Frontier

:

Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 53
  3. Negative: 14 out of 53
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User Reviews

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  1. iwatch719
    Jan 24, 2017
    2
    I'll keep this short, What a real disappointment. The editing and the directing is all over the place. I can tell it's a small budget by just how they overlap some much of the scenery. No real big pan aways that can slow the story down and let you enjoy the scenery. It seems they just want to rush this story along, resulting in silly scenes that just disappoint time after time. They justI'll keep this short, What a real disappointment. The editing and the directing is all over the place. I can tell it's a small budget by just how they overlap some much of the scenery. No real big pan aways that can slow the story down and let you enjoy the scenery. It seems they just want to rush this story along, resulting in silly scenes that just disappoint time after time. They just don't make sense. What a shame because the actual story is so important to the turn of the century. The beginning of the developing world of industry. The actors do work hard and there are all pretty faces to look at. Very frustrating for me, but some how I got through it and well yes a waste of time.… Expand
  2. SPAMbuca
    Jun 22, 2017
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There are some parts of the series to like. Not a lot of series touch the 18th century in such a way. Effort has put into making people look like authentical.

    Yet, the immersion breaks quickly if you look a little more closely. Main character Michael has actually very little reason to become loyal to Declan Harp. Since a huge part of the plotline is based on Michael sticking to Declan, a lot of it falls flat by default since there is no actual explanation of why Michael acts like he does. Why does he trust a guy that nearly skinned him over a the person that has actual leverage over him? Why doesn't the captain of the guard notice Emberly not being interested in him at all? How did Emberly not expect said captain to eventually try something while she tried to charm him into helping her? Why does Emberly suddenly trust the whore from England and what actual use did she have in the series? Why is Declan Harp declared the leader of his group if he is that unstable and not actually controlling the majority of his forces? Why do people blame Declan Harp for the death of 1 person after a succesful attack on the English? Did they really expect to keep fighting battles without any losses?

    There are way too many plotholes in the series. The characters are unlikely or getting close to becoming mary sues. Main characters clearly have a bad case of plot armor and become good at things for no particular explanation. How does an urban city boy deal with being dragged through the wilderness of the New World? Isn't he giving up quite easily on the love of his life? Isn't he acting like a stereotypical "emo white boy" during most of the series? Why does Declan trust Michael so much from the start? What use did Clenna have except from picking 1 lock?

    In general I conclude the setting is nice, although limited ( nearly everything interesting happens in 1 inn), but the characters are fatally lacking and the plot has way too many holes.    … Expand
  3. avi15
    Jan 26, 2017
    1
    Predictable plot: Celts, Native Americans good; British idiots. Braveheart remake in Canadian setting. I wouldn't bother, unless you enjoy getting your prejudices and stereotypes confirmed against a backdrop of gratuitous, graphic violence.
  4. DrVenture
    Feb 12, 2017
    2
    I had to give up on this show after watching 4 episodes. There is no real character development and the story is pretty simplistic. The characters are just too one dimensional and the story is full of plot holes. Like how does the dude with the Greek/French accent keep popping up in Montreal and then back to the James Bay area in just a few days? Did he steal a portal gun from Rick &I had to give up on this show after watching 4 episodes. There is no real character development and the story is pretty simplistic. The characters are just too one dimensional and the story is full of plot holes. Like how does the dude with the Greek/French accent keep popping up in Montreal and then back to the James Bay area in just a few days? Did he steal a portal gun from Rick & Morty? The whole thing is completely over the top. The last scene in the forth episode made me say, JHFC, why did I waste my time on this live action cartoon.… Expand
  5. Dravir
    Jan 25, 2017
    0
    A very strange fantasy world in 18th century Canada in which the french are a side note and where fur traders ar merry scott's with ye overblown axecents. Every show needs comical characters ye
  6. MiguelT
    Feb 11, 2017
    2
    Extremely disappointing. Each show opens with trite and cliche political quotes from modern pop icons such as...wait for it...Ice Cube...an obvious attempt at backhanded commentary on our current political environment. It's both predictable and needlessly distracting. But this poor judgment call is only emblematic of the other problems of this show.

    Many characters are predictable    Extremely disappointing. Each show opens with trite and cliche political quotes from modern pop icons such as...wait for it...Ice Cube...an obvious attempt at backhanded commentary on our current political environment. It's both predictable and needlessly distracting. But this poor judgment call is only emblematic of the other problems of this show.

    Many characters are predictable cookie cutter, politically correct manifestations. Indians=good. British=evil. Most women=good. Most men=bad. Boooring! Many characters are overplayed in attempt to portray them as ridiculously wicked, especially the British soldiers.

    Also, the scope and scale of the story feel myopic and claustrophobic. The story takes place across broad swathes of geography, yet we never get a sense for the wide space wherein this story takes place. As a result, the story misses essential context.

    First Netflix original I couldn't complete. What a shame. Such immense potential.    … Expand
  7. JesseBee2
    Mar 12, 2017
    3
    A show that uses the fur trade in America as the background but does little to paint a picture about the trade itself. This would be fine if the characters were interesting, but most aren't. Emberly provides the closest thing to a glimmer of hope in that regard, but her constant involvement in the scheming throughout the episode at times feels directionless. Not worth the time.
  8. PoisonFoxx
    Jan 28, 2019
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely the hell not gonna keep watching after the death of Widow Carruthers. It's like the show loves taking out the interesting people in the show and leaving us with garbage, just for a reaction. Screw this show. I can't believe I watched it this long just for my favorite character to get killed in the dumbest way.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
46
#46 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jan 20, 2017
    40
    None of the characters, however, prove especially interesting, and in an age of abundance, Frontier feels like a decidedly second-tier offering.
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  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Jan 19, 2017
    80
    It is a plot that is reminiscent of nothing more than “Braveheart.” This might make Frontier a little predictable--but it’s a highly entertaining and satisfying journey, too, if you’re in the mood for it. The story is vast and at times either slow or confusing. But it always reads as considered and thoughtful--an adventure epic full of characters, not caricatures.
    Read full review
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Jan 19, 2017
    70
    The series, a joint effort by Netflix and Discovery Canada, is refreshingly free of pretension, unlike some in the genre. Yes, there are serious themes to be drawn from it if you’re so inclined--it’s about greed, and empire-building, and exploitation of a land and its native inhabitants--but you can also feel free to take it as simply an action-packed, rather bloody tale from those frothy preindustrial days.
    Read full review
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