Brave New World

:

Season 1
  • Network: Peacock
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 15, 2020
User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 29
  3. Negative: 9 out of 29
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  1. notor12
    Jul 18, 2020
    0
    This is not just a bad show. it's an abomination.

    Imagine taking a classic piece of literature and making a show about it that not only completely misses the whole point of the book, but actually elevates the aspects of human behavior and society which the book was critiquing. It's not necessarily a problem that this show has lots of sex in it. Hedonism was an important part of    This is not just a bad show. it's an abomination.

    Imagine taking a classic piece of literature and making a show about it that not only completely misses the whole point of the book, but actually elevates the aspects of human behavior and society which the book was critiquing.

    It's not necessarily a problem that this show has lots of sex in it. Hedonism was an important part of Huxley's Brave New World. There were orgies in the book. There are orgies in the show. No big deal, right?

    The difference is, Huxley centered his focus on hedonism as a numbing and fleeting frenzy of instant gratification that divorces people from feeling or meaning. It might work for a time as a coping mechanism but ultimately it stops working and disappoints when the novelty wears off. The same is true for Soma/drugs and other external sources of fulfillment. This was a very important part of the spotlight Huxley was shining on modern people through his work of science fiction, where it seems that our real society the same as his world is hell bent on finding newer and better ways to distract and numb rather than to grow.

    In Peacock's version of A Brave New World, the hedonism is actually deployed in a rather distasteful and indulgent way to draw in viewers who are doing the exact thing Huxley was critiquing, and this is basically spitting in Huxley's face.

    The writing of the show is so, so bad and that is evident from the first ten minutes. It doesn't get better further in, it actually gets worse somehow. This show really beats you over the head with its dystopian-ness when the source material was such a classic precisely because its modern parallels were so subtle and relatable that they filled you with dread about where humanity is headed and where it has already ended up.

    There is no such depth to Peacock's Brave New World. It is a hollow farce. Don't watch this crap.    … Expand
  2. Bennytwotimes
    Jul 16, 2020
    0
    Like many shows today, great production values, serviceable acting, poor direction and terrible writing. I have a feeling Huxley would not be pleased. Fundamentally different then the source material. Feels written by committee.
  3. RidingHood
    Mar 2, 2021
    1
    Couldn't get past the terrible acting, and a plot that has been maximized to show the society's hedonism (ie lots of naked people) while ignoring all the discussions and interesting dialogue Aldous Huxley had in his book. It takes real effort to muck up a tv show when you have an entire novel and story at your disposal.
  4. viroodiem
    Jul 18, 2020
    10
    A conundrum. It simply does not know if it wants to be good or not. Yet it is not about where it is, its about where it is going.

    First and foremost the hardest part to deal with is the over use of sex. Once you can get beyond that element you can begin to examine the actual plot. It looks at the dark and philosophical ideas of Huxley and only just glances at it before losing its    A conundrum. It simply does not know if it wants to be good or not. Yet it is not about where it is, its about where it is going.

    First and foremost the hardest part to deal with is the over use of sex. Once you can get beyond that element you can begin to examine the actual plot.

    It looks at the dark and philosophical ideas of Huxley and only just glances at it before losing its attention span and rejoining the party. Those glimmers of the philosophical make the show incredibly good. Yet they are few and far between. Mostly filled with solid performances that make the otherwise vapid spectacles more entertaining than they have right to be.

    Overall the show is good. Perhaps the best sci fi of the summer. Yet its hard to like it at times.

    The thing that ultimately makes it good is how it ends. It sets itself up in such a way where it leaves you wanting more of what the ending is promising yet you know if it goes that direction and tries to do a second season that it will fail miserably and taking the good of the first season with it and tainting the whole thing. Sort of like Wayward Pines.

    So enjoy it for the one season and long for but hope it never gets another. The ride is mostly fun and its not like theres much else trying to compete with it.

    It definitely is a positive launch for Peacock and if they produce a full slate of this level of programming it might just be successful.    … Expand
  5. geometrical
    Jul 18, 2020
    7
    This show is not an exact translation of Aldous Huxley's book to television. Brave New World the show is more of a loose modern sci-fi adaptation of the source material. Overall pretty good, set design and fx are great. Definitely looking forward to season 2, provided it gets renewed.
  6. kconradk
    Jul 15, 2020
    10
    This is my favorite new show of 2020. The writing, the casting/acting, the directing -- all top notch. Binge it now!
  7. Skeletor71
    Jul 22, 2020
    9
    I really don't get the mixed reviews. I thought it was pretty great as a filosofical sci-fi show. Perhaps it helps if you haven't read the book. The negative reviews, I think, are mostly from people who have and the show might have missed the point compared to the book. But if you look at the show on its own (and fast forward through some of the orgy bits) I think you'll find a great storyI really don't get the mixed reviews. I thought it was pretty great as a filosofical sci-fi show. Perhaps it helps if you haven't read the book. The negative reviews, I think, are mostly from people who have and the show might have missed the point compared to the book. But if you look at the show on its own (and fast forward through some of the orgy bits) I think you'll find a great story with great acting and stunning visuals.… Expand
  8. nilsy
    Jul 17, 2020
    7
    Think each episode on its own are good.
    But if you binge it the whole seems slightly off kilter, disjointed. It seems unwilling to go into the darker parts of the human mind were the whole show is about.
    Enjoyed the actor Harry Llod who plays the insecure Bernard. And its visually amazing for TV and the soundtrack is great. Its light entertainment though its not a heavy dark that    Think each episode on its own are good.
    But if you binge it the whole seems slightly off kilter, disjointed. It seems unwilling to go into the darker parts of the human mind were the whole show is about.

    Enjoyed the actor Harry Llod who plays the insecure Bernard. And its visually amazing for TV and the soundtrack is great.

    Its light entertainment though its not a heavy dark that leaves a emotional scar behind, its glitzy fun with a few twists and turns to keep you entertained not to support a larger picture.    … Expand
  9. Drael
    Jul 19, 2020
    8
    This is a show that tells it's own story, a modern take if you will, of the classic book. It stands on its own, explores rich themes, has great acting, subtle humor that likely most miss, has good production values, and the soundtrack is outstanding. I marked it down, because the season finale is a little muddled.
  10. BulgarianCritic
    Mar 5, 2021
    0
    This has missed the entire point of the Book and I would put the ''Look how they massacred my boy'' meme if I could. It felt like this was put together by someone who read the wikipedia page of the book and tried to make an entire series outta it without ever understanding the point and ideas that the book was trying to convey . I have no issues if they try to modernize and put some newThis has missed the entire point of the Book and I would put the ''Look how they massacred my boy'' meme if I could. It felt like this was put together by someone who read the wikipedia page of the book and tried to make an entire series outta it without ever understanding the point and ideas that the book was trying to convey . I have no issues if they try to modernize and put some new ideas but unfortunately it has failed tremendously, the acting was good but they just couldn't get the idea and feel of what the book was supposed to represent and the whole revolution thing was just bah.… Expand
  11. Strigarum
    Jul 18, 2020
    4
    I enjoyed the first part of the show, but it devolved into an orgy of feelings in the end.
    The acting was pretty good, and laughed a lot at the start. But my God the writing deteriorated in the last 5 episodes.
  12. Vasilii97
    Sep 18, 2020
    10
    I haven't read the book yet and I can't assert whether the show accurately sticks to the book's message or not, but as a standalone show, it's just absorbing. It took me only two days to watch the entire show and I don't get why it has mixed reviews. It gave me a mass of food for thought, showing the human's contradictory nature along with great visuals and acting, and it's entertainingI haven't read the book yet and I can't assert whether the show accurately sticks to the book's message or not, but as a standalone show, it's just absorbing. It took me only two days to watch the entire show and I don't get why it has mixed reviews. It gave me a mass of food for thought, showing the human's contradictory nature along with great visuals and acting, and it's entertaining enough not to let get bored at the dark philosophy… Expand

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Most Discussed TV Season of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. The Playlist
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    Oct 5, 2020
    50
    The main problem is that the stakes just feel too low. Nothing is really on the line until around eight hours in, and the story doesn’t really go anywhere that isn’t largely predictable.
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  2. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Lucy Mangan
    Oct 2, 2020
    40
    This Brave New World has nothing to say.
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  3. The Independent
    Reviewed by: Ed Cumming
    Oct 2, 2020
    60
    For all its group sex and pill-popping, this adaptation doesn’t take many risks. It’s a cautious old world, and Aldous Huxley would surely have been disappointed.
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