The Booth at the End is a psychological thriller series created by Christopher Kubasik and starring Xander Berkeley, and was produced by Vuguru. The series premiered on August 27, 2010 on the Canadian network City. Two seasons were produced, each consisting of five 23-minute episodes. The first season was directed by Jessica Landaw, and the second by Adam Arkin. The series follows the fates of an apparently random group of strangers who each enter into a Faustian pact with a mysterious figure, the Man (Berkeley), whom they believe possesses the power to grant any wish, in return for which they must carry out a task he assigns them – hence the series tagline, "How far would you go to get what you want?" The series is notable for its mise-en-scene, in which the dramatic action is entirely conveyed through a series of conversations between the Man and his clients, which all take place in the eponymous "booth at the end" of an archetypal American diner.

Synopsis

In the first episode, we meet the Man (Berkeley), an anonymous, morally ambiguous agent who habitually occupies the booth at the end in a classic 1950s-style diner in an unnamed city (a fictional version of Los Angeles). In each episode, a character enters the diner, and after giving a passphrase, they beg the Man to grant them a wish, typically something of a life-changing or impossible nature. The Man consults a large ledger book and assigns them a task. If they complete the task, the task being non-negotiable, they automatically and immediately receive their wish. Clients are permitted to walk away from their deal at any time, or achieve their wish through other means. The Man requests each person regularly return to the diner to check in, where he asks them questions about their progress, state of mind, and feelings, occasionally making notes in the book. The clients' tasks range from the mundane (calling a person) to the monstrous (killing a child). The characters report back on their progress to the Man, desperately attempting to bargain with or deceive him in order to receive their wish without completing their tasks. Clients are tormented by the mysterious nature of the Man, wondering if he is a demon or somehow magic, though he appears to have little to no control over the tasks assigned or the outcomes, and they agonize over what the decisions they are making to get what they want mean about them as people.

Cast and characters

Season 1

In season 1, the Man and his book are found at Cadillac Jack's, a diner, where he is waited on by Doris, and is seen, with moral ambiguity, to offer each of the visiting characters a deal toward her or his desire in return for the completion of a task.

Season 2

In season 2, the Man has changed his diner and left behind Doris as waitress (and, seemingly, has changed the appearance of his book and pen). He continues to offer patrons deals toward their desires, in return for the completion of tasks. The season reveals more regarding both the Man and his nature, regarding the mysterious book that is the source of the tasks, and regarding the character of Doris from season 1.

Production

The series was created by Christopher Kubasik and was produced by the internet production company Vuguru. It was originally in the form of 62 two-minute webisodes, which were released on Shorts in the City on Citytv.com in August 2010, before being adapted to more traditional television-sized episodes. The first season was directed by Jessica Landaw. The first season was filmed on location at Cadillac Jack's Cafe in the 9400 block San Fernando Road, in Sun Valley, California. Cadillac Jacks Cafe is fully dressed and has one Rockola juke box, a full kitchen, counter seating as well as several booths with juke box access. Outside, the diner is decorated with era-specific neon lighting. There is also an outside car hop. The second season was filmed at a diner location in the Barclay Hotel at 365 South Main Street, in Los Angeles, California. The series ran two seasons, and consisted of five twenty-three minute episodes in each season. The second season was directed by Adam Arkin, who also co-produced.

Episodes

Season 1 (2010)

The episodes of the first season were directed by Jessica Landaw.

Season 2 (2012)

The episodes of the second season were directed by Adam Arkin.

Broadcast and release

The first season of The Booth at the End premiered on August 27, 2010, on the Canadian network City, and was released in the United States by Hulu on July 11, 2011. The show was also shown on FX in the United Kingdom in April 2011. The second season of the series premiered on Hulu and on the Citytv.com video portal on August 6, 2012, with new episodes premiering every Monday, and with the fifth and final episode of season 2 being released on September 3, 2012. It also aired on FX in the United Kingdom from November to December 2012.

Home media

In the UK and Ireland, seasons 1 and 2 can be streamed via Amazon Video. In the United Kingdom, it was released on the online video on demand channel of walla!. Season 1 was previously available on Netflix in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Reception

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian praised Xander Berkeley's performance, stating that Berkeley delivers "a performance so brilliant it should be used as an acting masterclass".

Film adaptation

An Italian cinematographic adaptation titled The Place was directed by Paolo Genovese in 2017.