Led by Elizabeth Moss, this Homeland-esque production unfolds over the course of a road trip between two women adept at lying. Moss leads as an agent of Interpol on a roadtrip taking a suspected former Al-Qaeda across eastern Europe. Themes of humanity, sisterhood and ethics are constantly discussed between our two leads, but the series loses interst over its pacing and lack of plot or character development. Multiple conversations delve into our leads' lives, but with too much of a lying game at play between the characters, most of their conversations fall into foggy or confusing territories. Moss holds alright in a role a little more action-heavy than is believable for her as an actress, and the cinematography is beautiful. This is an ok show to fold laundry to.
40 Reviews
Interesting so far...
charlottestreet-283464 May 2024
With the exception of the strange obsession of having the characters be chain cigarette smokers, this show is worth watching.
Hard to separate Elisabeth Moss from her usual role of the Handmaids Tale - so the accent helped with that a bit - and thankfully there weren't too many close-up shots of her staring directly into the camera. Although the reference to a lost daughter is a bit too much of a parallel to her other show.
We think this show has potential. So will stick it out through the next few episodes and hope the effort put into following this series is time well spent. Hopefully, it will turn into a show of riveting twists and turns.
Hard to separate Elisabeth Moss from her usual role of the Handmaids Tale - so the accent helped with that a bit - and thankfully there weren't too many close-up shots of her staring directly into the camera. Although the reference to a lost daughter is a bit too much of a parallel to her other show.
We think this show has potential. So will stick it out through the next few episodes and hope the effort put into following this series is time well spent. Hopefully, it will turn into a show of riveting twists and turns.
What's with all the smoking
ssih8 May 2024
I really wanted to like this show because I've loved Elizabeth Moss in everything I've seen her in. This seemed like a borderline spy thriller, so it had that going for it as well.
There are a few things that I find odd and I don't see what purpose they can have with the plot. Why is she always so giddy? In each scene, she looks like she was kissed by her big crush for the first time just a moment before. Will we ultimately discover she has some emotional disorder that prevents her from being serious?
And WHAT is with all of the smoking? Not just smoking, but ultra-close-ups of the characters lighting up. It's gross. I get the impression that writer Steven Knight is just sick to death of people telling him where he can and can't smoke and this is just a big "screw you!" to them.
It's off-putting enough to me that I don't think I'll be finishing the serious.
There are a few things that I find odd and I don't see what purpose they can have with the plot. Why is she always so giddy? In each scene, she looks like she was kissed by her big crush for the first time just a moment before. Will we ultimately discover she has some emotional disorder that prevents her from being serious?
And WHAT is with all of the smoking? Not just smoking, but ultra-close-ups of the characters lighting up. It's gross. I get the impression that writer Steven Knight is just sick to death of people telling him where he can and can't smoke and this is just a big "screw you!" to them.
It's off-putting enough to me that I don't think I'll be finishing the serious.
The Veil - Elisabeth Moss Shines in an Overwrought Espionage Thriller
Unequivocalness19 May 2024
"The Veil," the latest offering from Steven Knight, creator of "Peaky Blinders," presents a mixed bag of espionage intrigue and melodrama. The series, starring Elisabeth Moss as MI6 agent Imogen Salter, delves into the shadowy world of international spies with a strong initial concept that occasionally gets bogged down by excessive emotional weight and melodramatic elements.
Elisabeth Moss, known for her intense and complex performances, delivers another strong portrayal as Imogen. Her character's adeptness at adopting various identities and unearthing secrets is compelling, particularly in the dynamic exchanges with Yumna Marwan's Adilah, a woman of mysterious motives. The chemistry between Moss and Marwan is one of the show's highlights, bringing depth to their complex relationship as they navigate a deadly game of truth and lies from Istanbul to Paris.
Supporting performances by Josh Charles and Dali Benssalah add layers to the international spy network, with Charles playing the brash American agent Max, whose interactions with the more reserved French agent Malik (Benssalah) provide unexpected moments of humor amidst the tension.
Despite these strengths, "The Veil" struggles under the weight of its own ambitions. While Knight's writing excels in creating a rich dialogue and intriguing plot twists, the series often veers into overwrought territory, detracting from the tight, suspenseful narrative that the genre demands. The heavy backstories and psychological trauma experienced by the characters, particularly Imogen, sometimes feel overplayed, risking the loss of the show's core espionage appeal.
In summary, "The Veil" is a visually captivating and well-acted series that will appeal to fans of spy thrillers, especially those who appreciate Moss's nuanced performances. However, it occasionally falters under the strain of its melodramatic elements, making it a series that, while engaging, could benefit from a more streamlined approach to its storytelling.
By focusing on its strengths-smart dialogue, strong performances, and intricate spy games-"The Veil" manages to entertain, even if it doesn't always hit the high notes it aspires to achieve.
Elisabeth Moss, known for her intense and complex performances, delivers another strong portrayal as Imogen. Her character's adeptness at adopting various identities and unearthing secrets is compelling, particularly in the dynamic exchanges with Yumna Marwan's Adilah, a woman of mysterious motives. The chemistry between Moss and Marwan is one of the show's highlights, bringing depth to their complex relationship as they navigate a deadly game of truth and lies from Istanbul to Paris.
Supporting performances by Josh Charles and Dali Benssalah add layers to the international spy network, with Charles playing the brash American agent Max, whose interactions with the more reserved French agent Malik (Benssalah) provide unexpected moments of humor amidst the tension.
Despite these strengths, "The Veil" struggles under the weight of its own ambitions. While Knight's writing excels in creating a rich dialogue and intriguing plot twists, the series often veers into overwrought territory, detracting from the tight, suspenseful narrative that the genre demands. The heavy backstories and psychological trauma experienced by the characters, particularly Imogen, sometimes feel overplayed, risking the loss of the show's core espionage appeal.
In summary, "The Veil" is a visually captivating and well-acted series that will appeal to fans of spy thrillers, especially those who appreciate Moss's nuanced performances. However, it occasionally falters under the strain of its melodramatic elements, making it a series that, while engaging, could benefit from a more streamlined approach to its storytelling.
By focusing on its strengths-smart dialogue, strong performances, and intricate spy games-"The Veil" manages to entertain, even if it doesn't always hit the high notes it aspires to achieve.
A psychological spy thriller
allcelebritiesarebald30 April 2024
Elisabeth Moss is a spy specialized in undercover work to extract information from unsuspecting (or are they suspecting this time) bad guys. She is somewhat of a wild card, go with the flow, doing things her way to get things done.
This time there is a potential ISIS terror thing that might happen and she is on the case working with the French and Americans befriending and helping a woman suspected to be ISIS.
Intriguing plot, good acting, some humor, some action, plenty of tension.
The intelligence people are competent, cunning and dangerous, it all seems very realistic and not romanticized like usual.
This time there is a potential ISIS terror thing that might happen and she is on the case working with the French and Americans befriending and helping a woman suspected to be ISIS.
Intriguing plot, good acting, some humor, some action, plenty of tension.
The intelligence people are competent, cunning and dangerous, it all seems very realistic and not romanticized like usual.
Well... I made it to the end
doctordbx29 May 2024
I'll start by saying I think the majority of actors did the best with what they had, especially the guy who played the American CIA agent. His delivery was pretty good.
Elizabeth Moss was miscast though. The accent. Stupid almost manic grins and cheesy one liners and quips just felt cringe and awkward.
The story is just unbelievable and pointless. The 'terrorist plot' is brain dead and I struggle to believe they needed to get the 'Djinn' to devise it. It's not clever, complicated or intelligent.
The twist is not a twist thanks to the worst foreshadowing ever. The story just plays out by numbers.
The CIA and French intelligence being fooled not once but twice with a switch was ridiculous. Absolutely unbelievable. It really ruined the story... Although I don't think omitting those parts would have saved it either.
Also it dragged out for its 6 episodes. Could have been done in 4. The last episode is basically done at the halfway mark.
Direction was actually good. Locations and filming good. Acting mostly good (except for Moss) but man... The story is just rubbish. It's like it was generated by an AI.
Elizabeth Moss was miscast though. The accent. Stupid almost manic grins and cheesy one liners and quips just felt cringe and awkward.
The story is just unbelievable and pointless. The 'terrorist plot' is brain dead and I struggle to believe they needed to get the 'Djinn' to devise it. It's not clever, complicated or intelligent.
The twist is not a twist thanks to the worst foreshadowing ever. The story just plays out by numbers.
The CIA and French intelligence being fooled not once but twice with a switch was ridiculous. Absolutely unbelievable. It really ruined the story... Although I don't think omitting those parts would have saved it either.
Also it dragged out for its 6 episodes. Could have been done in 4. The last episode is basically done at the halfway mark.
Direction was actually good. Locations and filming good. Acting mostly good (except for Moss) but man... The story is just rubbish. It's like it was generated by an AI.
Beneath The Veil
gregory-donaghy30 April 2024
Moss's English accent is a little dubious. But I'm warming to her characters charm. The scenery, so far, is beautiful. The story is very well put together. The acting is flawless.
So far, by episode two, it is turning into a game of multilayer chess. Between 2 women on a road trip. Both trying to discover each others roles and motives on this journey. And between two different countries US and France, attempting to establish control over the "mission".
As spy thrillers go, this one is one of the most interesting that I have seen in a long time. No Hollywood BS. Well worth the time, energy and focus.
So far, by episode two, it is turning into a game of multilayer chess. Between 2 women on a road trip. Both trying to discover each others roles and motives on this journey. And between two different countries US and France, attempting to establish control over the "mission".
As spy thrillers go, this one is one of the most interesting that I have seen in a long time. No Hollywood BS. Well worth the time, energy and focus.
Very much middle of the road
faster_master17 May 2024
I would like to love this show as it is one of the few shows that have women in leading roles and that is actually the only good thing about the show. The story starts all right but lacks credibility as it progresses. A chain smoker lead in this day and age? And why is she actively sabotaging all the spy agencies she is working with? She works for MI6 but reports to everyone except them. And what do you do when you find a very dangerous terrorist? Obviously help her escape and evade all the governments and agencies.
This is simply bonkers.
The other flaw is that she smiles too much for no reason.
Despite all these limitations, the show is watchable.
Just suspend your logic and don't expect too much.
This is simply bonkers.
The other flaw is that she smiles too much for no reason.
Despite all these limitations, the show is watchable.
Just suspend your logic and don't expect too much.
Plot is fine, painful acting
emigresprimesz26 May 2024
The plot is okay and I love these kind of of series, so I'm a sucker and I managed to stick with this, despite disliking many scenes and moments.
Moss' acting was bad- bearable at best, comical at times. I get the impression there are some diehard fans of hers that would fawn at anything she does, and that's fine. I came with no opinion and haven't watched her before. I was pretty disappointed- is she usually better or is this her thing? In this series, she overacts to a point where you wonder how it was allowed to stay in- e.g. This weirdly unserious use of darting eyes, head swinging and a comically evil grin when she's supposed to be a highly competent undercover spy. It's absolutely unconvincing, and while she makes it pretty hard to watch, the acting is bad by others too. Oddly, to me, a low bar across the board actually helps- it just makes it feel like an average, quick and cheerful show. But objectively, I guess it means the blame isn't just with Moss - there's probably a bigger flaw at play- misguided by director? Flawed Script with shallow/stereotypical characters?
Names betray me, but the main antagonist is an exception to my poor rating. I thought she was the best actor in it and had enough presence to carry the tension and made it worth watching, for me at least.
Moss' acting was bad- bearable at best, comical at times. I get the impression there are some diehard fans of hers that would fawn at anything she does, and that's fine. I came with no opinion and haven't watched her before. I was pretty disappointed- is she usually better or is this her thing? In this series, she overacts to a point where you wonder how it was allowed to stay in- e.g. This weirdly unserious use of darting eyes, head swinging and a comically evil grin when she's supposed to be a highly competent undercover spy. It's absolutely unconvincing, and while she makes it pretty hard to watch, the acting is bad by others too. Oddly, to me, a low bar across the board actually helps- it just makes it feel like an average, quick and cheerful show. But objectively, I guess it means the blame isn't just with Moss - there's probably a bigger flaw at play- misguided by director? Flawed Script with shallow/stereotypical characters?
Names betray me, but the main antagonist is an exception to my poor rating. I thought she was the best actor in it and had enough presence to carry the tension and made it worth watching, for me at least.
Brilliant!!!
cateainsworth2 May 2024
I do not understand the bad reviews at all. So far, this show is very intriguing and unique. There is absolutely so much "behind the veil" lol that occurs everyday in our world. This show has a bit of an Homeland and Bourne vibe. I'm thinking that there will be lots of twists and turns.
And Elisabeth Moss is fantastic!!! I can say, as someone with a British father, her accent is spot on; again I do not understand the criticisms with this. The acting is great, and cinematography and soundtrack are well thought out. The portrayal of the intelligence agents is very realistic.
I can't wait for the next episodes! Give it a chance, you won't regret it.
And Elisabeth Moss is fantastic!!! I can say, as someone with a British father, her accent is spot on; again I do not understand the criticisms with this. The acting is great, and cinematography and soundtrack are well thought out. The portrayal of the intelligence agents is very realistic.
I can't wait for the next episodes! Give it a chance, you won't regret it.
Bad accent Bulgaria scenes
nanspro19 May 2024
The actors who pretend to be speaking Bulgarian are clearly foreign and not native speakers (or maybe they used AI?) The accent is so bad it's beyond clear the actor is not Bulgarian at all (end of episode 3 especially). The accent sounds like an Eastern European or Russian trying to speak Bulgarian and not doing a good job with it as it's difficult to understand at times with the odd pronunciation. You won't see Bulgarian marines wearing a uniform barely able to put few sentences together in Bulgarian. They could have hired a native to portray the characters better. Disappointing... I'm wondering if the rest of the languages appearing in the movie were depicted properly.
Otherwise the storyline is good and Moss' acting is fabulous as always. She really gets into character.
But... not hiring native people for the voiceovers is a huge downside to an otherwise good series so far (I'm about midway through)
Otherwise the storyline is good and Moss' acting is fabulous as always. She really gets into character.
But... not hiring native people for the voiceovers is a huge downside to an otherwise good series so far (I'm about midway through)
Horribly boring and unimaginative
rszqrz30 May 2024
Unrealistic old premise, over acting from generally reliably good actors, and a predictable finish. I wanted to like this, badly, but this show is a calamity of stereotypes from the terrorist, to plot and things spies would never do. The bombastic and contagious relationship between differing countries intelligence services was unrealistic and overplayed. The writing felt lazy and uninspired. This was neither a journey for the antagonist nor protagonist. I honestly feel as if I wasted time watching. Very disappointing, I hope they learn from the faults of this first season if they indeed plan on making a second.
Smart so far, Elizabeth Moss great :)
vphfgfv30 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Was very excited to see a new Elisabeth Moss series, and after the first two episodes, it is already paying off. Elisabeth's portrayal of a spy hints at some sociopathy(?- do all intelligence agents have a bit of this ;), love the ever present yet somehow sinister(?) smile.
The way Elisabeth is choosing to portray this character, I'm looking forward to getting more of her character's backstory, whereas so many series I don't make it past the first episode, particularly with what feel like unnecessary or formulaic back stories... hopefully this one doesn't turn out to be one of those in later episodes
(Spoiler alert) The first episode definitely delivered what I was looking for, although I would have liked to have seen the camp scene where Elisabeth ex-filtrated the alleged "villain" fleshed out in into a full episode. Some of it happened a bit too quickly/unrealistically? Slower paced would have been better.
(Spoiler alert) The second episode, I feel there were a couple of unrealistic plot foibles, ie two seemingly seasoned intelligence officers getting into a childlike scuffle at an airport (huh??) and an over the top American intelligence officer in general? (not his acting, but the writing)
but again, with so many mindless series to stream that bore you quickly into the first episode, this is a very engaging and welcome, well acted series so far, definitely looking forward to the third episode and beyond, which is more than I can say for 95% of streaming series that rank below my personal threshold of a 7.5/10ish rating
Thank you Elisabeth, your portrayal is the icing thus far :)
The way Elisabeth is choosing to portray this character, I'm looking forward to getting more of her character's backstory, whereas so many series I don't make it past the first episode, particularly with what feel like unnecessary or formulaic back stories... hopefully this one doesn't turn out to be one of those in later episodes
(Spoiler alert) The first episode definitely delivered what I was looking for, although I would have liked to have seen the camp scene where Elisabeth ex-filtrated the alleged "villain" fleshed out in into a full episode. Some of it happened a bit too quickly/unrealistically? Slower paced would have been better.
(Spoiler alert) The second episode, I feel there were a couple of unrealistic plot foibles, ie two seemingly seasoned intelligence officers getting into a childlike scuffle at an airport (huh??) and an over the top American intelligence officer in general? (not his acting, but the writing)
but again, with so many mindless series to stream that bore you quickly into the first episode, this is a very engaging and welcome, well acted series so far, definitely looking forward to the third episode and beyond, which is more than I can say for 95% of streaming series that rank below my personal threshold of a 7.5/10ish rating
Thank you Elisabeth, your portrayal is the icing thus far :)
Terrible
betul_ayberkin2 May 2024
Initially drawn in by Elizabeth Moss's presence, I embarked on this series unaware of its inclusion of Turkey, my homeland. However, Moss's performance fell short, her expressions often devoid of depth and her acting lacking conviction. The plot, a haphazard concoction, prioritizes action over coherence, neglecting crucial details and logic along the way. The accents, a cacophony of inaccuracies, further detract from immersion. Fight scenes, intended to be gripping, fail to evoke the desired impact, riddled with glaring inconsistencies. Moreover, the portrayal of Turkey is a caricature, replete with inaccuracies and stereotypes. One wonders why the creators didn't opt for a research trip to capture the essence of the country accurately, instead of relegating it to a generic 'Arab' backdrop filled with exaggerated yelling. In sum, a disappointing endeavor that squanders its potential on superficial spectacle.
Why all the low ratings? Really good so far...
HowardB704 May 2024
What's with all the low ratings? I'm really enjoying this series so far, only 2 episodes in. As the synopsis summary indicates, "Follows the relationship between two women playing a deadly game of truth and lies" is the key here, primarily on the two main characters talking and probing each other to ascertain the truth and lies - simple. The dialog is good, the scenery great, the story so far is interesting.
Unsure why some reviewers have given it a low rating, as it's slowly revealing some really interesting dynamics. It's not a slow burn, but you do have to listen to the dialog, and there is a lot of it, so you also have to concentrate a bit to follow the positioning and the story's twists and turns, which is a good thing, as not everything is spoon fed to the viewer as with some other series these days.
I really only know Elisabeth Moss from The Handmaid's Tale series, which I also enjoyed. Her rather quirky and bordering unhinged character promises to be interesting. Again there are comments about her English accent - there is nothing wrong with it! Stop focussing on such specific detail and simply enjoy the acting, the character development, the scenery and the story as it unfolds...
There's a bit of everything so far and I'm actually really enjoying it. Role on episode 3!
Unsure why some reviewers have given it a low rating, as it's slowly revealing some really interesting dynamics. It's not a slow burn, but you do have to listen to the dialog, and there is a lot of it, so you also have to concentrate a bit to follow the positioning and the story's twists and turns, which is a good thing, as not everything is spoon fed to the viewer as with some other series these days.
I really only know Elisabeth Moss from The Handmaid's Tale series, which I also enjoyed. Her rather quirky and bordering unhinged character promises to be interesting. Again there are comments about her English accent - there is nothing wrong with it! Stop focussing on such specific detail and simply enjoy the acting, the character development, the scenery and the story as it unfolds...
There's a bit of everything so far and I'm actually really enjoying it. Role on episode 3!
Should have been great. What a shame.
samquinn200628 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
/ Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
/Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
/ Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
/Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
Elizabeth Moss is a fabulous actress but this role wasn't right for her. From the awful English accent to the over-acting when not needed (this isn't The Handmaids Tale), this rea;;y want her best work.
The story was so full of inconsistencies, bad writing and over-acting. It was a struggle at times to watch. But I did see it all the way through.
AT every stage I wanted it to be great. It needed to be great. But it wasn't.
The last episode was probably the worst. Nothing made sense. Ridiculous coincidences were created to meet a plot requirement.
And the little speech Violet made to herself in the 'shed' was completely self-indulgent, unrealistic and unnecessary.
This show should have been brilliant but was just an expensive stupid was of budget and Talent.
Ignore the ratings - this is a quality spy thriller
repomonkey16 May 2024
Not quite sure why this has been getting such a kicking. Some criticism of Elizabeth Moss's accent, which I really don't understand - I'm British and it sounds fine to me.
Anyway - this is a high quality thriller, kind of like a cross between Tehran, Jack Ryan and Homeland. Acting is excellent, plot is good (if you excuse the odd McGuffin such as a special electronic device that can magically eaves-drop on everything) and locations are top notch.
I almost skipped this, but decided to give the first episode a watch and was drawn in immediately to the protagonist and the action-filled opening sequences. Give it a watch - you'll be glad you did. :)
Anyway - this is a high quality thriller, kind of like a cross between Tehran, Jack Ryan and Homeland. Acting is excellent, plot is good (if you excuse the odd McGuffin such as a special electronic device that can magically eaves-drop on everything) and locations are top notch.
I almost skipped this, but decided to give the first episode a watch and was drawn in immediately to the protagonist and the action-filled opening sequences. Give it a watch - you'll be glad you did. :)
Not worth anyone's time
kristenmerek2 May 2024
Not only this show not worth our time to watch; the final product isn't worth the time everyone put into making this garbage. Moss's character is laughably unbelievable as a supposed human lie detector/master manipulator/international woman of mystery. Moss has talent but is a terrible casting choice for this poorly written, completely unrealistic character. The other characters are so broadly and lazily written that they are all practically caricatures- the jokes about various stereotypes fall completely flat as the characters themselves are written as total stereotypes. The script is odd and many of the acting choices are puzzling, with this almost at times verging into a "buddy terrorist" (à la "buddy cop") adventure. The subject matter, while advertised like it's some new, groundbreaking, innovative content, is reductionist, regurgitated drivel. We can't do any better than the same crappy anti-terrorism schtick that's already been done to death? This project doesn't have one iota of creativity or originality and has absolutely nothing new to say. Do yourself a favor and skip it.
Good so far
stevenbrogers2 May 2024
As of right now, only the first two episodes are available for streaming, but so far I like it. I like Elizabeth Moss' portrayal of the lead character, Imogene and the tension building between the two lead characters. The story is both plausible and interesting. They do a good job of creating a fear of the threat posed by the terrorist they're looking for while leaving you guessing as to whether the woman traveling with Imogene is that terrorist or not. The relationship and interactions between these two characters is good in these first two episodes and should continue to grow through the rest of the season.
European homeland
Tomaslillebror7 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This series starts out with the main character setting up and sending a man off to jail. The main character is played by Elisabeth Moss and her character cant stop grinning.
This series has only aires two episodes when I review this but you can already see what kind of production this is. You are suppose to believe a 160 cm, 120 pound woman who is also unfit, can beat up women and men of 200+ pounds coming at her with big knives as if its a walk in the park. Its not believable since size matters, gender matters. She is also extremely bossy and acts like she owns the world wearing constant lipgloss and perfect hair.
Per usual the men are weak, pathetic, childish and bad, especially the White males. The exception is a few racially diverse characters that are ofc, the best of all men.
Its almost like Elizabeth Moss just took a step out from the Handmaid's tale series into this, because she basically plays the same role.
The acting is decent, Im not sure about Elisabeth Moss though since she is constantly grinning. Camerawork, scenography is fine, the story is not. Its like a feminist tale. The story have a fast tempo though which is welcomed.
4/10 If you love forced racial and gender diversity and feminism, this show is for you.
This series has only aires two episodes when I review this but you can already see what kind of production this is. You are suppose to believe a 160 cm, 120 pound woman who is also unfit, can beat up women and men of 200+ pounds coming at her with big knives as if its a walk in the park. Its not believable since size matters, gender matters. She is also extremely bossy and acts like she owns the world wearing constant lipgloss and perfect hair.
Per usual the men are weak, pathetic, childish and bad, especially the White males. The exception is a few racially diverse characters that are ofc, the best of all men.
Its almost like Elizabeth Moss just took a step out from the Handmaid's tale series into this, because she basically plays the same role.
The acting is decent, Im not sure about Elisabeth Moss though since she is constantly grinning. Camerawork, scenography is fine, the story is not. Its like a feminist tale. The story have a fast tempo though which is welcomed.
4/10 If you love forced racial and gender diversity and feminism, this show is for you.
Not worth it
patjab401 May 2024
Elizabeth Moss must have not been able to decide who her character was and/or what she was supposed to do because she practically giggled, joked, and winked through what could have been a pretty dangerous situation and required some seriousness on her part. If she was channeling a cocky James Bond type, it didn't work. And couldn't they have found a British actress? Her accent was horrible. I made it through the first episode and thought maybe the second one would get better, but alas it was equally disappointing, so I quit. I gave it two stars because the French actress was pretty good, considering the material she had to work with.
Fantastic Series!!!
twzbsrqf9 May 2024
Having watched 3 of the 6 episodes in this limited series, I can say this is one of the best series I have ever seen. The acting is superb. The story is fascinating.
It starts off slowly and you kind of wonder what's going on but the story starts to pick up steam and you soon realize you can't wait to find out what happens.
Every once in a while, you get lucky and stumble on a gem. This is one of these times. This series is escapism at its best. I find myself wishing I could see the next episode right away instead of having to wait a week. But, I know the wait will be worth it.
If you decide to watch this series, you will be very happy you did so.
It starts off slowly and you kind of wonder what's going on but the story starts to pick up steam and you soon realize you can't wait to find out what happens.
Every once in a while, you get lucky and stumble on a gem. This is one of these times. This series is escapism at its best. I find myself wishing I could see the next episode right away instead of having to wait a week. But, I know the wait will be worth it.
If you decide to watch this series, you will be very happy you did so.
Snooze fest with a bad accent
kelcat-396201 May 2024
Well, maybe it's because I'm familiar with her normal American speaking voice, but I thought her British accent was dreadful, fake, and simply unbelievable. It was a downright distraction- or maybe the show is just too boring to follow. The premise ought to be interesting, but the execution was subpar. Lots of great camera work with dramatic shots, but just not engaging to me at all. Honestly, this is Elizabeth Moss' worst in my opinion. At this point she's just playing the same victim out for revenge over and over in every show. I think the Scientologists should rotate in someone new for their leads in their monopoly on Hollywood. I'm sure they gave a few more puppets up their sleeve.
I was Really Impressed with this show!
gildrumsnap28 May 2024
Thank you writers, producers, actors, and everyone who made this show so very beautiful, intelligent, and exciting.
The filming is sublime, and Elizabeth Moss is Amazing, as always.
I hope there are many more seasons of this one to come; the possibilities are endless. Loved it!
My review stopped there.
They say my review is too short. I am a poet. I try to say as much as I can with as few words as possible...it's how my brain works when I write. Have I met my character limit yet so I may submit my review?
Uncool rule man. Short thoughts matter..... Ok, just seventy more characters 3...2...1.
The filming is sublime, and Elizabeth Moss is Amazing, as always.
I hope there are many more seasons of this one to come; the possibilities are endless. Loved it!
My review stopped there.
They say my review is too short. I am a poet. I try to say as much as I can with as few words as possible...it's how my brain works when I write. Have I met my character limit yet so I may submit my review?
Uncool rule man. Short thoughts matter..... Ok, just seventy more characters 3...2...1.
WHY?!
katharineacuff-799764 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The first episode had potential but was boring. Plus, they tried too hard to establish the main character as being this cool and collected spy. Also, too much smoking was unnecessarily plugged into the scenes. Felt like I was watching a cigarette ad. It didn't add anything to the scenes. Second episode this seasoned spy has her feathers ruffled over a disagreement about... belly dancing? REALLY?! After about 12 minutes of hearing the main character complain and act pissy towards her travel companion not liking belly dancing I was done with this show. Like I said the first episode I was bored by the second episode actually really irritated me. You want a good spy thriller? Watch The Americans or any James Bond movie from the last 20 years.
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