Guilty Party

Because Beth is clearly in need of moral self-inventory, the unease Beckinsale brings to the role makes some sense. But what flies in the three episodes made available to critics probably will not throughout all 10. Series creator Rebecca Addelman has transferred the dark yet madcap energy from her previous project, Netflix’s “Dead to Me,” to her new one, auguring many more comic misadventures likely to test Beckinsale’s shaky comedic skills.

While we like Beckinsale’s performance in Guilty Party, the show doesn’t seem to have enough story elements to really make us latch onto Beth or her quest to get her career back.

“Guilty Party,” which swings from black comedy to high-stakes drama without finding its desired sweet spot somewhere in between, just keeps giving in to Beth’s worse instincts without giving its audience any real reasons to care if she ever succeeds.

The series is positively overflowing with themes and characters and story elements that it keeps hurtling at the wall, in hopes that something will stick. After watching the three half-hour episodes sent to critics (of a 10-episode season), I’m still waiting to see if anything does. ... Guilty Party‘s most insurmountable flaw is Beth herself. ... The core of her character feels a few drafts away from fully formed, and it doesn’t help that Beckinsale plays her as both chaotic and totally blasé.