Grotesquerie

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.

The problem with Ryan Murphy is the way things get stretched out. After a few episodes (or seasons), the story gets overextended, deflates, and drags on without any real substance.

That's exactly what happens here, in this series. After a strong start with a very unique idea, well-written characters, and a sense of freshness, Murphy's need for shocking twists and flashy narrative choices once again leads to an overstuffed world where the balance between content and flashy presentation is lost.

I truly admire the innovative ideas of the talented Ryan Murphy, but once again, he squanders his talent on unnecessarily drawn-out stories.

Ryan Murphy once was good at providing variety tales,but now feel pieces he thinks need telling his way is art versus fetish.

The lead was an unstable detective unsure how she kept her job,seemed she couldn't find her way out of a paper bag.

Who honestly would discuss a new case with a stranger claiming to be a nun,without actual credentials.. I get some nuns are less conservative,but how she acted was insane.

The priest just didn't fit his part seems Murphy was trying,to get a look-alike of Evan Peters & it failed.

Redd was an odd character that seemed too personal with the husband under her care,feel there is more to the story only time will tell.

The only thing that was grotesque was the daughter in the first episode dressed in something purposely tight & eating food enough for two people.. Who cares that she is pretty or anything,let's make weight her character focus because apparently that's how large people are perceived.

I know this is a two episode review but,feels like another season of AHS titled something else.

The series is full of clichés & plotholes,maybe stereotypes but nothing really original.

Cinematography was ok,but nothing stellar either.

Check this out & decide yourself,review edits might come as the series concludes.

Edited update- Just like in AHS: NYC all of a sudden in the last few episodes Ryan Murphy flips a switch on the storyline cohesiveness,he probably calls it artistic or twist but it shouldn't leave the viewer feeling a variety of emotions to the series from disconnected/confused & so forth.

All I have to say is this right here... If Niecy Nash (I don't have time to worry about a hyphenated add-on to her name) doesn't win some kind of award for these performances in these 10 episodes, there is something wrong with the Hollywood system. Forget about what the show is about, whether you like the show or not, whether the other actors are good, or the direction is good, just watch the show because Ms. Nash is nothing short of interesting as f!*k. Now, I'm going to add this so my required minimum is met for this review. These shows are getting more and more demented because Hollywood is mostly demented.

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!