Hindsight

This is a well-produced piece of shiny nonsense.

Sorry. I know there are jobs at stake in TV production land, but if you're involved with this project, you're making narcissistic brain candy and should perhaps take a moment to consider seeking more fulfilling employment.

Because while I love time travel stories, this one is tailor-made for nitwits. If it goes long, you will be dedicating several years of your life to increasing the net stupidity of American culture.

Clearly, the Canadian show "Being Erica" upon which "Hindsight" was modeled, was carefully watched by the executives. Anybody familiar with the former will immediately notice all the similarities and character archetypes. Everything from the coffee-getter publishing job, the overbearing gayish boss, the irresponsible drinking buddy girlfriend, the troubled but beloved brother, the mysterious time doctor type.., and yet, it was the pointless surface patterns which were borrowed by the producers here, while all of the insight and cleverness of "Being Erica" has been binned. -Either deliberately because "Hindsight" is targeting idiots, or through sheer foolishness because whoever is in charge simply doesn't get it.

My main gripe: The main character, Becca, is mentally in her early 40's but has little to show for that much living. She still acts like an impulsive child-woman. She is in fact not at all out of place in the world of 23 year-olds. -Petty, spoiled American Princess 23 year-olds, to be clear. There are a precious few flashes of maturity spotted here and there, but they feel shallow and deliberately inserted because, "She'd know stuff, right?"

Where "Being Erica" focused on improving one's life through personal, guided introspection and experimentation, (based on a blend of therapeutic behavioral psychology and various enlightened philosophies), this show appears to have no point whatsoever.

What purpose is there in magically giving a second chance to this character? And come to think of it... What need for a second chance did Becca even have? Where "Being Erica" begins with the main character waking up in a hospital ward after having hit rock bottom, Becca...

-In the present, Becca has no material needs, she's got a good job she's worked her way up the ranks of... Money, success, health (and 23 year-old looks, apparently) and a worthy partner who loves her. The big problem she faces appears to be that she just doesn't feel that Lovin' Feelin' quite enough when she's with her husband to be.

News Flash lady: You can fix that. Don't marry him. You've got endless life advantages most Americans can only dream of at your disposal and the world stretching out in front of you. The only thing you are apparently missing is a brain.

And while that could easily serve as the center point around which to revolve this story, I can't see any hope of this time travel excursion having been set into action as an attempt to address that deficit. Self-actualization and spiritual growth don't appear to be on the menu.

It's a poor little princess tale with no lessons in the offing and a bunch of unsatisfying iPhone jokes.

If you'd like to watch something which doesn't make you want to bark at the main characters, "Being Erica" is the opposite pill in every way; fun, uplifting, charming and smart.

I gave "Hindsight" a 4/10 because it at least *looks* pretty and the acting, editing and story structure are competent for what it is.

The premise of this series has potential. The actors are committed and the cast is talented. It's fun looking back at the 90's.

The biggest problem is that the very attractive and charming protagonist has the maturity of a tween (despite having already experienced her 20's and the wealth of experience a marriage and career should bring).

She makes such epic horrible decisions - that cost the people who are supposed to be important to her - that it becomes difficult to care about the outcome.

I hope people don't come to read this post and think to themselves, how can a person give a 10 out of 10 but put brainless in the subject. Well, lets be clear, if I wanted to watch The Fall or the Game of Thrones I wouldn't be in the VH1 teenage section of programming. This show takes you back in time, the characters are well written, the plot is fun and it brings the viewer back in his or her own past with a fun flavour of easy story. Not cheesy, like so many shows thing views want, but just plain fun. This show is a must watch. You will know after the second episode if its for you because the first two were a hit for me. BTW, to the young actress -- great job and keep doing these types of shows. My wife and I love to watch them and giggle and remember what its like to be young, free and full of life !!!

Watching Hindsight is like watching a 40mins advert for emptiness. the show is never funny or dramatic enough, it just settles for a monotonous tone, with every other line a terrible reference. the only 90's sensibility the show has is the low quality that some of that decades programming had. Watching Hindsight is like watching a 40mins advert for emptiness. the show is never funny or dramatic enough, it just settles for a monotonous tone, with every other line a terrible reference. the only 90's sensibility the show has is the low quality that some of that decades programming had. Watching Hindsight is like watching a 40mins advert for emptiness. the show is never funny or dramatic enough, it just settles for a monotonous tone, with every other line a terrible reference. the only 90's sensibility the show has is the low quality that some of that decades programming had.

Definitely a fun show for those of us who were teens or young adults during the 90s. The 90s flashback music, clothing, pop culture references, and even the attitudes of that era make this show rich with nostalgia and lots of fun. Since this show is about going back in time, there is of course lots of humor surrounding all that has changed so much in the last 20 years, like cell phones and the internet. There is also some other great humor as well, especially with characters Lolly and Jamie. Despite the bad reviews, I actually think this show is cleverly written, entertaining and seems to get better with every episode. I don't love the choice of actress for the main character Becca (her face isn't very expressive) but I get why she was chosen: her looks and the fact that her age is hard to pinpoint which makes it easier for the audience to accept her as both a 40 year old and a woman in her early 20s. Overall, i hope Hindsight will run for a while. It's the first new show in a long time that I've actually been interested in. Not sure where the writers are going with the story or how they intend to wrap up what her time travel journey has done for her, but I'm really enjoying how Becca's choices keep changing things from her past, even in the smallest of ways. Very cool.