Echoes

I like Michelle Monaghan, so decided to try.

The movie plot is not terrible, but it's not well executed unfortunately. Too many flashbacks.

At first glance I thought the Sheriff would be annoying, but she ended up being the best part! I hope I see her in more stuff. Kind of like a female Colombo.

Last...I guessed at the ending and was wrong for a change. (I guess there's that.)

I am getting a bit tired of reviews which begin with, "too complicated" or "lost me." Are we really becoming so lazy & impatient that we can't handle the occasional narrative challenge? "Not realistic" or "believable" is another common critique. Really? Because (news flash) no movie or series is "real." Isn't that the point? That we watch these things to escape reality & to be entertained.

I will admit that I was a bit disoriented at the conclusion of the 1st episode but unless the viewer is especially dense, it is not difficult to reorient & follow the narrative twisted by a set of twins who once vowed to share everything. I am not a fan of spoilers so I will just say that I enjoyed this so much that I binge watched the entire series because it was just like reading a really good book- I could not put this one down until it was over.

I read that there is no season 2 but that is ok by me. The ending did not disappoint.

On the one hand, I understand the negative reviews; it had a messy start, a convoluted plot, some holes in the story, and an ending that could leave a lot of viewers dissatisfied, not to mention vapid to hammed up acting from the supporting cast. On the other hand, I can appreciate what the show wanted to be. I'll also be the minority and say that Michelle Monaghan played a difficult role and despite a shaky start, she gradually was able to immerse herself into her characters and give a complex performance (again, I'm the minority on this). Indeed, the show felt like a Lifetime production. It didn't seem to have a high budget, and it's most evident in the last episode, where the special effects were used with the faintest subtlety...I overall thought it was an easy watch, cringy at times, but I got through it-I am an Echoes survivor...and I closet-enjoyed the show.

There's good & bad elements to this show, with a very smart although convoluted twist/misdirect standing out as a huge positive that nearly counteracts the sometimes inexcusable acting, over-the-top drama, and unrealistic plot turns. Overall, being only 7 episodes, I would recommend it for someone who has Netflix and is looking for something to get into requiring minimal commitment. It is a good thing it isn't any longer of a series though, because this show would definitely prove that too much can be a very bad thing. 6/10; an intriguing mystery that is weighed down by being a little too heavy handed.

It's bad but watchable while doing other stuff, like cleaning your house or other boring chores.

It's like those weird movies for TV they used to make in the 2000s. It's a pity, the idea is nice, actors are decent ( Karen Robinson Is excellent) but the dialogues and the plot simply dont work.

Do Better, Netflix!