Gray

I really wanted this to be so much better. Was looking for an intelligent and exciting show to watch and thought I found it with Gray.

Made myself comfortable and pressed play on episode one... Thirty minutes later I gave up. Nothing interesting or exciting had happened. A secret organisation has lost 4 agents in a month and they pick up a former agent who has been retired for 20 years. All that drags on forever and not one moment did I feel drawn in or even slightly interested in any of the characters we get to see. No one is convincing in the role they play, nor does any of them make you curious to know more about them or their story. Talking about story, that's probably the biggest issue at hand; it's all so absurdly unrealistic that it made me feel like saying "stop insulting my intelligence" (and I'm definitely no genius).

I feel giving it 4 stars out of 10 is being pretty generous, but I guess I'm on that mood.

Off to find something better.

Season one started slow, none of the agents working with her showed a normal level of skill that usually these agents have in films. Gray was the one that had it. Sara is given an attention that isn't required in a similar setting, she isn't brought-up to it naturally. The whole series lacks a motility, and the only one that makes it is Gray. Is it a great series, I don't know, cause all the other characters are acting like NPC's and some with a small character defined roles. When it comes to veterans playing the secret service game, I like the Red film series and the Slow Horses TV series. This one is not a contender in that segment. It's a series that hopes to be many things with a unique take, and only fairly justifies it's intention. It doesn't go above and beyond. I am not a fan of cliffhanger's but it seems like a second season is already being filmed.

Such potential, a great story premise, a bit of inspiration from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. But the acting stinks, along with costumes (spot the terrible wig), crappy accent from Rupert and a miserly budget. I don't think the actors can be blamed because there's some quality in here, except for the Derek Zoolander wannabe, he is just terrible.

The casting of Rupert Everett is weird. He's better than this but seems horribly miscast in this case, straining his voice to hide a terrible American accent.

It's got a 4 for the story but everything else drags it down. I'll still watch it but it could've been so much better.

Its just not believable this waspy grandmother is the CIAs only option to root out a mole, and the lack of action is needed as it would be doubly unbelievable if the main character could do anything if any action or violence arose. Clarkson's narrow range on full and tedious display - the troubled neurotic she seems to push in every role she plays is just not believable as a rare and insightful operative . Dialogue is dull, little tension, weak secondary acting with with minimal subplot and a tedious been there done that main plot. The 6/10 reviews it seems to be getting say it all - Ive taught screenwriting at college - this is hard to watch and I gave up eventually.

I wish American TV shows would stop with cliffhangers or sorts. Like just wrap up a series and then make a better reason if you get renewed. It's easy. Just follow the Scandinavian method of TV.

Great show. Which annoyed me by it's ending so I knocked off a star.

Because I have to write more in order to qualify I will say this. Patricia Clarkson is weirdly transcendent and you can't take your eyes off her. Rupert Everett freaked me out that he could possibly actually be like that, but I felt some of the other characters were sadly not delved into enough. Actually we don't get much back story which I think is another fault. Maybe I should take another star off. I'll think on that.