Gutsy

This is well-paced, beautifully shot, expertly edited series about a diverse group of admirable pioneers, innovators, teachers, guides, explorers, counselors, artists and athletes who are true role models.

Overall, cumulatively, the eight 40-minute episodes work. They are attentively curated and edited to bring out the best in every “ordinary” woman interviewed, showcasing their achievements with respect and without relying on the pure emotive rush many of them could provide.

The result is a compelling docuseries that rises above its elements, defining aspirational womanhood as smart, strong, and human.

While Gutsy‘s good intentions make it hard to dislike, its shallowness also makes it difficult to love.

Each [subject] gets only a few minutes of airtime before the hosts jet off to call on somebody new. The encounters themselves vary in interest, but it is the series construction that really cheapens them: Even the most heroic stories can feel facile when dispensed in quick succession. ... Every so often, a genuine moment shines through the shallowness.

By steadfastly refusing to grapple with what it really means to be a powerful woman, Gutsy limits itself to a two-dimensional, utterly toothless understanding of its subjects.

Beyond the preexisting demographic of those who mourned their post-election brunch plans, though, it’s hard to imagine who might gain much from this exercise besides the Clintons themselves.