Le Système G ou l'Art de Gouverner

I think mainly what's missing (compared to ARE) is the dynamic of the fast-talking smartass know-it-all vs. The average dumb-dumbs getting all those hard-truth bandaids ripped off. Adam is a lot more humble in this show, less know-it-all, and waaaaay more "glass half full" Polyannaish (specifically towards our government - but when Obama is the producer, I guess I can't expect Adam to go full anarchist anyway, but this show has no teeth, no claws... I wish Bernie had produced it!)

Seriously, though, read the room, Adam. (That's right, I'm pretending Adam is reading this.) Now was not the time for a "give the government a chance, they're not that bad" show. We wanted you to turn our world upside in tiny ways, not attempt to restore our faith in the US government. That's not gonna happen right now. You and your people are smart enough, ya'll could have figured out how to inspire your demographic to take an active role in US government without fellating Uncle Sam right in front of us. And what's with that mother-reading-to-her-infant tone you take whenever you say something even remotely critical of our government? Ew, Adam!

I've missed Adam Ruins Everything since it was pulled off the air, so I was excited to see this show! In my opinion, this show takes Adam Ruins Everything and improves upon it. We get great behind the scenes looks at a number of government industries, valuable expert insight. The humor can be juvenile at times, but it adds some needed levity to heavy topics.

Despite what people are commenting, I think this show does a good job balancing political stances. Although there are obvious, and necessary, criticisms made about Reagan and his choice to gut social programs; the show also criticizes Bill Clinton, as well as producer, and (guest star), Barack Obama for his history of using drones in attacks and cutting social programs.

From my viewpoint, this show is fair and offers valid critique. It may be off-putting to the Capitol storming crowd, but as a moderate, I thought it was well informed, fair and valid in its criticism. (I heard about it from some conservative friends who also loved Adam Ruins Everything, so take those 1 star "it's too political" reviews with a grain of salt).

The series has the great intent of discussing the government on a less one sided way. It tries to introduce us to the everyday aspect and necessity of the government while also investigating the drawbacks and screw ups which is a much needed level headed approach but they fall between two stools. The show's pacing is much calmer and less energetic than what we are used to in Adam Ruins Everything yet it isn't informative enough to be a "real" deep documentary and stood more on the entertainment side.

It feels like a 101 for people who know nothing about politics or the government and doesn't really care about it anyway but tries to make them care trough this entertainy nature but without the snarky, calling you out on your mess style that made ARE great. It doesn't have that shock value that we got used to and not because of the subject. The exaggerated acted out parts are still done in a visually interesting way but they are out of place in this series since between them we don't get the energetic, snarky Adam, but a more serious one who tries to convince us that this isn't a joke, we should take this serious, which is a good thing but:

The series is not deep enough to be taken seriously. It introduces important topics, real problems, pros and cons, but we only scratch the surface. Obviously it is hard to do more in less then 25 minutes yet the episodes still feel dragged out. Vox could state the same in a 7 minute video with greater impact. We spend a lot of time chillin' instead of laying out hard facts and truth. The parts with Obama are a total waste of time. Seems like the only reason they were added is to make him look like somebody who cares yet the only thing it achieves is to remind you to the political leaning of the series which can be felt in many places.

All in all it is a slightly informative and slightly entertaining series without the boldness or thoroughness to leave a mark.

Even has the Alton Brown doppelganger, wonder if he sued for his likeness and shows formula being copied. The skits and dumbed down explanations of more complex workings of what is being discussed is uncanny. It's more entertaining when the subject is how to cook chicken wings or sourdough bread though.

The show should be taken in the spirit it is presented- an attempt to reestablish a sense of civics and duty in common good (of a nation).

It presents an inside view of both the good and the bad - the episodes on money and future I found particularly striking for their day-to-day unheralded and unremarked impacts

The fundamental conclusion is that government isn't good nor bad, it is simply a necessary function of any organized society (nation). It is capable of both great good and great evil, only because it's great in scope. Our engagement or lack thereof will dictate what it does. It's a good message to internalize.

It's a slightly flawed, slightly shallow, but ultimately accessible insight into an important topic. Some reviewers seem to have not understood the core concept that government is inseperable from politics because government is the exercise of politics - its people and power. Inseparable.

The sad reality is that the people that seem to need this the most are the same people least equipped to receive it.