Guilty Party

There is so much on TV these days... this would just take the space of something far better. Too many (you're kidding me) situations. A lot of the characters are half baked.

There are so many series and limited run episodic shows to choose from these days that you really need to be careful what you dedicate your time to. "Guilty Party" ends after ten episodes with a cliffhanger, which implies that the show will be back for another season. I just finished the last one and was a little perturbed by the lack of closure. Then, I noticed that the date of the final episode was Dec. 2021. With no word on a second season, it's pretty clear that the show will not continue.

I wish that shows like this would either (a) warn us that the ending of the season is a setup for the next season, or (b) wrap up the story for each season and start and new storyline the following season. The first one is obviously ridiculous, but with so many new shows steaming, it is all but certain that most will not survive for a sophomore season. For a new, relatively low key show like "Guilty Party" to end its season with a cliffhanger shows complete disregard for the time that the viewer has committed to watching the show. I would not have watched this entire series had I realized that it would end like it did.

For me, this is a dealbreaker. Despite the ending, parts of the show are actually entertaining, and some the acting is pretty good. Kate Beckinsale does a great job with her character, Beth, who will do just about anything to advance her own agenda. A few of the supporting characters are interesting and funny in some places. I have to say that I was never bored by the show, so this combined with the writing and acting are worth 5 stars. However, this kind of ending for a show that obviously had little chance for renewal is unforgivable. I wish that I had chosen a less entertaining show that at least had closure.

I have never seen a show that resembles this one - totally unique. I have no idea which shows my reviewers below are referring to....... my guess, they did not view the series at all......nothing on the market like it and I watch a l;ot ha ha ha.....

I will say, the loss of one start is because it appears to take a couple of episodes to get its positioning and identity clear but once it does, it flies. This is my experience with the majority of series but this is not a simple plot or genre so you will need to give it time. I struggle to define the genre - Perhaps black comedy with a worthy mystery and character evolution thrown in. It is absolutely hilarious and I have to admit I don't like many comedies. It is a contemporary 'Murder In The Building' vibe with very quirky characters played by a talented cast. Kate Beckinsale is of course the stand out but there are other very strong contenders with complex characters that are evolving before our eyes.

Each episode is fast paced and tightly scripted, adding new elements to the mystery. We are at Episode 5 and I still have no idea who the murderer is and the paternity aspect is similarly not obvious at all. I appreciate this. Nothing worse than picking the murderer in the first episode and watching the obvious clues play out.

If you enjoy this sort of genre you will not be sorry to give this creative and memorable series a go. But please review it for what it is not for something it isn't and was never intended to be.

I admit I tuned into this show simply because of Kate Beckinsale. I'll try anything she's in, not that I always continue watching (e.g. The Widow didn't keep my interest). But I think this show has potential. They are just getting started and while several of the characters are cliché, I think it's worth giving the writers a few more episodes. It's certainly better than most of the crap on these days.

Maybe I've just seen too many TV shows, but it seems like studios are just trotting out the same formulas over and over, by trying them with different, big-name actors. Beckinsale is great and there are a lot of really impressive performances but it all just feels regurgitated.

It's too back that studios immediately nix any original and creative ideas brought to them. They all want to still to the same old things that have worked before. We want 'Mindhunter meets The Wire' or some other combination. A loser protagonist that is at rock bottom but has that one last chance - then uses someone who realizes they're being used but they go along with it and then, in the end... well, you know how this will end.