Gert Thesquirt

My partner said "If this was a book I'd not have got past the first chapter". I agree. We did watch the whole series, though. Well, it was easy enough to work out that there were to be absolutely no characters to cheer on. If its job was to evoke an emotional response (mostly cringe and wryly amused disgust), it succeeded. We got it, but were still wondering why we actually sat through it each week when there were no solutions to problems, only more ways to be a horrible (everyone), awkward and inadequate human being (Asher). That most of the other characters were more intentional at the outset in their badness, made Asher look even more idiotic. The whole point, but it got harder to be hit again and again by it as the series ground on. That was the brilliance of it, but it was by no means enjoyable. Until the finale. Too little, too late attempt at redemption for Asher. Belly laughs aplenty in the process of his lofty fall, though. That was worth waiting for! And that the tragedy of the ultimate upshot happened to the rationally least deserving of such an end, given the motives and actions of everyone else. Self-interest and manipulation were the drivers for everyone and nobody came out on top - except the guy who ended up on top of everything, as it happens. Even the baby is a boy, most probably with the same physical affliction as his father and grandfather - or not. As a study of human nature and all its awfulness against a modern and historical haves/have nots backdrop, it succeeds, but at the expense of enjoyment. I like to enjoy my entertainment, but that's just me. Would I recommend it? Only with a warning of a whole lot of navel-gazing in the process of watching it, and that the best is the last episode.