Briarpatch

:

Season 1
  • Network: USA
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 6, 2020
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
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Critic Reviews

  1. i
    Reviewed by: Gwendolyn Smith
    Dec 3, 2021
    60
    Briarpatch wasn’t the subtlest of shows (see the zoo metaphor), but it was sleek and propulsive enough to make me want to find out more.
  2. TVLine
    Reviewed by: Dave Nemetz
    Feb 3, 2020
    58
    The whole thing has decent energy, and boasts enough interesting visual flourishes that it’s tempting to let it slide by purely on style points. But it’s hard to locate the humanity buried underneath all this style. Like fellow oddballs Claws and On Becoming a God in Central Florida, Briarpatch tries to get by solely on quirk at times — but, sadly, man cannot live on quirk alone.
  3. Reason.com
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Feb 15, 2020
    55
    There's nobody to love or even like much in Briarpatch. Even Allegra is flat and withdrawn; her insistence on staying to pursue the case is driven by intellect rather than emotion.
  5. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Kathryn VanArendonk
    Feb 7, 2020
    50
    Briarpatch is lovely to look at and its story clicks along at an entertaining clip. The trouble is that the second you stop watching it, none of its burrs stick.
  6. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Sep 8, 2019
    50
    Maybe Briarpatch will become trippier and stranger as it establishes its footing. Or maybe it will become funnier, sexier and more viscerally compelling. It's currently stuck somewhere in the middle, not really all that satisfying but not without potential.

User Reviews

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User Score
4.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 5 out of 15
  1. geewah
    Dec 24, 2020
    6
    Disappointing.
    Was expecting so much more when I first heard who was associated with this production.
    You can see what they were trying to    Disappointing.
    Was expecting so much more when I first heard who was associated with this production.
    You can see what they were trying to achieve but the final product comes across as poor imitation of Twin Peaks    … Full Review »
  2. BillJustBill
    Feb 13, 2020
    1
    What a letdown! A new show from Sam Esmail, creator of Mr Robot, such high hopes for some good entertainment! And then, maybe halfway throughWhat a letdown! A new show from Sam Esmail, creator of Mr Robot, such high hopes for some good entertainment! And then, maybe halfway through the first episode (this was the pilot?) my wife and I went on to something else.
    What's the problem with the show? 1) a hackneyed script 2) stereotyped characters 3) terrible director. These combine for an unwatchable show.
    I know they didn't start out to make a bad show. Where were the producers? Didn't they see the trainwreck coming? Isn't that what they're paid to do? Now the writers are stuck in that writers' room every week, and it must be so depressing. The actors are stuck with this show for some episodes, and it must be so depressing. Go home at the end of the day, don't tell your friends about the show, hoping they won't watch it. Such a bummer.
    What happened? It would be interesting to know. There's lots to be learned from a complete failure like this, but it takes courage to face the music and figure it out.
    Anyway, good luck to all concerned.    … Full Review »
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