Babylon

:

Season 1
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
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Critic Reviews

  1. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Jan 16, 2015
    100
    Danny Boyle--but more so his co-creator Robert Jones and executive producer-lead writer Jesse Armstrong--has created a layered analysis of a failing system, and, true to its satirical inception, he doesn't let anyone off the hook.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Kevin Sullivan
    Jan 5, 2015
    91
    The first episode is as thrilling as it is hilarious. [9 Jan 2015, p.74]
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Jan 9, 2015
    80
    A pretty gritty and compelling drama.
  5. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Jan 8, 2015
    80
    A series whose undercurrent of fatalism might be unpleasant if the characters weren’t so corrosively funny.
  6. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    Jan 8, 2015
    80
    What it lacks in depth, Babylon makes up for in range and sudden brilliant commentary.
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jan 7, 2015
    80
    A scabrous, profane and darkly funny satire.
  8. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Jan 7, 2015
    70
    The in-the-field story lines, with their affairs and guilt and post-traumatic stress, tend toward the sentimental, and the series as a whole is weaker for trying to have it both ways--to be both a no-holds-barred, absurdist satire about the primacy of image-making and a straightforward drama about the nobility of public service.... But the jokes are pretty good over all.... And there are nice performances.
  9. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    Jan 4, 2015
    70
    The resonance of this drama with our lives today alone makes it worth a look.

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Best TV Season of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. jordan36blake
    Jan 12, 2015
    10
    Unique, witty fast-paced dark British humor. The beautiful Brit Marling has a fascinating on-screen presence as the only American in the cast.Unique, witty fast-paced dark British humor. The beautiful Brit Marling has a fascinating on-screen presence as the only American in the cast. British friends who have seen the series on BBC note that the last three episodes are thrilling cliff hangers, extremely well-executed as they move from the comedic to the dark. Looking forward to seeing them.… Full Review »
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