Okay, so I've watched all of season 1.
There is something about this show, that has kept me coming back, but I really can't define what. So I'll just give some free-association spew:
The lead actor is excellent. His style is understated but incredibly authentic. His face is extremely expressive. Unfortunately, the character of Hank is not all that interesting. He's only mildly grumpy. He's only partly callous and irresponsible. He's too apathetic to be ruthless. He's depressed and troubled about being abandoned by his father, but in and of itself that's not distinguishing -- so this story thread is garbed in the mystery of the father's departure, but unfortunately the resolution of the mystery falls flat as the father was just petty and selfish, and now senile and beyond mental engagement for remorse or disdain.
The resolution of the father-trauma mystery leaves the character of Hank deracinated, and invites closer attention to the other characters who fill the negative space around Hank, and for the most part they are disappointing.
The English professors are mostly written as caricatures. But then they are humanized and blunted by the performances. The performances aren't BAD, they are at odds with the material. The comedy of the material is thwarted by the performances but gets in the way of engaging dramatic characters.
Then there is a family drama element of the story. This is a true weak spot. The petulant daughter, the feckless son-in-law, the dissatisfied wife who longs for more in her life -- are all off-the-shelf tropes. These roles neither ask nor receive much from the actors.
One bright spot is Hank's friend the philosophy professor. The friendship if very well portrayed. You get why they like each other. They seem to shed 20 years age when they are doing the buddy thing. This character provides most of the levity in the series, and the actor is who has your attention whenever he is on screen.
ON a different note, is it just me, or do some of the great reviews for this show seem like ad copy?
There is something about this show, that has kept me coming back, but I really can't define what. So I'll just give some free-association spew:
The lead actor is excellent. His style is understated but incredibly authentic. His face is extremely expressive. Unfortunately, the character of Hank is not all that interesting. He's only mildly grumpy. He's only partly callous and irresponsible. He's too apathetic to be ruthless. He's depressed and troubled about being abandoned by his father, but in and of itself that's not distinguishing -- so this story thread is garbed in the mystery of the father's departure, but unfortunately the resolution of the mystery falls flat as the father was just petty and selfish, and now senile and beyond mental engagement for remorse or disdain.
The resolution of the father-trauma mystery leaves the character of Hank deracinated, and invites closer attention to the other characters who fill the negative space around Hank, and for the most part they are disappointing.
The English professors are mostly written as caricatures. But then they are humanized and blunted by the performances. The performances aren't BAD, they are at odds with the material. The comedy of the material is thwarted by the performances but gets in the way of engaging dramatic characters.
Then there is a family drama element of the story. This is a true weak spot. The petulant daughter, the feckless son-in-law, the dissatisfied wife who longs for more in her life -- are all off-the-shelf tropes. These roles neither ask nor receive much from the actors.
One bright spot is Hank's friend the philosophy professor. The friendship if very well portrayed. You get why they like each other. They seem to shed 20 years age when they are doing the buddy thing. This character provides most of the levity in the series, and the actor is who has your attention whenever he is on screen.
ON a different note, is it just me, or do some of the great reviews for this show seem like ad copy?