I'm wondering if a more optimal way of presenting the series would be to have bundled it into four "movie-length" episodes. The running time for such a setup would be 1:40, 1:33, 1:58, 2:14 (if I've added them up properly). I think the pace issues might be mitigated by such an approach, because to my eyes and rhythmic sense, Zaillian was looking to establish that late Melvillian "pall" over events that creates a kind of "trance" effect over the action; having the episodes work at "film length" would have enhanced that further and might have been a corrective for the pacing issues some experienced. For me, the only problem was coming out of the trance too often and having to find that same liminal mental state all over again.
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