Critic Reviews

This hour-long dramedy relies heavily on Ritter’s ability to sell its outlandish, at times confusing, premise, and to the degree that it succeeds, it’s almost entirely due to the star’s powers of persuasion over any objective standard.

Kevin‘s dialogue is sprinkled with doses of biting humor that cut through all the self-help schmaltz. Ritter and Garcia Swisher have a genuine, combative brother-sister chemistry together, and glimmers of actual spiritual insight peek through at times.

Accepting the celestial quirk takes a leap, but Kevin's dynamic with his grieving twin (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) anchors the tale and Ritter's charisma elevates it. [6 Oct 2017, p.53]

This sounds sappy, but this series doesn't pontificate. Inspirational and playful, it teaches its endearing lessons in an entertaining way. Filled with light humor and heart, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World is a show with potential.

The whole cast is solid and Ritter is the perfect choice to play Kevin Finn. He is as convincing in the dramatic moments as he is in the more comedic moments of the show.

Ritter brings solid appeal to the title role while Herbert Gregory has a strong grip on her “warrior for God.” Even so, Saves the World can be overly goofy at times and remains murky in terms of just what Kevin represents or is supposed to do as “the last of the righteous.” Whatever the potholes in the plot, Saves the World commendably aspires to be bracing and uplifting in times when a second coming of Touched By An Angel might just do a world of good.

If you can stomach the feel-goodery of connecting to people through embrace, Kevin’s crash course in appreciating the wonders of shared humanity is a little sweet and a little funny--and best of all, original.

Our Kevin here is played by Jason Ritter, scrappy and sincere, and strong enough to keep the whole thing afloat despite tonal inconsistencies that would sink other shows.

We know this is sappy stuff, potentially, but it can be funny, too! Whether “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” can walk that line is a question later episodes will have to answer. Meanwhile, for all its weird mythology, the values it espouses are simple: Be good, and if you can't be good, act good, which will lead eventually to being good.

Quibbles about the premise aside, Ritter makes and sells this show. He balances the pathos and the comedy. In lesser hands, this hour just would not be appealing.