Emerald City

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 6, 2017
Metascore
47

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 31
  3. Negative: 10 out of 31
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Critic Reviews

  1. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Liz Shannon Miller
    Jan 6, 2017
    83
    The overall result is a first season that has its flaws, but features enough delightful weirdness to intrigue those willing to give it a chance.
  2. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Jan 5, 2017
    75
    Emerald City has its moment as a vicarious, danger-packed thrill ride replete with jolts, wonders and ample shivers amid its shimmers.
  3. The Lincoln Journal Star
    Reviewed by: Jeff Korbelik
    Jan 3, 2017
    75
    This one is intended for adults that, if it was a film, it would carry a PG-13 rating. It’s gritty and violent. And also visually spectacular.
  5. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Michael Starr
    Jan 3, 2017
    75
    Fans of the alternate reality/fantasy genre should enjoy “Emerald City,” and I think they’ll get a kick out of its parallels to “The Wizard of Oz,” and in trying to guess what’s coming next.
  6. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Jan 3, 2017
    75
    For the most part, the characters hook our attention, and the performances are mostly pretty solid. Arjona’s performance grounds the series well.
  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Jan 5, 2017
    70
    Friday’s premiere consists of two episodes, which is good, because two hours is about how long it takes you to acclimate to the tone and intent. In the third episode, a doozy, the show’s grip on you really tightens.
  8. The Detroit News
    Reviewed by: Tom Long
    Jan 6, 2017
    67
    It all looks good, but Arjona never gains real traction as Dorothy and some of the side stories become distractions. Still, Emerald City is an ambitious, if derivative, project for broadcast television.

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
19
#19 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 102 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 102
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 102
  3. Negative: 24 out of 102
  1. Mediasavvy
    Jan 11, 2017
    10
    I loved this show. It's visually rich, with a strong cast, great performances and informed, nuanced writing. While it's being sold as aI loved this show. It's visually rich, with a strong cast, great performances and informed, nuanced writing. While it's being sold as a 'reinvention' it actually has more in common with the original Frank Baum books than Garland's 'Wizard of Oz'. The original books are dark and creepy and set a tone of uncertainty, unfairness and unexpectedness that this TV show mines well. You don't truly know what will happen next, in Frank Baum's original books or this retelling.

    Ignore the Hollywood pundits on this show. Some creep in NBC clearly has it out for this show and is using a game of Chinese whispers to kill it.

    Ignore those critics or TV watchers who compare this show to the Wizard of Oz. This show has nothing to do with that movie and that movie had little to do with Frank Baum's books: very little, in tone, content or theme. This show is more in keeping with Baum's vision, than MGM's silly movie ever tried to do.

    I thank the producers for updating the story (making Dorothy a Latina, for starters), because a great story should not be trapped by the blinkered bigotries of the past. It should evolve as we do. I think they did a great job of keeping it creepy, making every plot turn unexpected and painting such a beautiful visual fantasy landscape to work with. The cast is strong, the colors are rich and the modernizing touches only enhance the thematic ambitions of the original WRITTEN work. Normally, I'd give this show a 9, but since someone in Hollywood has it out for this show, I'll give it a 10 and hope it lives long enough to earn that last point. The script and performances show a nuanced understanding of their subject and the leads carry their roles far better than most of the dreck on TV.

    Forget the Wizard of Oz. Explore this show's universe as if it were written today. I think you will really enjoy it. If you actually read Baum's work, you won't be disappointed either...............................    … Full Review »
  2. Davrosdaleks1
    Jan 8, 2017
    8
    Well, I liked it. Don't get me wrong, it's not perfect, but it is entertaining. I definitely think it's better than Tin Man. The visuals areWell, I liked it. Don't get me wrong, it's not perfect, but it is entertaining. I definitely think it's better than Tin Man. The visuals are excellent, the structure of the fantasy world is distinctive, and I thought the characters drew you in. Personally, I'm interested in seeing where this goes. Also, as a fan of the original books, its nice to see them use elements from the other books rather than get all their inspiration from the movie.… Full Review »
  3. BDGallof
    Jan 8, 2017
    2
    "Listen, we need a Game of Thrones show"
    "No problem!"
    "But like Once Upon A Time..." "No problem!" "...with some LOST quirks and    "Listen, we need a Game of Thrones show"
    "No problem!"
    "But like Once Upon A Time..."
    "No problem!"
    "...with some LOST quirks and questions...."
    "No problem!"
    "...an make it disjointed and boring...this is NBC after-all."
    "No problem!"    … Full Review »
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