Too Close to Home (2016–2017) User Reviews

it grows on ya

[chakukan · 6/10 · 4 August 2017]

I decided to write an honest review since it seems so many folks are being unduly harsh! First off Tyler Perry: He comes from a rough background and has a huge heart. He doesn't start these projects because he needs the money, rather he enjoys it and always gives chances to newer actors. He has helped and supported many careers that help pay the bills of many families!! He treats his employees well and keeps them around for other projects too. Kudos to Tyler for taking a chance here and trying out some new talent. The story is human, and the cast is doing a great job. Watch a few episodes and it grows on you!! I'm sticking around to see where it goes... And Brock O'Hurn (Brody) is a sweetheart of a man who is always kind to his fans. Yes he's stunning but don't dis him for it! He's human, working and most definitely worth watching ;)

Maybe it'll get better. *possible spoilers*

[CindyH · 5/10 · 22 August 2016]

As much as I like Tyler Perry, I cannot say that this was any good. From bad acting, to seriously fake green screening this was unbelievably bad. I only give it the five stars because the idea is halfway good.

If I had a dollar for every cliché about Alabama, I saw in just the first episode alone, I'd be a rich woman. Alabamans are portrayed as trashy trailer park wh*res who have sex for drugs and money. They have boyfriends that beat them up and drive trucks. They have beefy men with long hair, and on, and on, and on. Oh they're waitresses at diners too. Evidently, there isn't a good job in Alabama and to add insult to injury, they actually call the town "Happy, Alabama". Yes, it's clichéd name is happy.

I mean, was Mr. Tyler stoned when he wrote this? TLC touted this as Tyler Perry's first scripted anything whose primary cast is white. It's very clear that Perry doesn't like white southerners. Okay yes, those people do exist, but they exist in New York, they exist in California and they exist all across this great diverse nation of ours. Why did he pick a stupid place like Happy, Alabama?

Maybe he's jabbing at Monica Lewinsky and that's fine. It's just that why does the girl who had an affair with a US President have to be from white trash? Why can't she be middle class? Or upper middle class?

All that said, there is one thing I do like. I like the generalized family problems that are closer to real life. One man has a father with dementia and he is struggling to cope. The sisters have a mother who is sick and caring for her is also difficult, but I thought the visitor of her grandson whose reaction was vomiting upon entry just another cliché.

Here is my advice to Tyler: scrap it and start over. That or fix what is broken here. I don't know how you can fix the town's name of Happy but I'm sure you can figure out a way. Clean up the garbage and show us life's difficulty without the clichés. It can be done. Really though, two guns pointing at the same guy by two very unlikely people from one scene to the next made me actually think this was supposed to be a comedy.

Please fix it Mr. Perry. I really want to like it. I do.

Daddy, daddy, #no.

[ellesomeone · 4/10 · 9 January 2017]

Wow. I am wondering how these actors got their gig w/ Perry. I mean, I cannot tell whose acting is worse...actually yes I can: that Fabio looking guy. it's like he doesn't know what to do with himself while reciting the same lines over and over and over again. He also reminds me of someone who has either worked in porn or would be more suitable to work in porn. And how is it possible that almost every main guy character is SUPER ripped? I mean, come on! Anna has no backbone and keeps saying "sorry" over and over and over again. Heather Locklear's makeup was AWFUL. She looked terrible! Whoever did her makeup ought to be fired. I don't know what happened, but I don't see this show lasting too long.

excruciatingly awful

[skipoc · 2/10 · 30 August 2016]

I tuned into show simply because I'm a fan of Heather Locklear but I have to wonder about her agent. This show is, to put it mildly, horrible. I'm glad Heather only had a few scenes and was able to escape this dreck. I hope she picked up a fat paycheck. The writing is so bad it's laughable. People keep repeating the same lines over and over until you want to scream at them to shut up. The plot is nonsense, the acting is worse than a high school play and there is NO direction. Why do some people in Alabama have accents and some don't? Why do those accents cone and go at random? Why is it set in a trailer park? Is that really how Mr Perry imagines Alabama- one big trailer park full of whores and drug addicts? The wardrobe, makeup and hair people must have hated Locklear because they did their best to make her look like a 70 year old haggard alcoholic. It's embarrassing how inept this whole thing is and how cheap it all looks. The characters are paper thin and the main character, Anna, does nothing but say how sorry she is to everyone. Repeatedly. This is TV at its worst. Tyler Perry claims a producing, writing and directing credit. He fails spectacularly at all 3 positions. This show is garbage and you'd be a fool to waste your time watching it. Once Locklear's scenes were through, so was I. TLC must be desperate to program this crap. It's amateur, it's cheap and it's insulting to anyone with half a brain.

An honest summary of the first 2 episodes

[saudalsalem · 1/10 · 3 September 2016]

How do I begin?

First off I would like to recommend to the administrators of this website to include rankings that go below 1 star. something like half a star or less. Just a thought.

Now for the review.

Tyler Perry; Where did it all go wrong?

I can't believe that anyone would want to take any credit for this show's creation. The storyline is weak, predictable, lacks substance and is flooded with stereotypes and clichés. The show's male lead looks like he gets his fashion and styling tips from Fabio. The actors, if you can actually call them that, seem to be missing something. I believe it's called skill. they seem better suited to play characters in a high school musical than a network TV show.

I want my 2 hours back.

Acting isn't the problem

[infj1961 · 7/10 · 28 December 2016]

I like the story line, but this show suffers more from script and directing issues than from poor acting. No one on this show is so bad that his/her performance can't be helped with better writing and directing. I'd go as far to say that of the two, the writing is the greater handicap - especially when it comes to disagreements between characters. There doesn't seem to be any commitment to depth - just overplay the lines. To assume your audience at large is shallow enough to buy into dialogue that even a soap opera wouldn't touch is a loss for everyone. I don't just want eye candy - I want heart and soul, and that has to exist in the script and in the direction. Even the best actors can only do so much.

Terrible and cringeworthy

[adriansiaer · 1/10 · 1 September 2016]

I thought it might be a bad show because it was kind of a repetitive idea, but God I was wrong. It is BAD, really bad. I was happy with the idea of a gay storyline, but it's not worth watching. Actors can spend 10 minutes repeating the same thing: "don't do it", "I will", "don't do it", "I will", "don't do it", "I will",.... For Real. After 3 episodes it seems it's going worst. The main character has no reason to exist, it's lame, flat and makes you hate her. The rest of the cast is boring. The acting is cringeworthy, really bad. Reality TV shows have better acting. There is no plot, the story goes nowhere. It's really sad to watch episode that don't go anywhere. I had to speed up the episodes and guess what It was easy because they can spend 10 mins doing the same, so you can speed up and don't lose information. TLC, just quit of trying this shitty TV.

Redneck Soap Opera grows on you

[erikagermany · 8/10 · 12 February 2017]

This has to be one of the craziest "soap operas" I've ever seen, with all the bizarre people and things going on. If anyone has ever lived in the "redneck South" and trailer parks, then this is going to hit home on some account or character. Episode one was quite interesting, but the following episodes became more zany and for awhile, I wasn't really watching it much. But starting January, I found I couldn't wait to see what the next episode would bring. There's a bit of everything in this show....sex, drugs, rape, big mean mama, gays being beat up by rednecks, old man with dementia, police much like Mayberry, politician and wife pulling strings to get what they want, families close one minute and fighting the next....the whole can of worms. This series may be a bit much for many viewers, but it IS different, and rather amusing to watch.

Watch for the plotline, not the acting or dialogue

[LadyStealth · 7/10 · 9 February 2018]

I know that title probably doesn't make sense, but...

Nearly everything said in the poor reviews is true. The dialogue is stilted and ridiculous, and the actors are doing the best they can. If Tyler Perry truly ACTIVELY wrote, produced, and directed this - all you can do is shake your head. man alive was it ever tedious at times... a lot of the time.

BUT, the plot lines have been very interesting, and I have been searching diligently to find out when it's coming back, only to have discovered recently it was cancelled. Which is truly disappointing because the plot had taken a really interesting twist, and I want to know how it ends. Even if it's a fan fiction written online.

How..long...can...this...go...on

[togesa · 2/10 · 20 September 2016]

I really wanted to like this show. An Intern Gone Wrong premise, a comely cast with a Southern setting, the return of Heather Locklear...what's not to like? Well a lot, unfortunately.

Lets --- start ---with--- the--- excruciatingly---long ---pauses ---between ---words. Why oh why is that, do the writers get paid by the word? Then there is the cartoon-like, stereotypical characters. The overly solicitous waitress, the scrawny, screechy coke whore, the beefcake with the heart of gold, the twangy sheriff etc. The story line limps along at a snails pace with an episode's worth of "action" painstakingly dragged out for three episodes (writers paid by the idea?!?)

The only shallow reason why I give this a 2 instead of 1 is because of above mentioned beefcake Brody. His biceps are the breakout stars of the show. If you want to record these shows and then just fast forward to the Brody sections you won't be disappointed. If you want to watch the sections in between, don't say you weren't warned.

Great show

[chanelblackwell · 10/10 · 1 February 2017]

*WARING POSSIBLE SPOILERS* I never leave reviews about a show but seeing that this has such a low rating I have to.

I personally love too close to home. I don't watch dram shows but this is great.

I'm looking forward to more episodes. I don't want to spoil anything for any newcomers to this show. But I will say this in my personal opinion I think you should give this show a chance.

This show *SPOILERS* Especially in the season 1 finale had my heart stopping and had me nearly jumping out of my seat. It saddens me to see people giving this such a low rating and so many negative reviews. Again this is just my opinion but so far I am loving this show.

Room for Improvement...

[HippieMoon94 · 7/10 · 27 February 2017]

The show is fine for a scripted TLC drama. The actors are, of course, quite lovely. The acting is not as bad as on some other Tyler Perry shows, but sometimes the dialogue has a tendency to be slightly clunky at best. The plot lines are mostly believable, but still have room to improve. Honestly, overall, the show is quite enjoyable. I enjoy most of what Tyler Perry produces, with a few notable exceptions. This show definitely has room to improve on a few aspects, but I can also definitely say that it does have promise (as long as it doesn't get too ridiculous). So far, the relationships are believable and the acting is good. I finished the first and second season (at least up to the last episode released so far) in the past week so my interest, to say the least, is peaked. Hopefully, it only gets better with time.

Pros: -definitely brings the drama -acting is good -story line is mostly believable and easy to follow -cinematography and wardrobe are well done -characters have thought out backstories with room to grow

Cons: -some subplots are iffy at best -dialogue shifts can be slightly clunky and stiff -conflict resolves are hastily done at times -music is overdone and more obtrusive than complementary -shifty accents (Shelby's accent is a little stereotypical at times)

So Disappointed

[cindyjsanford-389-204807 · 2/10 · 20 September 2016]

I love Tyler Perry, and was excited to hear about the show. The concept sounded intriguing and the trailers looked exciting. Not often do we see a "rise above your raising" show that focuses on poor whites. However, the show has several problems.

The dialogue is ridiculous. The characters just say the same thing over, and over, and over again. It's evident that even the actors know they are delivering poorly written lines.

The story moves at a snail's pace, which would be fine if the show aired as a soap opera - more than once a week.

The guy who plays Brody seems to have only one emotion, and it is difficult to say what that emotion might be. He is flat - one dimensional. Either he needs acting lessons or better direction.

I see that the show has been renewed for a second season. After 6 episodes, the only way I'd watch it again is if Perry hires some new writers who have knowledge of the South and experience in the soap opera genre.

HUGE Disappointment

[jlynnpaar · 1/10 · 30 August 2016]

I sat and watched this show in disgust! WOW! I have always loved Tyler Perry so much and have watched all his movies! His movies and shows have always been drama with uplifting moments that left you feeling good! THis show is NONE of that!!! It is DARK and DISTURBING in the worst way! This show is the worst acting I have ever seen. NO plot! Horrible! I was also very bothered how it made "Alabama" look. This show was like a train wreck that kept getting darker and darker.I enjoy good drama but this is pure trash to me. I will not be watching any more shows! OH! SHELBY has the WORST southern accent I have EVER HEARD!!!! IT made my skin crawl we do NOT sound like that!!!! I am just SHOCKED that Tyler Perry is behind this show! As a huge fan of his I am so disappointed!

Boooooooooooooooorrrrrrrriinnggggg.

[spambabble · 1/10 · 5 September 2016]

I love a good conspiracy story.

I thought this would be one.

Nope.

The acting is wooden, the actors are clueless, the dialogue lacking... everything necessary for dialogue, with people standing around basically saying things like ' you're an idiot...' to which the brilliant reply is '...no, you are...' to which the first person says '... no, you are...' - Lather, rinse, repeat. Is it safe to assume that the writers were largely composed of Mrs. Spooners grade 3 public school class - gifted with enough sense not to actually use the word 'doody?'

I sat through the first two episodes hoping that things would improve at some point. I have never been so wrong in my life.

This series sets a new standard for awful TV programming, and can only be improved by having it forthrightly cancelled and a full, unreserved apology from everyone (from the guy that provides the lousy coffee on the set to the actual producer of this tripe) involved, with a written guarantee that they will, from this moment forward, cease and desist from ever engaging in anything resembling film making on any level ever again... ever.

Run away, don't look back, and don't ever tell anyone ever that you had so serious a lapse of judgment so as to have watched this.

I disagree with most if not all of the other reviews.

[pattistephens-20944 · 7/10 · 3 October 2016]

I scanned some of the other reviews. I do not agree. I enjoy it. I've enjoyed Tyler Perry's other shows--The Haves and the Have Nots and If Loving You Is Wrong. I can no longer watch them as I don't have the channel anymore. Some of the acting could be better, but I still plan on watching it if it continues. I like the fact that I knew one of the actors--the one that plays Bonnie. I like seeing her do this kind of role. I may not know all the other actors but I like them. All of the characters and the struggles of them are relevant to what goes on in small towns. I like the fact there is a gay story line as well as the story line about a parent leaving their child with family while they try to improve their lives.

Worth watching just to see who wins worst actor of the week!!

[juliaeacott · 1/10 · 14 September 2016]

The acting (if you can call it that) is non-existent - I have seen stage sets with more life. Every line delivered in mono-tone. One assumes the cast has never received an acting class in their lives!

The "incidental" music is straight out of a cheesy horror movie.

However, for some reason, I have watched all 4 episodes.. Perhaps because I am waiting for just one cast member to show a glimmer of promise - an inkling of talent!! - But no. Even the one actress I had heard of and sort of recognised (through all the plastic surgery) delivered her lines as though she was drugged up to the eyeballs.

I doubt it will get a second series... unless of course they turn it into a comedy.

Kudos to Tyler Perry!

[azswmarket · 10/10 · 5 November 2016]

I had no idea what this series was going to entail from the title. "Too Close To Home" has a pretty broad range in meaning. The show started out in D.C. so I thought it was going to be a show based on political scandal. And it was to a degree. However, by retreating back to Happy, Alabama, it brought a sense of "Southern dysfunctional charm" to the show that was truly unexpected. I really enjoy the series and thought I missed the last episode, the cliffhanger. Now I see I didn't. I thought the show was fast pace as I watch a daytime soap which truly can drag in the story line. As a matter of fact, Kelly Sullivan was in the daytime soap I watch. I think she's a very talented actress and is very believable in this show. Kudos to Tyler Perry for creating quite an enticing series. Would love to see more of Heather Locklear and even get Anna back to D.C. for a "reunion" with the President, as we still don't know his health status to date, after the initial heart attack. All the actors/actresses bring their characters to life and do an awesome job. Can't wait for the next season.

Good, with potential

[gustav-83299 · 7/10 · 23 October 2016]

I have read all former reviews and can some of them understand. After watching the the beginning episodes I was disappointed about the story line. The reason for returning home to Alabama was also too much for me and it reminded me of Monica Levinsky. In my opinion the story started with many clichés and I have also the feeling that many producers think they need only need gay couple in a TV show and it it will successful. I changed my mind after the introduction of Anna's family in Happy and after I realized that there are much more secrets and how life also can be in the US. But I agree with many other people here. Unfortunately there are too many stereotype in the story and the characters sometimes seem to be too simple. But I like the actors, especially Kelly Sullivan, who did a good job. I am really happy that there will be a second season.

Just awful

[rorywalsh-08549 · 1/10 · 6 September 2016]

I cannot believe Tyler Perry attached his name to this. The plot is excruciatingly slow. The characters somehow manage to be overly dramatic while being terrible actors. Im completely dumbfounded by how this made it to television. In the matter of three episodes we have gotten absolutely nowhere in the plot. I don't know where to place the blame. Is it terrible writers that have made the characters so horrible, or is it the actors portrayal of said characters, or is it the director who can't get a good handle on either? Doesn't really matter, its horrible. Reality TV actors seem more comfortable on camera, and their stories are more interesting.

Excellent Show

[nattachadelhomme · 10/10 · 23 February 2017]

First and foremost, I would like to say to the haters: Go take out a piece of paper and a pen and let me see you do better. Furthermore, go audition for some rolls and let me see you act. This show was written from the heart depicting the times and the very struggles most if not the majority of Americans go through. Even though there is struggle, there is a sense of hope and love rising to show, that love always win. The show is well written, directed, and produced by a great legend: Tyler Perry. The acting: these actors, they own their characters and deliver their lines. They are all incredible. My favorites: Brody, Bonnie,Shelby, and of course the doctor and JB!!! Excellent Job!!! There is nothing wrong with the show. I think everyone does a fantastic job and continues to get better and better as the season progress. I'm looking forward to a season 3. And hope Tyler Perry continues with this show. Furthermore, I hope all the actors continue to excel and be a part of this incredible show. Congratulations TLC. Hats of Tyler Perry and all the amazing actors and crew who make this show for our enjoyment. Season 3, come already! My family and I and all my girlfriends, we LOVE the show. !!!!!! God bless you all.

Lol @The FAKE 9 and 10 star reviews

[drmick-67207 · 1/10 · 10 October 2016]

Possible & Vague Spoiler Below: wanted to like this show but like most Tyler Perry productions: it sucked.

Tyler Perry has produced some good shows, plays and movies in the past like "Diary of A Mad Black Women" but years later his fame has died down. His writing And directing has gotten very lazy. I really feel like he is just a name now and feels like he can half do his job just for a quick check.

The story line is so typical and stereotypes Southern whites as racist homophobes with no sense of liberation. It is a preconceived view of Southern whites through the eyes of a minority American. Racism exists everywhere, not just in the South.

As someone else mentioned "the acting is horrible and the writing is almost like it was written by a child or a 7th grader.

I'm gonna not watch the show and hope that it gets canceled, so that Tyler Perry can get the message that he can't just serve us anything. He needs to find another career or step his game up.

Tried so hard to like this

[lvisrulz · 1/10 · 23 September 2016]

Couldn't take it anymore, the acting is so bad we just stopped watching. I can't even explain how bad the dialogue is. In one scene the interns friends went on for twenty minutes on whether to help her or not. It was surreal. I couldn't believe it. I still have a couple of episodes DVR'd but I just can't even stomach the courage to torture myself again. Don't bother watching. There are too many shows with great acting on Netflix. I would suggest Bloodlines if you want to watch dysfunctional families. At least they can act on that show. Sissy Spacek is great along with the rest of the cast. You won't be disappointed. Don't waste your time on this.

Tyler Perry: Never Again!

[drglenn-1 · 1/10 · 7 September 2016]

Tyler Perry is perhaps the WORST director/producer/writer on TV today. This is the second - and last - time I get roped into one of his shows. The premise always starts off interesting, but then the acting just gets worse and worse. This show had the potential to be a nice little mini-series. Relevant topic - political corruption/affairs in the White House with lunatic, evil, vindictive First Lady (can you say Bill & Hillary?) - with the added twist of the small-town dysfunctional family, and redneck drug dealers running amok. But… The same lines are repeated so many times, that it seems like the whole story could have been told in just a few episodes. This repetitive line technique - used in the "other" Tyler Perry I started, but couldn't stand to finish - is just a stall tactic to stretch out a simple story into countless episodes. His "If Loving You Is Wrong" series is even worse! Never again!

Seriously the worst show on t.v., probably ever.

[whynotjustsayit · 1/10 · 24 September 2016]

The only reason I started watching this show was to see Brock O'Hurn beyond photographs because he is the most beautiful man on Instagram. Unfortunately his first big t.v. break is on the most poorly executed and nauseatingly bad t.v. series in history. Everybody who has reviewed this show has already written in enough detail about the horrible dialogue and acting, unlikable characters and offensive and trite stereotypes being employed. Beyond that I think I find it most offensive that the supposed big deal "Tyler Perry" has to attach his oh-so-important name to everything he ever does. If I was him I'd REMOVE my name from ownership because this t.v. series is a colossal embarrassment. If I was only mildly annoyed by the grandiose self-importance of Mr. Perry before, now I know I would never again waste a minute of my time on any "entertainment" projects he spearheads. Dumbed down "entertainment" at its very, very worst.