Dunknaggets

Abbott Elementary is a strange show. While the writing is good, it's just not overly funny. Compared to The Office or Parks and Rec, the "laugh out loud" moments are rare. The characters and storylines are wholesome, which is probably the most engaging part of this series. Acting is a bit all over the place, a few actors are decent enough. Overacting plagues a lot of the delivery, which is perhaps why the jokes don't always land. Also, the inherent nature of an elementary school requires a ton of child actors and you can only expect so much from them. The show requires the adult actors to do all the heavy lifting, and unfortunately not all of them are equipped to do so. Regardless of the critiques, the show is more than watchable. It's entertaining enough to keep me watching, I just don't really consider it a full comedy.

This show is not for everyone. Fans of Nathan Fielder's previous works (Nathan for You, The Rehearsal) will be a bit thrown off by The Curse. While I did find numerous moments to laugh, I mostly felt uncomfortable watching this. If you don't like A24 films, the art-house style, or those types of productions you probably won't enjoy The Curse. I know how pretentious that comes across, but I do think that distinction is necessary in understanding how this series is received. Many people don't like this style because they "don't get it". Which is completely valid. And that's not to say it's over their head, it's more so saying they aren't watching entertainment for that purpose. Again, consume your media the way you want to. Personally, I watch a very broad range of content and much of it is only for entertainment. Perhaps the difference here is, while many shows are self-contained in their messages, The Curse is (trying) to say more than the plot or the characters are depicting onscreen. All that aside, the acting, writing, cinematography, music, everything just feels so well crafted. It feels like everything has a purpose. Emma Stone is incredible. Benny Safdie is a gem. Nathan Fielder does start off poor in comparison, but improves tremendously as the series progresses. If you haven't seen the Jimmy Kimmel interview with Fielder and Stone promoting the show, I highly recommend watching that. The Curse is the type of show that makes you feel strange while watching it. While I admit that it's not for everyone, I think there's something to take away from the series. Even if that's only a feeling of unsettling confusion.

I want to enjoy this show. I've never read the books so my criticisms are based on the TV show itself. After watching 2 seasons (so far), it's quite apparent the story being adapted is extensive and detailed. The show does a pretty good job of moving along, although you begin to feel you are missing some information at times. I'm not sure how they could do it better, if at all, but some storylines definitely feel rushed or even incomplete. Production value is fairly high. The sets and costume design are really well done, and the special effects are decent enough. The biggest failing from a technical view is the acting. Most of the actors are unknowns, with a few seasoned actors sprinkled in. I won't blame the talent for poor acting, as it seems to be across the board, which then signals potentially poor direction or other reasons. I was more forgiving in season 1, with all the young actors being somewhat new. But now at the end of season 2 it's clear they haven't improved much at all, and the poor acting is really holding it back for me. I'm admittedly shocked that many people praise the talent online, because it's so easy to spot the badly delivered lines and exaggerated mannerisms. I'll keep watching it, as the show is still entertaining. There are a lot of good moments which keep me hooked. Maybe next season will improve.