The Spoils of Babylon

After watching the first episode of this new show by IFC, I felt entertained.

This is a parody. Those who do not appreciate parodies should not bother. Spoils of Babylon feels like an extended Saturday Night Live skit. If you don't like SNL, don't bother watching.

Expect trite dialogue, bad special effects, and intentionally sappy acting. That is the point.

I intend to keep watching. I hope they can introduce some unexpected story turns that will keep the show interesting.

Kristen Wiig and Tim Robbins start out strong.

Simply stated, the first 2 episodes of this mini-series have entertained me and made me laugh were very little else has of late.

There is a lightness and subtleness to the comedy that I really appreciate. The look, feel, lighting and soundtrack are perfect. Despite it being 2014, the use of models has a refreshing honesty.

I am not a huge Will Ferrell fan, but his intro\outros fit well. You do get tones of SNL. However, where SNL skits bore and wander, this show is continually moving.

When you consider the amount of tripe on TV from reality shows, laugh queue sitcoms, rich kid\witch\vampire\alien\werewolf\mutant teen melodramas and "learning" shows voiced by monster truck announcers over metal soundtracks...how can one not enjoy such a refreshing and creative 22 minutes of entertainment? Truly.

Yeah, after watching the first three episodes of The Spoils of Babylon all I have to say is: I just don't get it. I don't get why there are so many negative reviews, to which, in my consideration, is one of the most interesting comedies this season. There are many factors which makes this, besides of a pretty hilarious sitcom, an amazing work that flirts with films and art on behalf of the most bizarre form of parody.

First, we're introduced to the false premise of an old writer whose finally gotten to release the TV adaptation of his novels, The Spoils of Babylon. Of course, as it's expected, the writing is not always something as good as it could be, which generates some pretty hilarious scenes in which all logic is questioned, mixed with the chaotic film techniques that the director (and also producer, writer, etc) decides to apply given his moods and whatever he feels suits the current mood of the scene, it proves to be a recipe for disaster. However, which makes more interesting is that there's actually some character development through all this non-sense, a story which plot, if rather weird, could only get better from the low point it begun.

If you enjoyed, like me, great series like the Mighty Boosh or the never ending parodies in Saturday Night Live, you'll probably love this.

Using the toolkit of those "adult dramas" of so long ago, this wonderful spoof is a joy to watch. Just check out "Written on the Wind" and "The Tarnished Angels" to see how "Spoils of Babylon" got it right.

An A-list cast, ultra-widescreen cinematography , a lush opening song and miniatures that are just so mini; all come together in a story line that is more line than story.

The premise that the original 22 hour production has been cut down to 6 30 minute episodes is supposed to allow the writers to get to the heart of the story. In truth, the just got rid of the boring parts.

Production values are solid. The acting hits the right tone without being to over the top.

Fun from beginning to end.

Any fan of the Abraham-Zucker-Zucker send-ups who hated pretentious '70s mini-dramas should find some amusement in "The Spoils of Babylon." There's a ridiculousness to the entire project, including its heavy promotion, that plunges deeply into absurdity. This is parody that produces chuckles rather than guffaws, and the humor is in the details.

Effort was expended to make every scene excessively cheesy, although when sustained at this extreme level can dull the senses. An excellent cast can be commended for executing such ludicrous material in the straight deadpan manner required.

This is a show that doesn't work for those needing their satire to be clever or witty. Instead, TSOB bludgeons the viewer with the preposterous, from the overblown melodramatic dialog to the intentionally fake props and special effects to the blatant references to previous directorial styles.

To best appreciate TSOB, take it at face value and don't expect more than what it is, which is unadulterated spoof without refinement or sophistication.