Sunrise falls victim to a common issue with second episodes: much of the air time is devoted to reinforcing concepts from the pilot. It also cracks under the pressure of having to set expectations for the seasons pace and momentum. The momentum of the pilot, with Joe and Juliana moving toward their shared goal, stalls somewhat with them now settled in Canon City. Like the pilot, Sunrise shines when the grim alternate reality is grounded in the every day familiarity of mid-century America. The family breakfast scene with Obergruppenfuhrer Smith is essentially Ozzie and Harriet with Nazi armbands. Smith, if not for the Nazi armbands, could pass as a cop or fireman. The moment is particularly disturbing due to the context. For this show to transition into a very good series, it must maintain this nauseous tone consistently.
