Aquarius

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: May 28, 2015
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 68 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 68
  3. Negative: 15 out of 68
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  1. cbrhodes
    Jun 13, 2015
    9
    This is one of the best summer series I've watched in a while. I have watched the entire series ON DEMAND and anxiously await the next season. I believe the disclaimer that it is "loosely" based on real life characters and therefore it is a fictional show and meant to be entertaining and not a factual account. Bear that in mind when watching. If you are looking for a true and accurateThis is one of the best summer series I've watched in a while. I have watched the entire series ON DEMAND and anxiously await the next season. I believe the disclaimer that it is "loosely" based on real life characters and therefore it is a fictional show and meant to be entertaining and not a factual account. Bear that in mind when watching. If you are looking for a true and accurate account of any person's life I would suggest looking anywhere besides television. The reviews that rate a show low because it is not "historically accurate" are not considering the entertainment value, which is what television is--entertaining, not informative.

    The show does not focus wholly on Manson and his compound, but rather on Hodiak and his police career. The sub-plots also focus on how prevalent sex, drugs and crime were in the 60's. The first show took a while to "get into" and I ended up watching it with the closed captioning on to make it easier to follow. It is well worth continuing the episode and the series. Again-I can't wait for season 2!!    … Expand
  2. toliverjohn
    May 30, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I use the video "Helter Skelter: for a class I teach so I guess I have seen the whole video 30-40 times over the years. Let's be clear here:L This show is almost 90% fiction. About the only accurate things about it are the setting and the music. It appears to me that some of the characters are loosely based on real characters. For example the motor cycle guy in the first two episodes may be based on Bobby Beausoleil. Bobby was a lot younger and better looking than the actor they have portraying the motor cycle gang member. He would have been 20 in 1967. His good looks are reported to have led Manso to use him to "recruit" young women. The drugs and general filth of the commune lifestyle are also largely ignored.

    All of that said, don't use this as a history lesson. Take it for what it is, a period piece that uses the name of Manson to get you to tune in for a cop show set in 1967.    … Expand
  3. StuckOnReviews
    May 29, 2015
    7
    This show (Aquarius) is a great Nostalgia trip right back into the Manson days, Duchovney does a great job playing Sam Hodiak and Gethin Anthony does a alright job playing Charles Manson, but.....he could be a little more insane but still every time you see him or hear him talk it makes you wanna punch the living crap out of him, the first episode was a strong 7.5/10 and the second episodeThis show (Aquarius) is a great Nostalgia trip right back into the Manson days, Duchovney does a great job playing Sam Hodiak and Gethin Anthony does a alright job playing Charles Manson, but.....he could be a little more insane but still every time you see him or hear him talk it makes you wanna punch the living crap out of him, the first episode was a strong 7.5/10 and the second episode is a solid 8/10, now I'm not gonna go online and watch the rest of the episodes I'll just watch em weekly, also this show has some gret old music playing, it's a really good setting, they made the 70's seem like the 70's, in conclusion give it a try, you won't be disappointed .… Expand
  4. LaDresdenMonkey
    May 29, 2015
    8
    The writing is absolutely brilliant! The actors, well David Duchovny is amazing!! I cannot wait for episode three, its like a breath of fresh air, its nice to see good old detective work without any stupid puns and crap
  5. Desert_Rat
    May 31, 2015
    0
    I only got through 15 minutes of the first episode before I gave up. It had every 60's cliche there is and a bunch of cardboard characters. Parents fighting, sweet innocent girl sneaks out of house, boyfriend takes her to party and ditches her. They meet all the supposed characters in 30 second flashes. I remember hearing about Charles Manson when it all happened and it was scary. ThisI only got through 15 minutes of the first episode before I gave up. It had every 60's cliche there is and a bunch of cardboard characters. Parents fighting, sweet innocent girl sneaks out of house, boyfriend takes her to party and ditches her. They meet all the supposed characters in 30 second flashes. I remember hearing about Charles Manson when it all happened and it was scary. This show made me laugh.… Expand
  6. chrismovieguy
    Jun 5, 2015
    9
    ok so i am never really a fan of shows like this but however this is one of the most gripping exciting shows i have seen in some time now love the action the edge of the seat suspence full of excitement hope it stays for awhile well worth the time exspesually on boring thursday i say keep it away from young kids but still a must watch for teens and adults
  7. habrown
    Jun 9, 2015
    7
    I couldn't seem to get into it at first, but the more I watched the first and then the second episodes, the more it grew on me. A good show overall, I think, and I'll stick with it at least through the 1st season.
  8. alangee
    Jun 1, 2015
    1
    If you actually lived in the 60’s you could see what a joke this show is. One critic praised the show for its “stylish look.” I’m wondering stylish for what decade? The clothing, the dialogue and general ambiance seems more like someone was imagining what the 60’s was like and was way off base.

    Most hippies did not look like prep school students from the new millennium. They looked    If you actually lived in the 60’s you could see what a joke this show is. One critic praised the show for its “stylish look.” I’m wondering stylish for what decade? The clothing, the dialogue and general ambiance seems more like someone was imagining what the 60’s was like and was way off base.

    Most hippies did not look like prep school students from the new millennium. They looked like kids on welfare, red-eyed and messed up. Manson’s girls were raunchy looking to say the least. Manson himself was a butt-ugly little grunge bucket – nothing like the Hollywood Adonis portrayed in this show.

    David Duchovny is about the only redeeming feature on this show, but what a waste. Why anyone would want to base a series around a piece of dirt like Manson is beyond me, but if you’re going to do a period piece try to make it real.

    One critic got it half right when he said it was cleverly imagined. Take out cleverly and he got it right.    … Expand
  9. bshelton
    Jun 8, 2015
    1
    Synopsis: Dull, Dull, Dull. Very disappointed as I was looking forward to this series coming for quite a while. However, I have no desire to sit through another hour of stereotypical "hippie-trippie" statements from the supporting cast and "grand" pronouncements from the Manson character that simply don't make sense and add nothing to the plot as he is simply spouting faux-writerSynopsis: Dull, Dull, Dull. Very disappointed as I was looking forward to this series coming for quite a while. However, I have no desire to sit through another hour of stereotypical "hippie-trippie" statements from the supporting cast and "grand" pronouncements from the Manson character that simply don't make sense and add nothing to the plot as he is simply spouting faux-writer imagined-made up religion mumbo-jumbo. Maybe the real Manson spoke like this but as a viewer I found it irritating and distracting. It seemed way too forced and not natural. Also have no interest in watching a Law and Order rip off that has simply been set in the 1960's given that future episodes focus on solving other cases while the Manson story line continues as a way to "give character" to the series. Way better shows out there to watch.… Expand
  10. BogKid
    Jun 7, 2015
    3
    There is simply not much to "Aquarius". The writing is mediocre at best, Mr. Duchovny is basically expressionless, and the plot seems largely nonexistent. The show purports to be about the Manson gang before it has started committing its major crimes. The actor playing Manson, a total non-look-alike, projects very little of the hypnotic personality that presumably allowed Manson to holdThere is simply not much to "Aquarius". The writing is mediocre at best, Mr. Duchovny is basically expressionless, and the plot seems largely nonexistent. The show purports to be about the Manson gang before it has started committing its major crimes. The actor playing Manson, a total non-look-alike, projects very little of the hypnotic personality that presumably allowed Manson to hold his followers completely under his control.

    I think I will have to instruct my DVR to find something better to do with its time while "Aquarius" is on.    … Expand
  11. Knighthawk81
    May 29, 2015
    3
    I like David Duchovny, but this feels like the wrong vehicle for him. This feels like a very slapped together piece of nostalgia. The first two episodes, which aired in a single block Thursday, used the most cliched music from the period over the top of a somewhat unsettling, constantly uninteresting story. Charlie Manson is notorious and gross, so why NBC wants to build a show around hisI like David Duchovny, but this feels like the wrong vehicle for him. This feels like a very slapped together piece of nostalgia. The first two episodes, which aired in a single block Thursday, used the most cliched music from the period over the top of a somewhat unsettling, constantly uninteresting story. Charlie Manson is notorious and gross, so why NBC wants to build a show around his (fictional) mythology is beyond me. The failure of this show will be even more evident next week when "Hannibal," a brilliantly done series about a monster, is paired with "Aquarius" on NBC.… Expand
  12. propesrl
    May 29, 2015
    0
    ABSOLUTE FILTH. Unacceptable and unnecessary sewage ruins what could have been a good show. We waited for months to see this and were so disappointed. :(
  13. quincytheodore
    Jun 2, 2015
    6
    The retro vibe and bizarrely charismatic antagonist only amount to average thriller. Aquarius has good foundations for a drama thriller with its time period and decent cast. That being said, it doesn't really excite. The atmosphere is drab, not in intentionally classic manner, and the plot isn't audience friendly due to the vague script. The most it can offer is buddy cop mystery or theThe retro vibe and bizarrely charismatic antagonist only amount to average thriller. Aquarius has good foundations for a drama thriller with its time period and decent cast. That being said, it doesn't really excite. The atmosphere is drab, not in intentionally classic manner, and the plot isn't audience friendly due to the vague script. The most it can offer is buddy cop mystery or the chase of an enigmatic villain, which is actually decent. However, as audiences have known better mystery show like True Detective or even The Following which has remarkably similar concept, Aquarius might not reach the iconic stature of its original source.

    The show opens with a missing girl. Sam (David Duchovny) is called by his associates to look for the girl, who unfortunately has record of misbehavior. Then he embarks on the investigation, meeting potential suspect and hardheaded colleagues as the show frequently switches to the antagonist’s point of view. It tries to give perspective of both sides in parallel.

    It’s properly made with sandy visual flair and hefty influence of the era like the baggy costume or old-fashioned tune. However, the introductions of the characters are bland. They are not memorable, even the role of Charles Manson is overly cryptic. It gets the story going, but doubtfully captives the audience. The songs and gimmick feel cosmetic, they don't emphasis much on the time except occasional reminders of trivial hippie style.

    David Duchovny also isn't that engaging as the lead. He seems flat and is an uninteresting reminiscence of cop stereotype. Gethin Anthony as Charles Manson does a decent role of creepy yet alluring mysterious man, although he might not be that psychologically menacing. The script could've done a better job on setting the era or the character, but as much of the dialogues feel forced in hope to be edgy but ends up unrelatable.

    Aquarius doesn't have glaring flaws, it doesn't possess clever hook or identifiable characters either. It's an average mystery drama with all of its aspects intact, but it is not as exalted as the real life source.    … Expand
  14. Bo33y
    Aug 21, 2015
    0
    More psycho babble we must have a lot more psycho babble, about what in the hell who in the F knows? What is this series about, I could not even begin to say?

    Supposedly there is a bunch of trendy kids, these are playing dress up as something from the late 60 's, or those hippies found in their communes. But they aren't on acid and they aren't all that colorful or pychedelic. Where is    More psycho babble we must have a lot more psycho babble, about what in the hell who in the F knows? What is this series about, I could not even begin to say?

    Supposedly there is a bunch of trendy kids, these are playing dress up as something from the late 60 's, or those hippies found in their communes. But they aren't on acid and they aren't all that colorful or pychedelic. Where is the music, what music, I really don't want to see pretend strumming of a guitar. Most of this shows themes are all over the place. Although missing a closer representation of the era, or of that psychopath. Lead by a tired Duchovny, he looks like he is lierally asleep, yawn. He is supposedly, or suppose to be investigating somebody else that was called Mansen. Did Mansen sign off on this, I really doubt it.? After the first 3 episodes seen there is little expectation here outside of seeing somekind fake **** or through counting all of the numerous mistakes found in each episode..    … Expand
  15. brentwshelton1
    Jun 28, 2015
    0
    Synopsis: Dull, Dull, Dull. Very disappointed as I was looking forward to this series coming for quite a while. However, I have no desire to sit through another hour of stereotypical "hippie-trippie" statements from the supporting cast and "grand" pronouncements from the Manson character that simply don't make sense and add nothing to the plot as he is simply spouting faux-writerSynopsis: Dull, Dull, Dull. Very disappointed as I was looking forward to this series coming for quite a while. However, I have no desire to sit through another hour of stereotypical "hippie-trippie" statements from the supporting cast and "grand" pronouncements from the Manson character that simply don't make sense and add nothing to the plot as he is simply spouting faux-writer imagined-made up religion mumbo-jumbo. Maybe the real Manson spoke like this but as a viewer I found it irritating and distracting. It seemed way too forced and not natural. Also have no interest in watching a Law and Order rip off that has simply been set in the 1960's given that future episodes focus on solving other cases while the Manson story line continues as a way to "give character" to the series. Way better shows out there to watch.… Expand
  16. ram1aq
    Jun 16, 2015
    7
    ram1aq

    The show is really good overall, but needs more classic 60's songs. "Painted Black" put me back in the day, but a lot of the music was contrived to be 60's , and was not the real deal. Need songs like "Incense and Peppermints", "I Had Too Much Too Dream Last Night", "Talk, Talk", "For What It's Worth", "Purple Haze", etc. The music gives us the feel of the era. I feel the    ram1aq

    The show is really good overall, but needs more classic 60's songs. "Painted Black" put me back in the day, but a lot of the music was contrived to be 60's , and was not the real deal. Need songs like "Incense and Peppermints", "I Had Too Much Too Dream Last Night", "Talk, Talk", "For What It's Worth", "Purple Haze", etc. The music gives us the feel of the era. I feel the producers are cutting corners by not giving us the real originals of the day. Pay the piper and reap the rewards in ratings.    … Expand
  17. frankrog29
    Apr 28, 2018
    7
    I'm surprised that the scores are so low for this show. Aquarius is a detective noire thriller that focuses on the social issues of the late 1960's. It explores man's dark nature which was still very much alive during the "free love" era. Overall, the production value is impressive; the acting, writing, and soundtrack are all quite good.
  18. Theasianboyoc
    Jul 25, 2015
    10
    Hooray! I love Aquarius and I just can't enough of it. It's such a great TV show that I binge watch it once, twice, or three times online and the televised show. The TV show is way more original than Jurassic Park - how original does it take to make a sequel of it - not very much.

    I watch Aquarius for the action pack scenes and the clever, crazy, and charmer - Charles Manson. I think my    Hooray! I love Aquarius and I just can't enough of it. It's such a great TV show that I binge watch it once, twice, or three times online and the televised show. The TV show is way more original than Jurassic Park - how original does it take to make a sequel of it - not very much.

    I watch Aquarius for the action pack scenes and the clever, crazy, and charmer - Charles Manson. I think my side stories plots give the show more excitement.

    Aquarius is different and has energized my summer. I would give the TV show a 10/10. I can't believe it is NOT on Thursdays anymore and that it is now on Saturdays.    … Expand
  19. MattTfilms
    Aug 19, 2016
    9
    This is a well made show first and foremost. Not enough thoutful well crafted shows on Network TV right now.

    I'm glad to see something like this on regular Network Programming. Not a historically accurate account of many events, but more of a dramatized extension of the true stories. If it were 100% accurate there would be no characters to truely relate or care for. I'm really hoping    This is a well made show first and foremost. Not enough thoutful well crafted shows on Network TV right now.

    I'm glad to see something like this on regular Network Programming.

    Not a historically accurate account of many events, but more of a dramatized extension of the true stories. If it were 100% accurate there would be no characters to truely relate or care for. I'm really hoping this show gets the story arc and seasons they've planned for it.

    It's very well acted and of course Duchovney shines over all the cast in a big way!    … Expand
  20. lah
    Sep 10, 2016
    10
    Great show. Bring it back for Season 3. Great history. Perfect mix of entertainment, intelligent plot and great acting. Strong characters. Keeps me paying attention from start to finish.
  21. ericrosar
    Jul 4, 2017
    4
    Only Hollywood, and worst off Network TV, could try to join the hippie mentality with Charles Manson rhetoric and show it in a positive light and make them the sympathetic characters while also having them be the antagonist. While this could be compelling on paper, giving the antagonist some depth, it is not translated this way on screen and just feels confused, disjointed, andOnly Hollywood, and worst off Network TV, could try to join the hippie mentality with Charles Manson rhetoric and show it in a positive light and make them the sympathetic characters while also having them be the antagonist. While this could be compelling on paper, giving the antagonist some depth, it is not translated this way on screen and just feels confused, disjointed, and inconsistent. It also sells itself as a gripping Manson bio-pic but turns out is just another TV Cop Drama. There are other big problems but these were my main ones.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 36
  3. Negative: 3 out of 36
  1. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    May 29, 2015
    83
    Some of the language and structuring is too labored, but the unique blend of serialized and procedural writing makes the cop drama feel fresh.
    Read full review
  2. Denver Post
    Reviewed by: Joanne Ostrow
    May 29, 2015
    70
    Duchovny is eminently watchable.... At times the music is more involving than the acting, and appears a useful cover for some lame dialogue. But creator John McNamara ("In Plain Sight") successfully layers sociology, crime story and period music in an involving semi-historical drama.
    Read full review
  3. Reason.com
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    May 28, 2015
    85
    The epic battles over race, gender, drugs, and the Vietnam war are all on display here, without any phony Let It Be soundtrack muffling the shrieks of the wounded.
    Read full review
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