Edward Comor

First season warrants 4 stars but second season only 1. The first is gripping and well acted but the writing and acting in season two became almost unbearable as the plot was full of lazy shortcuts, caricatures, and cliches. In fact, it got so painfully embarrassing that I actually ignored the last fifteen minutes of the final episode while my wife soldiered on. By the final two episodes, I just didn’t care anymore (although on several occasions we laughed out loud when one of the leads did or said something utterly ridiculous or cringeworthy). So, yes, enjoy the first season but then find something else to watch!

Just watched the third episode and, sadly, it ain’t improving. So much potential, with such a great premise and lead actor, but it’s not well directed or acted, the scripts are full of cliches, and its efforts at being comedic feel far more like simpleton situation comedy than the intelligent wit and cleverness of Better Call Saul. Yes, I know this ISN’T that great show but, my oh my, it’s so far removed from Saul’s standards that one can’t help but to recall how wonderful that series was. During this third episode I must admit that I fast forwarded my way through those scenes absent Bob Odenkirk as he’s the only thing that makes this watchable, esp as the other characters are mostly one-dimensional caricatures. Very disappointing.

Some nice moments but, on the whole, a bit of a mess masquerading as hard-hitting reality cinema. Obviously improvised scenes with kids become gratingly predictable and in need of much editing down. Other improvisations are almost as annoying, esp when the actors mumble or the sound editor lets the audience down. The only main role that compels empathy is Dafoe’s yet even his character is devoid of depth or some kind of backstory. In addition to unresolved yet seemingly significant symbols or fragments that pop up throughout (e.g., the helicopter), the rather obvious (if not cliche) ending made me wince. Had to ask myself if Dafoe is in a lot of debt or was his judgment impaired when he signed on to this immature project.