Disclaimer

A visual interpretation of Renee Knight's novel by the simple genius of Alfonso Cuarón, approaching the material with a pure cinematic sensibility, where after only 2 episodes the viewer is addicted to the mystery within the story structure, revealing thin layers at a time on the darkness of human behaviour with an added tinge of masochistic humor.

The brilliance of the series is in the unusual casting of going against type, starting with Sacha Baron Cohen in a dramatic role as the pompous husband. And to top it all off is Kevin Kline as the conniving former private school teacher who finds a second lease in life with his torturous game of vengeance. Whereas Blanchett fits into any role and does it with abundance, as the actors go full tilt in this artful melodrama.

I'm in an older Gen X demographic, and I can totally understand why younger generations would not connect with this material. I have been through relationships, marriage, divorce, and this drama is similar in many respects to events I have been through, and so I can appreciate the writing and characters a bit more than others would.

Having said that, straight up this is a solid 10 of 10 show for me. First of all, it is limited. The story will not drag out in the quest for more cash. There are seven solid episodes, and it is WELL worth the time invested to view.

No spoilers, but as the story progresses, you will see that there is a layer of complexity woven into the story that pays off the further you get down the journey of these characters. To put it plainly, what feels like a bit of a slower drama that is above average builds and builds until you cannot stop watching by the end.

I will leave it at that: adults that appreciate a good drama will be riveted and rewarded for viewing this. Enjoy!

Never read the book, so judging the series as a standalone. The series is way too long, stretched way too much. It was intriguing and mysterious for the first few episodes, but by episode five, I was like, "Oh my god, just conclude it already.". Catherine's silence/constantly being interrupt while trying to tell her side feels like just a plot mechanism to keep the story going. Clearly setting up for a "twist".

The constant, detailed sex scenes are just ew. Literally porn. I don't mind sex scenes, but if I want to watch "detailed" sex scenes that last ten minutes, my first choice for that would not be Apple TV+.

I rarely leave reviews, but after seeing some of the baffling negative ones here, I had to share my thoughts. This show requires your undivided attention. If you're looking for something to have on in the background while scrolling through your phone, this is not the show for you.

The direction is outstanding, with Alfonso Cuarón's signature style evident throughout. His use of long, immersive shots combined with stellar performances from the cast, excellent sound design, and stunning cinematography makes for an incredible viewing experience.

It seems that some viewers may not have the patience or focus to follow the plot. Episode 1 throws you right into the action without much exposition, but if you pay close attention to the dialogue and just watch the show, things will start to fall into place. If you're still confused, Episode 2 will help to clarify some things

So far, this show has been fantastic. If it maintains this level of quality until the end, it has the potential to become a cult classic in the years to come.

Some of the negative reviews seem to suggest the good reviews are a "conspiracy", unable to grasp the simple concept that we all have different tastes.

There are plot holes for sure, but the story hits you hard when you realize every character is a despicable human being, and you see the horrible cruelty, ego, and hate that fester in the human psyche. It's well acted, and the story develops impressively.

The 7/10 score reflects the plot holes, all the things that happened between Katherine and Jonathan were only witnessed by them, yet somehow the grieving mother wrote it up as if she saw every moment, and then it just became fact in the show.

But it is powerful, the emotions it instills, the wonderful way you catch yourself feeling sorry for one of the characters, only to realize they are despicable.

Well worth a watch (I am not a bot or an employee of the production company in case any conspiracy theorists are here).....(that's what THEY would say!!)