Ben Anderson

You'll see reviews from Wired or Entertainment Weekly panning "Maniac," but the critics are idiots, devoid of any kind of appreciation for cerebral science fiction. It's kind of a Rorschach test: if you're into that kind of sci-fi, you're going to enjoy it. If you're not, you won't. Personally (and if never deign to tell other people what they should think or feel about art... if you have the life experiences to appreciate a piece, it has meaning for you that no one else can gainsay), I enjoyed the hell out of it. From its quirky alternate-reality setting (modern day Earth with an eclectic mix of fantastical and dated technologies), to its "dream" sequences reminiscent of Quantum Leap episodes, "Maniac" consistently drives home a simple message: we're all a little bit flawed, broken, and imperfect... and worth getting to know, because friendships enrich our lives; connections give us a chance for happiness.