WhenBreaking Badcame to an end in 2013, Dean Norris went from playing Hank Schrader to starring in the incredibly underrated Stephen King TV series,Under the Dome. Norris portrayed DEA agent and Walter White’s brother-in-law throughoutevery season ofBreaking Bad, and he was one of the audience’s favorite personalities in the show. However, like the rest ofBreaking Bad’s cast, Norris began looking for other roles after it was announced the hit show was coming to an end.
In the same yearBreaking Badwas wrapping up, Norris was cast inUnder the Dome,and he made an immediate impression on viewers. Although I was personally disappointed thatUnder the Domeseason 4never happened, I’ll never forget Dean Norris’ performance in the Stephen King adaptation, and it arguably made more of an impact than his role inBreaking Bad.
Dean Norris Played A Main Character In Under The Dome
Big Jim Was The Main Villain In The Stephen King Adaptation
Norris famously played James “Big Jim” Rennie inUnder the Dome’s cast. Jim was the main antagonist of the show, a councilman in the fictional small town of Chester’s Mill and a dealer of used cars.Jim was the person who created further chaos in Chester’s Millwith his radio announcement, and throughout the show, everything the character did was primarily for his own gain. Norris was nothing short of stellar asUnder the Dome’s villain.
He brought Stephen King’s character to life brilliantly, which earned him a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor on Television in 2014. Ultimately, Norris’ portrayal of Big Jim proved why he was one ofStephen King’s best human villains. Whileboth Jim and Hank Schrader were stuck in their ways and irritating at times,Norris’ character inUnder the Domewas far darker. Jim didn’t have the moral compass that Hank did, and he was a lot more sinister, too. Overall, Jim was everything Hank wasn’t.
Under The Dome Broke A Record As The Most-Watched Summer Drama Premiere
The Show’s Debut Was A Huge Moment, Ratings-Wise
Under the Domewas a fantasticStephen King TV show adaptation. In fact, it actually broke a record, ratings-wise. WhenUnder the Domewas first broadcast in 2013,the pilot episode averaged 13.5 million viewers(viaUSA Today), which made it CBS’ biggest summer debut of a drama since 1992. The only time the network got close to matching this number was in 2000 withBig Brother, although that was a reality TV show.
It was no surprise thatUnder the Domewas such a success. The first episode was an absolute thrill, and it gripped audiences from start to finish. Even thoughUnder the Dome’s ratings fluctuated throughout the show’s run,it was hard to deny how successful it was when its debut made such an impact on the TV industry.
Why You’ll Love Dean Norris In Under The Dome If You’re A Hank Schrader Fan
Norris Showed Off His Fantastic Acting Wheelhouse In Under The Dome
FromTerminator 2: Judgement Day’s SWAT Team Leader toBreaking Bad’s Hank Schrader, and everything in between,Dean Norris’ career has been a colorful one.Norris was frequently praised for how his acting abilities in general had evolved from one character to the next. Even though Norris was a major part of both shows in a short span of time, at no point did his portrayal of Big Jim ever feel repetitive or too similar to Hank.
Audiences loved watching Norris as Big Jim because he simply wasn’t Hank. Norris’ performance inUnder the Domeallowed the actor to demonstrate a different side of his abilities. Plus, Norris may have had a successful career before playing Hank, butBreaking Badwas his real breakthrough project, andUnder the Domeproved that he hadn’t passed his peak yet.
This wasn’t the first timeDean Norris had appeared in a horroror sci-fi project, though. He also starred in titles such asStarship Troopers,The Cell,Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, andTremors, too. AlthoughHank Schrader will forever be known as Dean Norris’ most notable TV role,Big Jim inUnder the Domeis a very close second.
Under the Dome
Cast
Under the Dome is a science fiction mystery drama series that aired on CBS for three seasons from 2013-2015. Based on Stephen King’s 2009 novel of the same name, Under the Dome tells the story of how a giant, transparent, and indestructible dome suddenly traps the fictional small town of Chester’s Mill inside of it. The mystery of where the dome came from, and if it will ever go away, is at the heart of the show’s storylines.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
Dean Norris
Discover the latest news and filmography for Dean Norris, known for Breaking Bad and Under the Dome.
