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Going Under the Dome: Neal Baer Answers Burning Questions, Teases Season Finale "Showdown"

[Warning: This story contains major spoilers from Monday's episode of Under the Dome as well as the Stephen King novel the series is based on. Read at your own risk.] From enemy to hero. Even though Big Jim (Dean Norris) tries to turn the town against Barbie (Mike Vogel), the apparent Monarch refuses to succumb to blackmail as he pleads not guilty to trumped up charges. Before that, though, Barbie was able to...

Natalie Abrams
Natalie Abrams

[Warning: This story contains major spoilers from Monday's episode of Under the Domeas well as the Stephen King novel the series is based on. Read at your own risk.]

From enemy to hero.

Even though Big Jim (Dean Norris) tries to turn the town against Barbie (Mike Vogel), the apparent Monarch refuses to succumb to blackmail as he pleads not guilty to trumped up charges. Before that, though, Barbie was able to secure Julia's (Rachelle Lefevre) safety. Unfortunately, not everyone could be saved and Dodee (Jolene Purdy) is the latest resident to fall victim under the dome. Who killed her? TVGuide.com turned to executive producer Neal Baer to get some answers:

Going Under the Dome: Neal Baer answers burning questions on the identity of the Monarch

How does the outside world know about the mini-dome?
Dodee hears military men discussing the egg, saying that Barbie is the only one with the expertise to handle it.
Baer's response: They have satellites that have seen it.

Will Big Jim have to pay for his crimes?
When Dodee brings Big Jim to the radio station to hear the transmissions about Barbie and the egg, she overhears the military men talking about how Big Jim can't be trusted because he killed the Reverend (Ned Bellamy). When Dodee starts talking about the mini-dome possibly being used to bring the dome down, Big Jim kills her because he doesn't want the dome to disappear.
Baer's response: He certainly has to face somebody. He's going to have to face Junior (Alexander Koch) next week. There's that great scene where he's like, "What is it with you and Julia? Why do you care?" He stops and says, "If you're lying to me, this will be very bad for both of us." I love that. When he walks away, you can see it on Junior's face that he doesn't know whether to believe his father or not. 

Why does Big Jim want to stay under the dome?
Before Big Jim kills Dodee, he says that the dome can't come down ... yet.
Baer's response: He's finally the big man in charge. He's not just a used car salesman. Isn't that so human?

Under the Dome's Neal Baer: A storm of unseen power will descend on Chester's Mill

Is the dome targeting Big Jim because he's trying to kill Barbie?
When Big Jim tries to search the farm house where the mini-dome was once held, Joe (Colin Ford) and Norrie (Mackenzie Lintz) are arrested for obstruction of justice — in other words, Big Jim is mad that they hid it. But there's obviously a reason that the four hands saw themselves killing Big Jim.
Baer's response: We'll learn next week what the dome can and can't do. There's more surprises next week. [The Monarch's identity] will be revealed.

Why was the mini-dome acting up?
Hidden away at Ben's (John Elvis) house, the mini-dome starts making a high-pitched noised while shining brightly. The egg has now turned bright red instead of pink. Could this have to do with Barbie being put on trial?
Baer's response: The mini-dome was shrieking because there was harm coming to critical people. Barbie, Norrie, Joe, Julia, Angie, all of them were in trouble. The mini-dome was not happy that the people who are most important to the dome are in jail or in trouble. Barbie being arrested and saying, "Not guilty," is interesting. It was reacting to the tide of events that were happening.

Under the Dome: Who will be crowned the monarch?

What's in store for the finale?
Will the dome actually come down? Will we find out why the dome descended upon Chester's Mill?
Baer's response: It's called "Curtains," which has several meanings. Like, "It's curtains for somebody," or "drawing curtains over the dome." It's a real showdown next week. You're going to get a very stunning, startling revelation next week. Through someone we care and love deeply, we'll find some answers. You're going to see something unexpected involving a death in the finale.

What did you think of this week's Under the Dome? Submit your questions in the comments section below for next week's edition of Going Under the Dome.

Under the Dome airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.

(Full disclosure: TVGuide.com is owned by CBS.)