I read around on some reviews, they are ok but not great.
Indie wire loved it, USA Today hated it, variety and Hollywood reporter gave it a semi grudging thumbs up, others scene the spectrum.

Good to know. Thanks.

Anyone watch? I just finished the pilot and thought it was phenomenal. It doesn't feature a traditionally "likable" character (yet), but it's a killer cast that just knocks the material out of the park. The family dynamic is so compelling and well done. Overall, it's like a slightly more serious version of The Big Short in tone, but still has plenty of laughs and of course some great one-liners. If the pilot is any indiciation, it's going to be a worthy summer show, and one episode in I can't recommend it enough.

They're pretty damn funny. In their own twisted way.

TCTTS said:

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They're pretty damn funny. In their own twisted way.

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interesting. I maybe didn't watch the right trailer, but I didn't see any humor. i'll try to give the first episode a shot.

I watched it and will be giving it a pass.

The show looks great and the potential storylines (Asian dude) could really make in intriguing.

But the tone of the characters is too off. They are trying to get a bit of the AD vibe, but I felt it did not fit.

A couple of the mains have the ALL ENCOMPASSING SINGLE ATTRIBUTE to make them stand out, or be quirky or whatever, but it is the same we have seen with literally every other show. Lazy shorthand instead of actual characterization.

But the bigger issue is that not one single main character is likeable.

It is touted as a dramedy. Would have been much better if it was a pure drama.

I am giving it a pass on any further episodes.

I'll wait for 4-5 episodes to drop and see some more general reactions before jumping in.

There is no compelling reason to come back and watch unlikable characters.

TCTTS said:

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Great acting? Great writing? Great direction? A compelling story? I agree that there's not a likeable character (yet), but I've also never understood the absolute need for likeable characters when everything else is top notch. And just because they're not likeable doesn't mean they can't be enjoyable. I enjoyed the hell out of watching this family interact.

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I fully acknowledge HBO's track record for shows - comedies and drama. They have earned the benefit of the doubt.

I get that the core of the show is meant to be conflict. The title literally telegraphs that. And there are so many ways they could take a story like this.

But like you said, it is a pilot. I gave the episode a try. I just decided do not want or need that kind of show in my rotation right now.

Assuming it gets a second season, I can always jump back in at a later point assuming the consensus is good.

Fair enough.

I hope the story line goes something like this:

The communists take power. Every single member of the family (and all the attorneys) are lined up against a wall and shot.

Won't be watching.

TCTTS, you and I agree! Champagne party at your Hollywood mansion!

I thought the pilot was very good. Been excited for this one and hope it has staying power.

It's a bonafide miracle. Glad to hear.

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Between this and the Top Gun thread, you sound like a very pleasant person.

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I'm sorry if my comments were offensive. I am probably considered a pretty nice guy. I'm not a film or TV or theatre or writing expert. I give you that.

W\That said, we all know, deep down, that Top Gun is really comically bad. But it's good to watch, but bad is so many ways

I did try to give Succession a try, but is there a single character that has a single redeeming trait?

Again, sorry for being unpleasant. i just want to have a good time, watch nonviolent entertainment, and have a good time.

TCTTS, I really appreciate your comments on this forum.

Looking forward to the Neil Armstrong film, and appreciate your heads up. He is one of my heroes.

Hope to hear more from you when you know about The Mighty Eighth.

Regards.

Hey Nav said:

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Quote:

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Between this and the Top Gun thread, you sound like a very pleasant person.

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I'm sorry if my comments were offensive. I am probably considered a pretty nice guy. I'm not a film or TV or theatre or writing expert. I give you that.

W\That said, we all know, deep down, that Top Gun is really comically bad. But it's good to watch, but bad is so many ways

I did try to give Succession a try, but is there a single character that has a single redeeming trait?

Again, sorry for being unpleasant. i just want to have a good time, watch nonviolent entertainment, and have a good time.

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HBO kinda has a signature style

Much appreciated. Was just giving you a hard time.

Watched the pilot last night, really solid, I'd give it a B+ or A-.

High points:
-Cox is awesome, perfect casting.
-I think they did a good job at establishing this family as a bunch of unlikeable individuals rather than a successful nuclear family. That makes for a way more believable power struggle. When I say unlikeable I mean it like the way Mad Men had a cast of people you might like but didn't root for them, like Roger Sterling. Kieran Culkin was like that for me, I enjoyed the character, but won't root for a guy that ripped up a million dollar check in front of a kid for his own personal enjoyment.

Needs work:
-I know it's the pilot but I don't totally get the point of the way that Kendall was portrayed. He didn't seem like the guy that would just be anointed to take over an empire. Just seemed like too much of a screw up at heart. Also didn't seem to act like a guy that should be allowed to make acquisitions that size, and have the power to allocate a seat at the board, just didn't fit for me.
-I didn't get the point of the screw-up nephew, but IMDB shows he's in 9 episodes this season so he must play a bigger role than I think.

Will definitely watch the rest of the season.

Two episodes in and, at least among shows currently airing, I think this is legitimately the funniest on television right now. Or maybe I just have a dry, twisted sense of humor. But episode two was fantastic. It's like a darker, more serious Veep. At this point, I honestly could not care less if there's a likable character or not. The writing is phenomenal, and I find it incredibly compelling/satisfying to watch this family of schemers scheme. Not to mention, everything with the nephew continues to be gold. I'm honestly giddy that we get eight more weeks of this.

Gave the first episode a shot last night after watching Westworld... I like the idea, but it just seemed like the writing was trying way too hard.

Episode two was definitely funnier than the first. A lot of subtle humor. I kept cracking up when everyone kept apologizing to the son in the business for messing up his day of becoming CEO, while his dad is in ICU.

It is kinda weird though. Arrested development was clearly a comedy. This has some dark humor and you can tell they are going for comedy in some parts. But the drama aspect of it is more like Billions than Arrested Development. Sometimes the comedy and the hardcore drama seems like they don't go together for some reason.

But I'm interested enough to keep watching st this point.

Good show. I hope it gets better, but it's nice so far. It makes me want to re-watch Arrested Development and Veep. Alan Ruck is an exact copy of Selina's ex-husband - I'm waiting for him to pitch someone on investing in a hotel in the rain forest

I'm cautiously optimistic that the Jeremy Strong character continues to be a...strong character

When I saw the trailer I worried Kiran Culkin would make this an instant tuneout but he has been surprisingly good.

Episode 2 helped me turn the corner on this show, once you start watching it as a comedy vs a drama it makes way more sense and is even more enjoyable. There is too much buffoonery in this family for this show to be a straight up drama. It doesn't look like a comedy on the surface but it's definitely there. The parallels to a drier Arrested Development are there, having Ron Howard narrate would be a bonus.

I'm glad to see it's been renewed, I can see this show really turning into something once they get the characters totally hashed out.

Very well said.

Gonna give it another episode or two, but the show is struggling to decide what it wants to be. If it's dark comedy, this last episode was sorely lacking... But if it's wall-street-drama, I feel like we've seen all of this before.

Why can't it be both? IMO, not every episode has to fit that perfect balance. If one episode wants to be 60% comedy, 40% drama and then another 20/80, I'm perfectly fine with that. Yes, tonight was the least comedic of the bunch, but I was still incredibly drawn in by the drama. Every episode has done an amazing job of conveying a growing, epic power struggle, step by step, and I just can't get enough of it. I realize I seem to be more into it than most, but man, this show has been 3 for 3 and absolutely stellar to me so far.