This is the end, isn’t it? Or is it just the beginning?

Last Thursday, “You, Me and the Apocalypse” premiered on NBC to 1.28 million viewers. The premiere, as strong as it was, is much like the show itself, waiting for something big to happen.

The show is about a group of people as the world nears its end and the story of how they end up in the same bomb shelter as a meteorite crashes into the earth. However, the pilot tells their story 34 days before the meteorite crashes.

The beginning is very slow, leaving audiences to wait for the momentum to build. Mathew Baynton (“Spy”) does a poor job at hooking fans in at the beginning. His story seems uneventful and lack luster compared to the others displayed in the episode, yet as the episode continues fans get more out of both of his characters, as he plays both Jamie, a bank manager in England, and Ariel, a leader of a cyber terrorist group known as Deus Ex Machina.

The show also stars Jenna Fischer (“The Office”). She plays Rhonda, a former librarian who ends up in jail after hacking the NSA, or at least that’s what she told the authorities. She ends up behind bars to protect her son and although she thinks she’ll be out right away, her stay is prolonged as the court hopes to make an example of her.

At first, it was hard to accept Fischer in this new role. Her quiet performance and meek demeanor in the beginning of the episode makes fans reminisce of Pam Beasley too much. It isn’t until her character stands up for herself and flips off the other inmates that people can begin to see her as more than just the one character.

Another standout performance comes from Rob Lowe (“Parks and Recreation”) who plays Father Jude Sutton. In terms of originality, seeing a chain smoking father who curses more than a sailor who stubbed his toe brings a refreshing light to the show, as well as a new look for Lowe. The character is also the most interesting in the episode, drawing fans in more than the other two developing characters.

Speaking of actors from other NBC shows, Megan Mullally (“Parks and Recreation”) gives a great performance in the show as well. The moment viewers see she is playing a white supremacist with a swastika tattoo on her head, they may be discouraged, and very possibly offended. Yet, as she talks as the character and truly bring to life someone the show can stand behind, one can help to respect her performance.

The show does a good job at balancing the plot lines among the three stories lines, one of its biggest strengths in the first episode. No segment seems to go on too long, and no one’s story seems to be cut off as viewers jump between the different locals and actors. As the show continues, viewers will hopefully see this trend develop and allow for even more to be told before the final convergence at the end.

Although it had a slow start, the show picks up ten minutes in and it only gets better from there. The end leaves viewers wanting more and there is no doubt that it will deliver. Be sure to tune in, what better way to spend your final hours, than watching a good show.

Rating: 4 out of 5