High Desert

I approached this show with poor expectations. Just to let myself be entertained for twenty minutes. Indeed, at first sight this looked like one of those low-budget internet TV series for a young generation suffering from low attention spam.

What I actually encountered is absolutely brilliant and delightful. Fresh, provocative, sparkling, funny and very original.

Quite obviously, something like this could only work with a very solid cast and I must confess I have always appreciated Arquette's talent, but this is another dimension all together. The entire thread, in its minimalism, rests on her shoulder and she leads wonderfully with a consistent support from her fellow colleagues.

The cherry on the cake for an irregular but very interesting career. I expect she should receive some sort of award for this. She deserves it.

The opening of episode one was a great hook. Pulled me in and had me interested...

But...

After that point, there wasn't any real "storytelling". There were a bunch of scenes strung together to hopefully make some sort of story.. but no ACTUAL storyline or overall plot.

No clue where it was going.. often bored by how it was getting there.

Sure some moments were humorous and Arquette does a great job with the role.. but.. it's meandering.. wandering.. seeking to find a reason. There is not clear plot.. no expectation for anything that's been foreshadowed.. no mystery to solve... no outcome to hope for... no future.

With about 5 minutes left in episode 4 I bailed.. bored to tears.. never to look back.

Why doesn't anyone focus on good storytelling any more??? It would appear most newer productions either want to make a puzzle out of any overall plot.. or just avoid any overall plot altogether. This series was the latter.

If I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel... it's a trap... not a tunnel. This.. this is a trap.

The performances and storylines are huge and over the top at times. It's clearly by design and it's simply brilliant. I laughed so much, and so consistently, throughout episodes 3 and 4 that I had to keep replaying scenes so I didn't miss anything. Patricia Arquette is genius (yet again) here. She is fully invested in this high camp, voracious for a new life, wannabe gumshoe character. And the scenes between her and Brad Garrett are absolute comedy gold. Looking forward to the final few episodes to see where this wacky and winding road takes us! I suggest viewers just go with it and enjoy the ride.

Read some reviews and had caught the tail end of an Arquette interview making the rounds promoting this, so gave it a go.

Myself and the lady liked it some, abd make the point of at least doing 5 or 6 before jumping off, or we wouldn't have finished Ozark or even Better Call Saul...so we stick to that streaming mantra.

We just got bored with it, we were all caught up into week 6 and just felt like it was spinning it's tires. Looked at each other with the week 7 epi ready to fire and decided we just were into it. Very well cast, but disjointed writing just weighs it down and couldn't see ourselves watching another season (if it went that route), let alone another episode. It's just drags...and not sure any of the characters matter.

I don't know why the lowish reviews!! I don't care where this story is going. I could watch Patricia Arquette in her role as Peggy forever. She is CRASS (WITH CLASS according to her) with absolutely no filter. She absolutely makes this Series. Arquette is so perfect as this wanna be P. I. looking to make the Big Score catching the Bad Guy....

You need a Very Dry and Twisted Sense of Humour to appreciate this HILARIOUS Show. If you are expecting a Network TV Comedy, this is NOT IT.

High Desert is a DARK COMEDY that has Quick Wit and Brilliant Writing. I wonder how someone can dream up these crazy ideas. I just love this Show.

Not in one million years would I put this Cast together but they are PERFECT. Brad Garrett as Peggy's Boss is hilarious. I couldn't even RECOGNIZE Rupert Friend as Guru Bob with that Hair !! Bernadette Peters on TV ? I love her as MOMMY/Ginger. Matt Dillon is Peggy's SMARMY Husband who has been in and out of Prison/Jail. He's the one who got the family in their VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL WAY to begin with.

Ben Stiller is the Executive Producer and is owning Apple lately ! I love that he has his Wife Christine Taylor as Peggy's "Normal-ish" Sister.

Highly recommended if you like dark humour.