Graves

It does not go deep. And yet in its moments, Graves can be quite persuasive, even moving. (It can be corny too, but corn can work.) Growling and grumbling like a spokesperson for phlegm as he takes Graves from childishness to youthfulness, Nolte finds everything touching in his character, and makes you feel it too.

The political comedy, starring Nick Nolte and Sela Ward, is both genuinely funny and genuinely moving, displaying a kind of rigor in its storytelling that is frequently lost on networks new to original programming.

Don’t scrutinize this series too closely; just enjoy the performances.

In its first few episodes the series feels a little too boilerplate in its characters and plotting to feel like essential viewing.

Graves is a lumpy blob of satire--witless and unadventurous in its targets. ... Nothing more than a Veep for Dummies. [Oct 14, 2016, p.53]

It’s an interesting spree--strewn with cameos from Jake Tapper, Rudy Giuliani, Bill Richardson and more--and Nolte seems to make more of the role than the scripts offer. But Graves is also somewhat leaden and obvious in its first two episodes, replete with a rebellious former first daughter (Helene Yorke) and a first son (Chris Lowell) who never felt loved.

Graves assuredly will turn off some viewers with its title character’s U-turns from previous conservative positions on military spending and illegal immigration. The series clearly has an “agenda,” but isn’t all that artful in putting it forth. Nolte’s performance is energetic without being particularly memorable.

Graves aims for Bulworth, but ends up Guarding Tess.