This show has a lot of actors and actresses I like in it; plus, like most people, I am more interested in finding truly funny comedies than ever before because I could really use a good laugh. Unfortunately, this show doesn't offer much in the way of humor.
Instead of jokes, this show seems to be most interested in educating the audience, which is the same mistake a majority of shows seem to be making these days. When you tune in to be entertained, you want that to be the focus of what you get, yet Rutherford Falls puts all its effort into teaching you lessons you didn't ask for and don't need. The very few comedic elements this show does contain come across as an afterthought.
Another major problem this show shares with its contemporaries is prizing diversity above reality. Instead of creating a believable portrait of small town life, the creators of Rutherford Falls obviously turned to a diversity checklist to determine the composition of the cast: Dumb white guy who's the butt of every joke: check! Plucky fat chick who's the smartest person in the room: check! Horny, desperate white woman everyone despises: check! Strong black woman who is superior to everyone in everyway: check! Gender nonbinary person of color: check! Etc...
In addition to shoehorning in more diversity than the "It's a Small World After All" ride, the creators of this series crammed way too many competing storylines into the show in general. Honestly, watching the pilot felt like trying to watch three different unrelated shows at once. You would think with an entire season to explore various storylines they would have made some effort to spread them out a little, but no. Moreover, there is so much going on that the audience doesn't know who or what to invest themselves in. At the end of the first episode you're left wondering which of the many causes you are supposed care about and why because you aren't even given clear heroes to root for.
While there is always a possibility this show will become funnier and less cluttered as the season unfolds, I am not optimistic. I fear it is far more likely that this will continue on as it began, a convoluted mess that elicits more eye rolls and groans than laughter.
Instead of jokes, this show seems to be most interested in educating the audience, which is the same mistake a majority of shows seem to be making these days. When you tune in to be entertained, you want that to be the focus of what you get, yet Rutherford Falls puts all its effort into teaching you lessons you didn't ask for and don't need. The very few comedic elements this show does contain come across as an afterthought.
Another major problem this show shares with its contemporaries is prizing diversity above reality. Instead of creating a believable portrait of small town life, the creators of Rutherford Falls obviously turned to a diversity checklist to determine the composition of the cast: Dumb white guy who's the butt of every joke: check! Plucky fat chick who's the smartest person in the room: check! Horny, desperate white woman everyone despises: check! Strong black woman who is superior to everyone in everyway: check! Gender nonbinary person of color: check! Etc...
In addition to shoehorning in more diversity than the "It's a Small World After All" ride, the creators of this series crammed way too many competing storylines into the show in general. Honestly, watching the pilot felt like trying to watch three different unrelated shows at once. You would think with an entire season to explore various storylines they would have made some effort to spread them out a little, but no. Moreover, there is so much going on that the audience doesn't know who or what to invest themselves in. At the end of the first episode you're left wondering which of the many causes you are supposed care about and why because you aren't even given clear heroes to root for.
While there is always a possibility this show will become funnier and less cluttered as the season unfolds, I am not optimistic. I fear it is far more likely that this will continue on as it began, a convoluted mess that elicits more eye rolls and groans than laughter.