Change Your Image
john_d_payne-15266
Reviews
Guilty Party (2021)
They are wasting your time
There are so many series and limited run episodic shows to choose from these days that you really need to be careful what you dedicate your time to. "Guilty Party" ends after ten episodes with a cliffhanger, which implies that the show will be back for another season. I just finished the last one and was a little perturbed by the lack of closure. Then, I noticed that the date of the final episode was Dec. 2021. With no word on a second season, it's pretty clear that the show will not continue.
I wish that shows like this would either (a) warn us that the ending of the season is a setup for the next season, or (b) wrap up the story for each season and start and new storyline the following season. The first one is obviously ridiculous, but with so many new shows steaming, it is all but certain that most will not survive for a sophomore season. For a new, relatively low key show like "Guilty Party" to end its season with a cliffhanger shows complete disregard for the time that the viewer has committed to watching the show. I would not have watched this entire series had I realized that it would end like it did.
For me, this is a dealbreaker. Despite the ending, parts of the show are actually entertaining, and some the acting is pretty good. Kate Beckinsale does a great job with her character, Beth, who will do just about anything to advance her own agenda. A few of the supporting characters are interesting and funny in some places. I have to say that I was never bored by the show, so this combined with the writing and acting are worth 5 stars. However, this kind of ending for a show that obviously had little chance for renewal is unforgivable. I wish that I had chosen a less entertaining show that at least had closure.
The Patient (2022)
Excellent acting and engaging, tension filled story
The Patient on Hulu is a captivating story about a serial killer who kidnaps his therapist with the hope that the direct interaction will cure him. When I first heard about this show, I wondered how the concept could be stretched out over several episodes. The answers are that (a) the episodes are short, and (b) the tension level is always elevated. Yes, the 20 min episodes are a little strange, and I imagine that if you started watching the show at the beginning and had to wait a week for the next episode, it might be a little irritating. When I began watching it, there were already 8 episodes released, so I could simply watch them one right after the other. Regardless, this is a fascinating series that has much more depth than just the main storyline. Steve Carell is an outstanding actor in serious roles, and this may be his best performance to date (in my opinion). I highly recommend The Patient, and if you start it now with most of the episodes released, I think you will actually like the shorter episodes because it keeps the story moving along at a faster pace. It's a limited series, so the final episode is the true end. I definitely prefer this rather than dragging out a story over multiple seasons until the concept is completely drained.