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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User Reviews

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  1. 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
  2. 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.
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  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.
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  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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