Grotesquerie

This series was torture and I finally gave up watching it at the end. By the episode 10, I really just had enough of the steam of conscious , dark, depressing mess. I do like Neisy and Courtney as actors even if their performances were fairly one dimensional "Felliniesque" portrayals.

It just did not offer me enough to make me care about any of these characters, so much so that I had to bail because I could tell that Ryan Murphey probably would not resolve it and I would leave angry and unsatisfied . And the cinematography was so dark, much of the time I felt I was watching a black screen. Don't bother!

This psychological thriller assembles a stellar cast to tell a story that sometimes feels uncertain about its direction. At times, the show evokes Silence of the Lambs, with Niecy Nash delivering an impressive performance as a flawed investigator who excels at her job yet is haunted by her own demons. The show's artistic scenes, the hyper-sexualized Catholic priest, and the surreal, exaggerated events create the sense of watching a fever dream.

As the episodes progress, the main protagonist often appears to drift through life in ways that feel unexplained. In the last quarter of the season, this approach finally begins to make sense-but then the plot takes yet another convoluted turn that may leave the audience perplexed. Despite the stellar cast, top-notch acting, and several iconic scenes, it often feels like the story itself was secondary to these other elements.

I was riveted for 9 episodes. Great acting and really interesting story. Episode 10 was a pile of garbage. Convoluted, overdone and absolutely no answers. What an unbelievable disappointment. Max Winkler had great instincts in his direction. Every episode was a cliffhanger and I couldn't wait to see the next chapter. That last episode was so unwatchable it didn't seem like it was part of the original story. The lighting was off, every scene was so dark it was difficult to watch. The only way this would make sense would be to renew the story and give us some answers. Sadly, I no longer care and won't be watching.

It's a shame so many people wrote this off after only watching a few episodes. I urge viewers to watch through episode 7, and then make a judgment call. While things seem odd, weird, and chaotic, there is a method to the madness. Niecy Nash is absolutely amazing in her portrayal of Lois. I have always thought of her in more comedic roles, but this role suits her extremely well. The other actors do a fantastic job as well, with each character having very specific reasons for why and who they are in this series. The other surprise is Travis Kelce - I didn't know what to expect from him as an actor, and he did a bang-up job! If you like surprising twists, this is definitely worth a watch.

Grotesquerie begins with an intriguing premise, blending crime investigation and psychological drama with an air of sinister mystery. The partnership between Courtney B. Vance's nuanced detective and Niecy Nash's empathetic but assertive nun sets the stage for a series that initially captivates. The first few episodes are a masterclass in suspense, with layered storytelling and atmospheric tension that keeps viewers hooked.

Unfortunately, as the series progresses, it unravels into a convoluted mess. Narrative decisions become increasingly absurd, undermining the carefully crafted intrigue established early on. Instead of building towards a satisfying conclusion, Grotesquerie stumbles with nonsensical twists that feel more like desperate attempts to shock than logical story progression. What started as a compelling exploration of human darkness devolves into a tedious and overblown finale.

While the performances remain strong throughout, they're not enough to salvage the series from its overly ambitious but poorly executed narrative choices. Grotesquerie is a frustrating watch: a show that had all the ingredients for greatness but squandered them with baffling storytelling.

Rating: 6/10 - A gripping beginning marred by a disappointing descent into chaos.