SurrealEstate Review: Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1)

SurrealEstate Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” sets a promising tone for the new series.

The series is a mix between The Haunting of Hill House and the more comedic episodes of The X-FIles. It’s a fitting tone for a series whose premise sounds a little corny at first, but the performances from the main class are what drive the series giving dimension to the series. 

Tim Rozon gives an exceptional performance, delivering a very different persona compared to Doc Holiday on Wynonna Earp. He approaches Luke with a light hand giving him lots of delicate layers to peel back. 

It feels like the show has set up a clear arc for its mythology and given each character a somewhat defined personality.

While we may not know much about the rest of the Roman Agency’s staff, it’s a good sign that the show didn’t try to do too much in its first episode.

“Pilot” focuses mainly on Susan, Luke, and Megan, with the rest of the cast supporting the story giving viewers insight into what’s going on. Letting us see only a few details of each character and only bringing us into the important parts of this first story shows a focus many shows tend to lack. 

This week’s hauntings keep viewers interested and invested in what’s going on within the home. The cinematography and direction of the jump scares are expertly crafted and don’t miss a beat.

While it does feel somewhat predictable, relying on tropes, the tension builds enough that we need to see how the sale concludes. 

However, the conclusions for these two homes feel a little too simple.

Megan’s home having a portal to hell in a wine cellar feels too easy given the build-up about the house always being there. I hesitate to write this home off since it does seem to have a larger effect on Luke and therefore more to explore.

Susan’s case also feels convenient. Meeting another teen with powers is a convenient way to introduce Susan’s gifts. However, since we all need a bit of exposition, it’ll be easy to look past in new episodes.

The ensuing conversations between Luke and Susan are the real reason viewers should stay onboard. Their talks about belief and if ghosts are real are reminiscent of Mulder and Scully with some additional baggage.

Overall, SurrealEstate has a strong first outing that can be promising as long as it continues to strike a balance between horror and comedy. Between keeping a consistent tone and diversifying its cases. the show has the potential to be a unique take on the ghostbuster narrative. 

The show will also be served well in continuing to let the characters drive the story. The deeper we get into these character’s lives and their unique connections with the metaphysical, the more the series can lean into psychological horror overall. 

Stray Thoughts

• I absolutely love the humor in this series and I hope the writers are able to maintain that throughout. 
• I really love how into the real estate lingo Luke is and how he easily cracks jokes about taking a secret blood oath. As long as the jokes can be diversified, I hope that stays in the series long term. 

What did you think of this episode of SurrealEstate? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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SurrealEstate airs Fridays at 10/9c on Syfy.

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