NOS4A2

The spooky stuff is what will sell the show, but what makes "NOS4A2" interesting is the amount of time it spends on the ordinary daily drama, which apart from Vic's family, includes a classic (though very tentative) teenage romantic triangle and social-class story lines.

NOS4A2 will put you on a magical road, brimming with possibilities for terror and wonder, but takes so many detours into dull territory, you’re left with the impression you’re going nowhere at all. But if it ever figures out where it’s going, there’s plenty of gas left in the tank.

Joe Hill's expansive horror novel might have made a better movies than a sluggish series stalled in the angst of small-town Massachusetts life. [10 - 23 Jun 2019, p.9]

The total lack of tonal creativity amplifies what is perhaps the show’s biggest problem: a complete lack of dread. There’s nothing creepy or atmospheric about NOS4A2, a show that takes itself deadly seriously without earning it.

Through its first six episodes, NOS4A2 is a shockingly unscary horror drama prone to ill-considered detours and over-explained supernatural machinations, while wallowing in entirely too many blue-collar cliches and variable Massachusetts accents. A solid cast, some showy makeup and the occasional inspired bit of imagery all get the life sucked right out of them, the only way that the show's clunky pun of a title is at all worthwhile.

The series does boast a breakout performance from newcomer Ashleigh Cummings. It’s just too bad that nothing else about the show lives up to that performance. Instead, any flickering glimmer of quality gets smothered by a drab visual palette, sluggish plotting and a crushingly dour tone.

This season seems concerned with focusing on the conflict between Vic and Manx, but the meandering and crude way in which it tells this story couldn’t be more off-putting if you tried to write it yourself. Unless you are a die-hard NOS4A2 fan who has been clamoring for more of the Vic vs. Manx showdown, I would strongly advise you to spend your time watching literally anything else.

I was kind of on the fence about watching this. And after starting I wasn't very impressed. But about a third of the way through it grabbed hold of me and I was hooked. Its really such a unique and creepy concept as kids are being taken from their homes and in some cases their parents murdered. We than meet a young woman Vic McQueen played by Ashleigh Cummings of Hounds of Love. She has an awful home life and with the help of a young charasmatic psychic named Maggie Leigh played by an impressive Jakhara Smith (Pilgrim) she discovers she has certain gifts. Anytime she wants to find something she can go to her very own psychedelic bridge and it will take her there. I know it all sounds a bit goofy but they pull it off very well. Unfortunately a supposed man named Charlie Manx played by a maniacal Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) is hunting those with gifts to feed his own hunger. I won't say anymore because I don't want to ruin anything but it's surprisingly great, disturbing, creative and quite unique. 4.25/5

The plot is very much a slow-burn and takes a while to get into but a few episodes in, I was hooked and couldn't wait to see how it played out. Vic and the fractured relationship with her parents is a highlight for me. Quinto as Manx really tops off the show and the rest of the cast does a good job as well. My two major critiques - The first being that the show doesn't really set up a long term story. This is the kind of series I fully expect to end within 4-5 seasons (if not earlier), which I am totally fine with but I think they could have done a better job at planning it out. The second being that the pacing isn't always the best. Kind of reminds me of Walking Dead in a way because at times there is a bit too much filler than there needs to be. Thankfully, These are fixable issues that would greatly improve the show.

First season was interesting, but the IQ of the 'good guys' fell off a cliff in season 2. Even Partridge is beating the crew at 4D-chess. Zachary Quinto kept me watching, but he has little to work with. Oh and why does Vic's mom look 20 years younger than her 'daughter'?

Haven't read the whatever it's based on, but overall it feels like one of those (too many) modern stories that seem to be made by AI. It's just a blend of a lot of horror stories without any coherence or artistic touch. And the final result doesn't make any sense. The 'powers' system is exactly Stephen King's shining, with the same general story. Except the girl's powers are useless and ultimately completely unused. Progression is terribly slow and leading to nothing. Shortly put: cr@p

Cool concept but with a poorly tied together storyline in so many places and with predictable and downright awful acting in so many other parts...I feel this was a big waste of time.