Alphas

:

Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 11, 2011
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Buy on
Stream On

Critic Reviews

  1. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Diane Werts
    Jul 11, 2011
    91
    The soul of the show, though, is its conflicted "heroes," truly tortured, in palpable ways, recalling the best, early days of NBC's ill-fated Monday comic book. There's no cartoonery here. Just adult adventure and angst.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    Jul 11, 2011
    80
    Alphas deftly balances all the building blocks of great genre--nonhuman abilities, twisty plot, cool special effects, smart dialogue and characters you want to spend more time with. And that's the most impressive superpower of all.
  3. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Jul 11, 2011
    75
    The premiere drops enough intriguing hints about the players' pasts without distracting from the main plot. You can't have a team without conflict, and every character seems to carry a quirk that rubs the others the wrong way.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Jul 11, 2011
    75
    Strathairn helps the credibility of the melodrama a lot. Alphas may remind some viewers of Heroes, and is a dropped ABC pilot, but it's not damaged goods. It's fun and swift.
  6. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Jul 11, 2011
    70
    As an origin story, Alphas hits some notes too hard and lacks a certain subtlety, yet there's potential in this tale, especially if it delves into the psychological cost of being extraordinary.
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jul 11, 2011
    70
    At first blush, though, give Alphas high marks for effort and ingenuity, demonstrating a TV show needn't provide major pyrotechnics or a reinvented wheel to lay the groundwork for solid summer entertainment where the characters, somewhat refreshingly, are only sort-of super.
  8. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Jul 11, 2011
    67
    Ultimately, I was more drawn in by the team's interactions than I was by either aspect of the plot, but that's probably better for the show's long-term viability.
  9. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Mike Lechevallier
    Aug 1, 2011
    63
    Even as tropes arrive in full force, exceptions to boilerplate good-versus-evil scenarios make occasional appearances.
  10. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    Jul 11, 2011
    63
    Alphas is fun, sure, but it has a "been there, done that" feel.

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best TV Season of 2011
39
#39 Most Discussed TV Season of 2011
53
#53 Most Shared TV Season of 2011

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 92 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 92
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 92
  3. Negative: 12 out of 92
  1. eddyjrsf
    Jul 27, 2011
    3
    I really wanted to like this show, love David Strathairn, and after this last episode, a resounding NO. It's Wanted meets Fringe but notI really wanted to like this show, love David Strathairn, and after this last episode, a resounding NO. It's Wanted meets Fringe but not nearly as good as the movie or tv show. Nothing is original about this show. The last show was 28 days later, down to the SAME exact music, very sad, very sad… Full Review »
  2. gilfrid
    Jul 16, 2011
    4
    What was advertised as a gripping new Sci-Fi series is in fact a very low budget and rather dul series of events that we just don't careWhat was advertised as a gripping new Sci-Fi series is in fact a very low budget and rather dul series of events that we just don't care about. Often the pilot is about setting the scene and introducing the characters, so when the scene is just not realistic and you don't care about the characters, it does rather make you wonder what they were trying to do. Ok, I will give it one more episode but there is much better TV out there, so why waste your time?… Full Review »
  3. jwy12
    Sep 26, 2011
    10
    Writers: Consistently writing fast pace, interesting, dynamic story lines. In almost every episode I am blind sided by some crazy realizationWriters: Consistently writing fast pace, interesting, dynamic story lines. In almost every episode I am blind sided by some crazy realization or action sequence. They are fantastic at presenting characters and their abilities and the science behind it allâ… Full Review »
See all user reviews »