Emergence (TV series)
A police chief uncovers a child's mysterious origins.
Emergence is an American mystery-themed thriller television series created by Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas for ABC Studios. Originally intended for NBC, the hour-long program was picked up by ABC and added to its 2019–20 television schedule, debuting on September 24, 2019. The series received positive reviews from critics but was cancelled in May 2020 due to low overall viewership.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Mystery-thriller · Drama · Science-fiction
- Creator
- Michele Fazekas / Tara Butters
- Starring
- Allison Tolman / Alexa Swinton / Owain Yeoman / Ashley Aufderheide / Robert Bailey Jr. / Zabryna Guevara / Donald Faison / Clancy Brown
- Music
- Blake Neely / Daniel James Chan
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 13
- Executive Producer
- Juan Alfonso / Paul McGuigan / Michele Fazekas / Tara Butters
- Producer
- Holly Brix / Gail Barringer
- Cinematography
- Shawn Maurer / Robert Humphreys
- Editor
- William Yeh / L. Schroeder / Maura Corey / Andy Morrish / Hallie Faben Comfort
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series follows Jo Evans, a police chief in Southold on Long Island's Peconic Bay, who takes in a young child found near a mysterious accident. The girl, Piper, has no memory of the event or her identity. As Jo investigates, she discovers a 15-year-old history of bizarre electronic disruptions, unexplained forces, and a cryptic symbol tied to the child. Piper is later revealed to be an artificially intelligent gynoid, part of a project placing artificial children with families, and is extremely dangerous yet seeking love.
The main cast includes Allison Tolman as Jo Evans, Alexa Swinton as Piper, Owain Yeoman as Benny Gallagher, Ashley Aufderheide as Mia Evans, Robert Bailey Jr. as Chris Minetto, Zabryna Guevara as Dr. Abby Fraiser, Donald Faison as Alex Evans, and Clancy Brown as Ed Sawyer. Recurring roles include Terry O'Quinn as Richard Kindred, Maria Dizzia as Emily Cox, and Enver Gjokaj as Agent Ryan Brooks. The series was produced by Fazekas & Butters and ABC Studios.
Reader's Guide
Emergence stands as a notable entry in the mystery-box television trend of the late 2010s, distinguished by strong character writing and a lead performance from Allison Tolman that earned critical praise. The series' premise—a police chief protecting a mysterious child with AI origins—allowed it to explore themes of motherhood, identity, and the ethics of artificial intelligence. Despite positive reviews (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), the show struggled to attract a large audience from its premiere and was cancelled after one season. Its legacy lies in its ambitious storytelling and the unresolved questions it left behind, as well as its place in the careers of its creators and cast.
Did You Know?
- The series was originally ordered as a pilot by NBC before being picked up by ABC.
- Allison Tolman and Alexa Skye Swinton were cast in the lead roles in February 2019.
- Terry O'Quinn joined the cast in a recurring role starting with the third episode.
- The series was cancelled in May 2020 after one season.
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