BrainDead: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 133 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 133 Ratings

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Braindead

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Season Details & Credits

CBS | Season Premiere Date: June 13, 2016

Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Danny Pino

Summary: New congressional staffer Laurel (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) discovers aliens have eaten the brains of a number of people on the Hill in this Robert and Michelle King comedy-drama set in Washington, D.C.

Creator: Michelle King and Robert King

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Horror, Suspense, Science Fiction

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. The End of All We Hold Dear: What Happens When Democracies Fail: A Brief Synopsis
Air Date: September 11, 2016
tbd
S1:E12. Talking Points Toward a Wholistic View of Activism in Government: Can the Top Rebel?
Air Date: September 11, 2016
tbd
S1:E11. Six Points on the New Congressional Budget: The False Dichotomy of Austerity vs. Expansionary Policies
Air Date: September 4, 2016

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Jeff Korbelik

Jun 13, 2016

The Kings’ clever summer horror thriller. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Jun 13, 2016

Ridiculous, yes, but also engaging--and maybe some relief for viewers who are preoccupied with politics but could still use a break from cable news. BrainDead is no “Good Wife,” but it does have the Kings’ sense of wit and momentum. It also, to some degree, displays their knack for timely social commentary. Read full review

Emily Nussbaum

Jul 20, 2016

BrainDead is aggressively funny and a little sloppy, and it’s that sick-joke aggression, the refusal to take itself seriously, that is the key to its appeal. Read full review

Scott D. Pierce

Jun 8, 2016

Braindead is pretty much completely insane. But in sort of a good way. At least for a while. Read full review

Maureen Ryan

Jun 13, 2016

Ultimately, for a show with a lot of zombie flavoring, BrainDead too often lacks bite. Read full review

Gail Pennington

Jun 13, 2016

Everything about this new summer show is confounding. Is it horror? Political satire? Slapstick comedy? Read full review

David Wiegand

Jun 8, 2016

The cast’s good work is fatally underminded by the show’s fuzzy concept. Read full review

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User Score

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7.7

User Reviews

hotterguy6969

Jul 12, 2016

Anyone who doesn't like this show or gives it a lower score than 10 is brain dead . Excellent filming, acting,and writing. Who wouldn't like a show about how idiotic all politicians and followers are. Ask questions no matter how crazy they are don't just agree

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

alexthepie

Jul 6, 2016

i love how its tongue in cheek, 80s sci fi movie, and satirical political commentator all rolled into one well acted works on every level some and will be a love or hate you'll get it or you wont.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

MisterT

Aug 14, 2016

Haven't regularly watched any CBS comedies for years but I am hooked on this one after seeing virtually ZERO publicity for it. Clever, funny.hopes it gets picked up for a second season..

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jaxxman

Jul 14, 2016

This show is amazing. How it gets such a low score here makes me question what this sites critique considers value. Mary Elizabeth Winstead's character is amazing with a blend of failing artist and intellectual in denial, she really makes the show move well from point to point. The showThis show is amazing. How it gets such a low score here makes me question what this sites critique considers value. Mary Elizabeth Winstead's character is amazing with a blend of failing artist and intellectual in denial, she really makes the show move well from point to point. The show itself is great, a blend of politics, family, love drama, and sci-fi. Great cast, great topics.... a very good watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MacheteDontText

Nov 20, 2017

Delightfully idiotic, reminds me of Mars attacks. I m in the middle of season 1, hope the show wont take itself seriously and I can definitely see the theme getting old so I hope It wont have more then 1 or 2 seasons. Cast is great, the whole vibe of the show is refreshing and plain fun,Delightfully idiotic, reminds me of Mars attacks. I m in the middle of season 1, hope the show wont take itself seriously and I can definitely see the theme getting old so I hope It wont have more then 1 or 2 seasons. Cast is great, the whole vibe of the show is refreshing and plain fun, nothing serious, but very entertaining so far.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

oxlion

Jun 21, 2016

Braindead is a great show! I'm into politics and the paranormal. So this incredibly satirical mesh of the twisted and the cranial is right up my ally. It's somewhat like the old great X-Files. But instead of the "Shadow Government" we have real Democrats and Republicans. Characters argueBraindead is a great show! I'm into politics and the paranormal. So this incredibly satirical mesh of the twisted and the cranial is right up my ally. It's somewhat like the old great X-Files. But instead of the "Shadow Government" we have real Democrats and Republicans. Characters argue over Hillary and Trump, liberal and conservative, while something wicked this way comes. I hope more people give it a chance and it has a long life.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

skviewer

Jun 18, 2016

Disappointed in CBS and Tony, this has to be one of the worst programs to actually make it to airing. I'll certainly be looking at another network during this time slot!

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

SEE ALL 37 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

61

Series Overview
Season 1

61
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: June 13, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E13. The End of All We Hold Dear: What Happens When Democracie...
  Air Date: September 11, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E12. Talking Points Toward a Wholistic View of Activism in Gov...
  Air Date: September 11, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E11. Six Points on the New Congressional Budget: The False Dic...
  Air Date: September 4, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E10. The Path to War Part Two: The Impact of Propaganda on Con...
  Air Date: August 28, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E9. Taking on Water: How Leaks in D.C. Are Discovered and Pat...
  Air Date: August 21, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E8. The Path to War Part One: The Gathering Political Storm
  Air Date: August 14, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Power of Euphemism: How Torture Became a Matter of De...
  Air Date: August 7, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E6. Notes Toward a Post-Reagan Theory of Party Alliance, Trib...
  Air Date: July 31, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E5. Back to Work: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Congress and Ho...
  Air Date: July 24, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E4. Wake Up Grassroots: The Nine Virtues of Participatory Dem...
  Air Date: July 11, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E3. Goring Oxes: How You Can Survive the War on Government Th...
  Air Date: June 27, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E2. Playing Politics: Living Life in the Shadow of the Budget...
  Air Date: June 20, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E1. The Insanity Principle: How Extremism in Politics Is Thre...
  Air Date: June 13, 2016