Black Box

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 24, 2014
Metascore
44

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 27
  3. Negative: 13 out of 27

Critic Reviews

  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Clark Collis
    Apr 15, 2014
    58
    The exposition-packed pilot at times resembles Rob Corddry's medical spoof Childrens Hospital. [18/25 Apr 2014, p.102]
    All this critic's reviews
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Apr 24, 2014
    50
    Reilly, who is British but who has a convincing American accent, is a sturdy lead. She nicely holds her own in her confrontational scenes with Redgrave. She projects an intelligence that is essential to her role, and in her manic scenes--dancing alone on a balcony ledge or becoming hypersexual--she manages to keep from sliding into full-on caricature. But the writing is too often lazy.
  3. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Apr 23, 2014
    50
    Black Box at least has moments of unintentional high comedy in Catherine Black’s loopy magic carpet rides. But the series nonetheless takes itself way too seriously to be taken seriously.
  5. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Apr 24, 2014
    42
    There’s no way to self-medicate against the relentless drear of this new medical drama.
  6. The Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Kristi Turnquist
    Jun 24, 2014
    40
    Reilly is intense and watchable.... But other elements of Black Box feel unconvincing, and overfamiliar, which is disappointing, considering the potential.
  7. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Apr 24, 2014
    40
    First, Catherine at times feels stylized, like a character from a ’30s movie. It’s alluring and distracting. Second, none of the other characters pops out enough so we’re immediately eager to find out what will happen next.

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 68 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 68
  3. Negative: 27 out of 68
  1. MattArmando
    Apr 24, 2014
    7
    Very solid, somewhat borderline. Yet at the same time, compelling and intriguing enough to bring you back for the next 12 episodes. The showVery solid, somewhat borderline. Yet at the same time, compelling and intriguing enough to bring you back for the next 12 episodes. The show can be VERY melodramatic at times--yet the tone, mood, and aspects of the show row along nicely to make this psych medical drama worth-watching--but mostly because of Vanessa Redgrave's stellar performance and the suspense that Kelly Reilly brings to Dr. Catherine Black.… Full Review »
  2. jeremyp
    Apr 26, 2014
    4
    An unbelievably (can't get past the first commercial) bad show. Having been a mental health professional and wondering if the visual mediaAn unbelievably (can't get past the first commercial) bad show. Having been a mental health professional and wondering if the visual media would ever do a decent series about mental health I am again disappointed. The writing is bad, the acting is bad, the thinking is bad! I knew it might be terrible when I saw Vanessa Redgrave in the credits. How often do we have to see great talents whoring themselves in old age? This is like "Monk" on steroids, "Sherlock" on PCP, or Jim Carrey on Viagra. Somebody read R.D. Laing and drummed the old hoary idea that the mentally ill are just misunderstood geniuses, and then threw in the M.D. from "House" (why do Brits always play these roles?) to oversee the asylum.… Full Review »
  3. hfmadison
    Jun 4, 2014
    10
    Black Box is the most compelling, interesting new show this season. As another reviewer has stated, unless you have known someone whoseBlack Box is the most compelling, interesting new show this season. As another reviewer has stated, unless you have known someone whose behavior can turn so dramatically when meds are missed, the lead character's behavioral changes may seem absurd. I find the various plot lines to be engaging, NOT confusing. You do have to watch all episodes in sequence, and it is very helpful to be able to re-play to fully understand all the interplay. I sincerely hope the show will be renewed for future seasons.… Full Review »
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