at the same restaurant? They didn't seem to find the situation disturbing.

13. Is there special significance to taping the keys inside the Bibles? Was it meant to see who would be thorough enough in their search to look there? Was it to see who would turn to the Bible for comfort? Or was it a clue?

14. What made Janet take that attitude with the detective? She wasn't paying him, and she admitted that she couldn't pay him, but she expected him to continue working for her anyway and just wait for his money.

15. Who is Joe and what is his background? He's very secretive, but he's obviously skilled. He reminds me of Jake Green, Skeet Ulrich's character in Jericho.

16. Are any of the abductees actually in on this, or are they all for real?

17. Is Janet the only one who was really kidnapped? If so, is her mother responsible?

18. Where are they? The ghost town looks more like a set for a movie, TV, or amusement park than a real town.

19. How did they get there? Did they all arrive by van, or were they flown there?

20. What did Moira mean when she asked whether she'd missed her wake-up call? Was she taken from a hotel? Or was she a patient in a rehab clinic? She does know a lot about drugs, and she had what seemed to be a hospital ID bracelet in the pocket of her bathrobe.

By the end of the series, we should have the answers to all these questions and more. If you're interested in Persons Unknown but missed the premiere, you still have a chance. According to NBC's website (here), the pilot episode is available online until July 1, 2010.

Source:

http://www.nbc.com/persons-unknown/