Critic Reviews

That “See” is winding down to its conclusion is a bummer, given how the show has grown by leaps and bounds over its years, but it’s a credit to its future legacy that it knows when to call it a day. If the remainder of the season makes good on the promise in “Heavy Hangs the Crown,” then “See” will at least go out on a high note.

Awash with bloody, brutal violence, set against a meticulously crafted world, this is a storming continuation of one of TV’s most underappreciated shows.

It’s absolutely brutal, which obviously won’t appeal to all. At times, the general consensus of “See” feels earned: that it’s a discounted “Game of Thrones.” Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. But even if it were, what of it? Ultimately there’s really nothing new under the sun. You’re either entertained by it or your not. By and large, I was.

“See” is much more invested in a simple survival story, mixing Knight’s typical self-serious writing with a bit of sci-fi fun. The balance isn’t quite there yet, as episodes don’t exactly earn their hourlong run time. Momoa, meanwhile, fits the role well.

It’s compelling and immersive, promising a sci-fi/fantasy epic that will span a generational tale, filled with impressive battle scenes and a dystopian future world that’s rendered with a visually spectacular cinematic production value that gives the whole world a massive sense of scope. It’s also downright weird and goofy at times, deliciously so, sometimes bordering on campy and giddily dipping a toe right over the line in the midst of the high-concept drama.

That near-total lack of character investment is the biggest impediment to engaging with the series on an emotional level, but it’s also damned hard to engage with it intellectually, because See also doesn’t seem to know what it’s saying. ... Only three episodes were provided for critics, so it’s possible that this particular element of the story will grow more complex as the season progresses.

Last season’s restricted scope gave the series intimacy and wonder even in its most plodding moments. That scope having been expanded, the intimacy is gone, and wonder is harder to find. Still, “See” makes for good viewing, especially for one “Game of Thrones” knockoff among many.

Dull, predictable, scuzzy drama set centuries in the future after everyone on the planet has lost their sight.

Unfortunately, the story hasn’t caught up to the ambition of the production design in the first few episodes.

This mix of influences and eras is ultimately more confusing than it is cohesive. The verdant background offers a compelling counterpoint to most dystopias, which often imagine either a sterile, skyscraper-filled world or a desolate wasteland. But there are so many other standard dystopian ideas at play here as to rob that decision of its novelty.