American Odyssey is rooted in current events, which provides immediate credibility to the series. But like “Homeland,” “Person of Interest” and other shows, it also makes effective use of the post-9/11 air of wariness that wafts through American society. Conspiracy buffs will be in heaven watching American Odyssey, but the rest of us will just be completely hooked.

American Odyssey is very much its own creation: clever, exciting, colorful without being self-consciously so. Most important, it is only occasionally ridiculous in the way conspiracy thrillers inevitably are.

Peter Facinelli (plays a former U.S. attorney and Jake Robinson an activist who are also getting dangerously close to the secret that threatens Sgt. Ballard, though it's Friel and Omar Ghazaoui, the young Moroccan playing her traveling companion, who are most responsible for making American Odyssey stand out from the conspiracy crowd.

American Odyssey is equal parts ambitious and frustrating.

American Odyssey has one gripping tale to tell. The problem is, there are three tales embedded in its framework, which includes familiar elements--the tension of “24” and the intrigue of “Homeland”--that add up to something less than the sum of its parts.

American Odyssey feels strained, tired and devoid of nuance, related less to the disenchantment associated with what’s happening today than the paranoid political thrillers of the 1970s. Nor does the series gain strength over four subsequent episodes

There's perhaps an outside chance that NBC's American Odyssey might not seem quite as impenetrably dull had we not already seen--or ignored--a hundred similar tales of terrorist conspiracies and government coverups. But we have and it does, and there's really no coming back from that.

Amazing show to watch!!! Great quality. Actors are outstanding. It's a must-watch movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are enjoying this show and can't wait to see how it plays out. Anna Friel is great, and the second episode gave her character a chance to show toughness and kindness. The camera work and directing is excellent-- seeing arid Africa in all its dry glory. We look forward to Sunday evening television once again! Thanks, NBC!

On the one hand, "American Odyssey" feels like almost all of NBC's other new dramas. A shadowy cabal is doing shady things and the government may or may not be helping cover it up. Anyone who knows the truth is in danger. On the other hand, I kind of liked the way the pilot was executed, or maybe I just liked this version of a familiar story better. It's not great, but by NBC standards it's not too bad, either.

I must agree wih Beecee that the best part of the show are the scenes with Anna Friel. The worst -- the ones I just can no longer stomach -- are those with Jake Robinson. He drives me bats -- he should be playing a meth head with all of his affected, jerky movements. His character is already an idiot and Robinson's shoddy acting only makes it worse. Can we please get him killed off? I'm weary of fast-forwarding through his scenes.

I really wanted to like this show (I'm up to episode 9 now.) However, the level of implausibility, and worse, the utter stupidity of the main characters drives me nuts. I almost want all the protagonists to die off for the sake of the species (Darwin effect.) The antagonists are much more richly drawn characters. And, OMG, the "not-widowed" husband is like the Gold Medalist in the dweeb Olympics. I guess I will stick with it as one does with a cloying dessert served up by hosts. I also am coming to hate all teenage children in series of this type. "Madam Secretary," and "The Americans" come to mind. While I am pro-choice in real life, I favor retroactive birth control for these annoying brats!