Commander in Chief

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 27, 2005
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 26
  3. Negative: 5 out of 26
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on
Stream On

Critic Reviews

  1. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    80
    As drama, tonight's pilot has its flaws, but it is, nevertheless, one of those electrifying TV productions that instead of simply seeking to divert or amuse, challenges viewers to imagine a reality other than the one they have been conditioned to accept.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Sid Smith
    80
    It all promises to be addictive watching.
  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    80
    The best new fall drama.
  5. Detroit Free Press
    Reviewed by: Mike Duffy
    75
    "The West Wing" was more vivid, original and compelling than "Commander in Chief" is likely to become. But impressive Geena Davis and the Oval Office gender twist are indeed refreshing.
  6. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    75
    Davis... is very good.
  7. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    75
    A diverting, silly potboiler, a bold cartoon with none of the staffers' anxious beetle scuttling that gives NBC's venerable The West Wing a sense of verisimilitude. [3 Oct 2005, p.39]
    All this critic's reviews
  8. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    75
    It's a whole lot better than the premise on paper, and though initially it takes a bit to warm to Davis.
  9. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    75
    Tonight's premiere rises and falls with Davis, and she's completely in command. We'll just have to hope the rest of the show falls in line behind her.
  10. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    70
    Davis fills the "leader of the free world" shoes admirably, quickly demonstrating herself to be a formidable presence when she tangles with Sutherland.
  11. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    70
    It's less a vision of what a real female presidency might be like than an extended allegory about gender politics in the workplace. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
  12. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Alessandra Stanley
    70
    Well written and playful with its premise.
  13. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Nancy Franklin
    70
    It is probably too soon in the series to expect to see more complexity, or some sense of the grinding difficulty of the job of President, and the number of no-win situations that present themselves every day in the Oval Office. But “Commander in Chief” really does make things look too easy.
  14. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Doug Elfman
    63
    Heavy-handed.

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best TV Season of 2005
6
#6 Most Discussed TV Season of 2005
45
#45 Most Shared TV Season of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 217 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 183 out of 217
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 217
  3. Negative: 28 out of 217
  1. IanB
    May 7, 2007
    1
    Plays more like a daytime soap than a serious drama. In-fighting, backstabbing, internal political-games, all we're missing now is the Plays more like a daytime soap than a serious drama. In-fighting, backstabbing, internal political-games, all we're missing now is the invasion of France and we've got Caesar… Full Review »
  2. NancyS
    Apr 24, 2007
    10
    Best best show that i have never seen, even better than prison break. hope we could see more and more seasons.
  3. JohnC
    Mar 15, 2007
    10
    As a writer I say that this is the best on TV because everything thing else was slow. I also would like to say that if I had wrote this it As a writer I say that this is the best on TV because everything thing else was slow. I also would like to say that if I had wrote this it would be the same as you guys have writen it. Thanks for putting ideas into peoples head because now we see the President in a whole new way Thanks. PS put it back on please because many of us that do like it need something to watch besides LOST and if you guys need help writing I'm willing.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »