First off, the cinematography is phenomenal. So, so visually stunning. The show, at least in the first three episodes, feels very much like a mystery/psychological thriller with supernatural elements. I have a feeling horror is on its way, but for now I am really enjoying the mystery.
Episode one didn't quite hook me initially. There was a lot of scene setting/character introductions, so that might have been why. I will say the unfolding of each character's story was brilliant, and towards the end I started to get more into the show. I will say that scene when Henry is talking to his client, Leanne, (who is on death row) about memory was stunning.
Episode two was phenomenal (the best out of the three). Those first five or so minutes of Lacy's voiceover introducing Castle Rock were just so brilliant visually and did an excellent job building on existing texts to create something original. I am going to have to go back and transcribe Lacy's introduction in the opening scenes. I also really appreciate all of the small details that continued from the first episode that contributed to the character development. Finally, the opening credits were a treat!
Episode three carried on the work of the previous episode, starting to further build up the mystery/suspense and threw in creepy kids and creepy masks as a bonus. It will be interesting to see where the plot goes. Henry is fabulous, but I am not quite digging Molly. I hope her character continues to develop.
General thoughts:
I didn't quite catch it until the end of the second episode, but did you all notice Dale Lacy signed his name "D.Lacy" as in DeLacey from Frankenstein (the sympathetic blind man who treats the creature with kindness). There's some interesting reflection on monsters throughout the three seasons, and I am wondering if we are going to get a character who is purely evil, or constructed evil. Signs seem to point to purely evil (poor mouse), but I have a feeling the show won't be that simple.
Is anyone having trouble remembering/catching names? For some reason I can only remember like three or four names of characters and have to look the rest up.
Finally, I think the commentary on healthcare, addiction, job insecurity, and the prison system fits very nicely with the larger plot of the show. I can see how those threads might develop further throughout the series and tie in to the more supernatural/horror elements.