The Lost Symbol Review: As Above, So Below (Season 1 Episode 1)
Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol Season 1 Episode 1, “As Above, So Below,” takes us on a mysterious quest, with lots of riddles and puzzles to solve along the way.
It’s doubtful that we will actually be able to solve any of the coded messages/puzzles — unless you also studied symbols like Robert Langdon — but we get to watch Langdon put all the pieces together, which is still fascinating.
One thing the series will have to watch out for is making sure we are able to follow along and not get too lost while trying to understand what Langdon has decoded. There’s nothing worse than feeling dumb and/or lost while someone apparently made a huge breakthrough.
Odds are we will be able to put more of the pieces together when it comes to decoding the mystery of why the CIA and Agent Sato are involved, and how Zachary fits into things.
If The Lost Symbol plays it right, the series will capture the same delight that the books did, as we tag along with Langdon as he solves this mystery. “As Above, So Below” sets the series off on the right track.
As far as pilots go, The Lost Symbol Season 1 Episode 1 manages to hook us immediately with this mystery — it’s hard not to when it involves a severed hand — and introduces us to some great characters.
If you’ve read the books and/or seen the movies, then you don’t need much convincing to like Robert Langdon.
Ashley Zukerman manages to not make Langdon seem too intelligent or aloof that Langdon’s unlikeable; you’re instantly captivated by him. However, his dismissal of Katherine’s field does make you want to slap him upside the head at least once.
Katherine tagging along will give Langdon someone to bounce ideas off of or at least explain what he’s doing (for our benefit). She’ll keep him from getting too inside his head, and I’m curious to see more of their present-day dynamic.
Unfortunately, Nunez doesn’t set off to solve mysteries with Langdon at the end. He’s definitely my favorite out of the characters we meet during “As Above, So Below,” and that’s because I’m a sucker for the characters who provide most of the comic relief.
Nunez also balances out Langdon and Agent Sato, who can be far too serious and in their heads as they try to figure out the clues. Hopefully, Katherine is able to fill Nunez’s role as she heads off with Langdon because Nunez represents all of us — the people who know nothing about symbols.
One thing that is not working in the series’ benefit is the flashbacks to Langdon hanging out with the Solomon family. They’re very jarring; happening all of a sudden. And then on top of that, they’re boring.
We don’t learn anything new from them, other than Peter Solomon had a son named Zachary. It’s obvious from the first phone call that Langdon and Katherine have a history, and it’s not surprising that he respected his mentor, Peter.
Flashbacks should show us something we wouldn’t learn from the present day or showcase some character development. So far, the ones on “As Above, So Below” show us neither, making them pointless.
Stray Thoughts
- “I’m playing catch up, but the ransom is superpowers?”
- I wonder how long it takes to put on all of Mal’akh’s tattoos because he is fully covered.
- Anyone else dying to know what’s inside that letter?
What did you think of this episode of The Lost Symbol? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
New episodes of The Lost Symbol premiere Thursdays on Peacock.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Allison Nichols
Allison is in a love affair with television that doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. Slightly damaged fictional characters are her weakness. She loves to spend her free time curled up with a cat and a show to binge-watch. Allison is a Tomatometer-approved critic (Rotten Tomatoes).