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. 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. 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
  6. 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.
  7. 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
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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.

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.
    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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