User Reviews

I had no idea going into the show that it was canceled after the first season with no resolution to the plot. I would still recommend the series if you want something creative based on comics, like The Umbrella Academy, but with more serious overtones and graphic violence.

One of the bst series I have ever seen. I have no idea why they canceled it.

Just go watch the original UK channel 4 version instead. This Amazon adaptation was shockingly bad.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Stop killing rabbits. I'll up this rating if the rabbits start eating people.

Shockingly violent, the death toll mounts in episode 1 and beyond. No one is safe in this world. Think of it as "Game Of Thrones" for comic book nerds. Visually, the series is very appealing. There's always something cool to look at. Having said all that, the pace of the show is a bit slow. "Utopia" only has eight episodes but could have benefited from some more trimming. It seems like a lot of time passes without much going on. You'll notice there is a disclaimer at the beginning of each episode. It says that the show is a work of fiction and 'not based on actual, related or current events". Despite being in the works for years, this series happened to arrive during the pandemic. I'm not sure if that's really good timing or the worst timing ever. It is impossible not to draw parallels between "Utopia" and current events. Let's just hope the QAnon and anti-vaxxer folks dont use this show to bolster their agenda. Lord knows they already believe stuff far crazier than this. The door is left wide open for a season 2. Are you game or have you seen enough of "Utopia"? I personally think I'm good stopping here. There are plenty enough dreadful things happening now in the real world. Watching a shows about them too is a bit much. Maybe I'll feel different at a later date.

A watchable pilot, then it's all downhill from there. Looks like they conned Amazon Prime into picking up the show.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

I am really enjoying this series so far. I dont understand the low reviews.

Freshest thing I’ve seen on stream or tv in decades. The story and it’s characters are so captivating that I have yet to move back from the edge of my seat after just completing the last episode. A must watch. No Cap

almost unwatchable if you've seen the UK original. feels like a watered down, more comedic version with worse casting, writing, and music

On it's own it would not be too bad, however it's just another remake that fails to improve on the original. Go watch the original instead.

Utter **** please don't watch it, it's a great series turned into a generic piece of american garbage, no idea why they keep butchering great shows with their adaptations, why not carring over the original one? or actually do something original for once. Remember the beautiful and unique cinematography? gone. Memorable characters? byebye. Amazing soundtrack? not even close. I wish I never had listened about it or watched it, it's so wrong.

It is so mediocre and not even close to uk series. Visual design is meh. Soundtrack is almost nonexistent. And there are fillers.

This conspiracy theory series revolves around an elusive comic book, which is full of clues about a diabolical scheme. As is typical for this genre, a ragtag group of comic nerds sets out to solve the mysteries and save the world. Star turns from John Cusak as the innovative leader of a drug conglomerate and Rainn Wilson as a frustrated scientist who may have the clue to the puzzle. The first 2 episodes are chocked with quickly-dispatched killings and one nasty torture sequence. After that, it’s more about the intrigue and interactions between the various personalities. While the plot offers expected twists, the pacing is solid and there are enough surprises to keep the puzzle interesting. (The final episode left it obviously open for another season.)

Even if this didn't have the original UK Channel 4 series to compare to, it would still come across as a middle of the road series aiming to be dark and edgy, but failing to actually pack a punch. While the timing is unfortunate, I don't hold it against it, this iteration of the show was in gestation since 2014 long before the pandemic. But along side the state of the world we're in, a lot can change. It was originally supposed to be directed by David Fincher. And it probably needed somebody of his calibre who could really deliver a sense of style, originality, and tight craftsmanship. While this hits many of the beats of the original UK series, it doesn't at all capture its essence. The original had a stark sense of style. The cinematography could only be described as a cross between David Fincher and Wes Anderson. It had sickly vibrant colour grading, and its eerie score by Cristobal Tapia Vermeer was almost a defining feature. This version looks like any standard show, sounds like any standard show, and only so often tries to be creative. While the actors in this are likable enough, they all just seem like watered down versions of their originals, especially Jessica Hyde and Arby. I honestly had high hopes for it, and spent six years anticipating this series all the way through its bumpy ride full of twists and turns. In the end, just kind of landed with an unremarkable thud.

This show is surprisingly good. It has a lot of depth I think people are missing. Yes, it's very violent and shocking but with reason. If you can get passed the first few episodes the violence calms down and the story starts to fall into place. The motivations are quite compelling and the characters have a lot of room for growth. It is not a perfect show by any means but it stands on it's own, separate from the original. I've seen the original and they are two very different shows. They're both good in my opinion. Definitely give it a chance. It'd be a shame if it doesn't get a second season.

This show is in itself barely tolerable and compared to the masterpiece original a disaster engineered by inept clueless clowns. The beautiful and original cinematography of the original? Replaced by bland random generic images. The intriguing score of the original? Gone. The show is dull and generic and crawls along in a boring way. It has clumsy exposition, wooden dialogue and a mythology that doesn't make any sense anymore. But most importantly, none of the characters make any sense. I'm okay with them being changed and "americanized". But they are boring and one-dimensional. They lack the depth and uniqueness of the original and are just unimaginative fillers to convey plot. The relationship between Jessica and the group is absurd. Arby is a joke. Did no one with minimal writing experience check this script before it went into production? The production value is great in this show, but it is all wasted. It would have worked if the Fincher deal had worked out, but the showrunner has no talent for this kind of show. She has no idea what she wants to say or how to say it. The show features a very interesting and unique mythology but it doesn't deliver. What a wasted opportunity.

I dig it. Not a comic book person, but I get fandom. Love the cast and the first two episodes hooked me. I like that there are stakes and the show is unafraid to throw them out there early. The criticism I've hear is that the characters don't get the appropriate death to make those stakes resonate. If that is the worst critics offer, I'm still willing to stick with the show to the end. Amazon has upped its original show game. Final thoughts; lowered to a six. It was a fun ride for a fairly generic conspiracy plot. I liked everyone except Jessica. The actress generated no sympathy for the character. She came off amateurish at best. Loved Arby. John Cusack made an excellent villain.

This show is too convoluted. The only likeable character is Rainn Wilson’s. Everything else just seems dine for the shock value or for the sake of having som edge. Terrible premise during pandemic times.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]