The Brink

The Brink is whip-smart, featuring actors who know how to play comedy. This one’s a joy to watch.

There’s smart plotting at work, and keen observational skills when it comes to showing who’s truly in power, but it takes a squishy stance on the issues at hand, a “nuclear warfare bad” perspective that makes for agreeable comedy but ineffectual satire.

The series keeps generally on the right side of things by virtue of the excellence and exuberance of the performances, which add flesh where needed; by moving fast enough to keep ahead of your second thoughts; and by spreading the ridiculousness around.

“Ballers” and “The Brink,” have their moments, neither provides a lot of laughs.

The Brink's level of satire never really goes beyond "the most obvious jokes you can think of about every possible group of people on the planet," and its political messages essentially boil down to the idea that the end of humanity wouldn't be that cool.

Unfortunately, The Brink feels like a would-be daring political comedy that's lacking in insight and light on laughs.

It’s screechingly awful.