Panic Season One Episode One

"Do not attempt to recreate these activities" So reads the disclaimer at the outset of Panic. Seems legit. We then start with "Every small town has a secret." Heather is narrating- I remember her being the protagonist from the book. Oh, yeah- this is based on a book by Lauren Oliver, and apparently she wrote the episodes? That was enough to get me to give this a try. So the premise here is that teenagers in Carp, TX play a game called Panic and whoever wins gets $50,000 so they can get the fuck out of Dodge. Seems legit, yeah. Plus what an idea- teens play an edgy game to get out of a loser town. I loved the book and am really curious to see where the show takes this idea.  

"Don't panic." Makes me think of Hitchhiker's Guide. 

So this is Texas even though the book was in NY. The game starts right after graduation and all seniors are eligible to play. We get a montage of some of the challenges- wait, they shot a hornet's nest when a girl was next to it? NO! Anywho, so we have Heather and Natalie, and I guess Bishop too, as the mains? It's graduation and Heather's mom, who's obviously a winner, shows up late. Wow, she's there to borrow money? Mom of the year. Yeah, Heather's obviously gonna play. 

"I'm just fucking with you." Said every jerk ever. 

So Heather's a writer. And her mom is trash. She's got a thing for Bishop and Nat wants to win Panic. Heather's got some money saved and she needs a little more for this accounting class. Ooh, there were fatalities in last years Panic. Heather meets Dodge, a geeky looking new guy and he seems (initially) like kind of a jerk- maybe not. Not sure about the sheriff, frankly. 

Ooh, the game begins! 

First up is the Jump- they gotta take the plunge off a big rock quarry. Don't get squished by rocks. Oh, you can see this coming. Heather's stash is missing. So now she needs cash and where can one find money fast? Well, guess.