PuckerFactor

Do we need the songs? Why subject people to songs that are the personal choice of a director or showrunner? A lot of these songs don't appeal to the spectrum of people viewing this series. This is happening more and more in TV shows and it's contaminating the legacy of what could be a TV series classic. It's a thriller, so stick to the less distracting incidental music.

Besides that, I like the show. I think it could be better. Lashana Lynch is definitely miscast for the role, but she's not a deal breaker. If you look at Zoe Saldana's character in the Lioness, she sells the character well, even with the similar annoying family problems. She looks the part and could be an operative in any part of the world. Lashana Lynch doesn't and has obviously been selected because of her role in the last Bond movie, which was OK at best.

This first episode was not the best start for this series. Was it really necessary to show the laziest brat in tennis first? It's really crass to fall for sensationalism over substance in this first episode. Nick Kyrgios comes across as a gifted but petulant, undisciplined emotionally weak-minded Gen Z'er. Whatever he considers to be a struggle is nothing compared to what others have had to battle throughout their careers. I can't help but wonder if he has squandered his talent and is more interested in being famous for all the wrong reasons rather than be a great tennis player. The girlfriend needed less airtime too.

The jump cuts are annoying and the cheerleading sycophantic background commentary can be cringeworthy at times. The series needs a toned-down perspective rather than the fanfare it injects into every situation. Instead, we get contrived setups of personal moments (especially with ditzy girlfriends) and a whole episode on Nick Kyrgios throwing tantrums because he's a "misunderstood" and "troubled" boy...Oh boohoo! Give us a break!

A more subtle perspective with unguarded moments in training, traveling and the struggle to stay on form...more honest fly-on-the-wall stuff. What makes the great players great? And why are so many of the younger players not at the same level as Federer, Nadal and Serena were at their age? We need a more honest exposé on behind-the-scenes tennis rather than the over-dramatic off-the-shelf formula it presents.