Happy Town

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 28, 2010
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 6 out of 27
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Critic Reviews

  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Randee Dawn
    60
    Town's premise remains an enigma at the end of its first episode; there are a lot of introductions to be made and not so much time for plot.
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    60
    The episodes are certainly watchable, but as constructed by writer-producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg, the train also takes its time getting out of the station.
  3. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    60
    Rather than suspense, Happy Town appears to be going for the goofball irony of its ABC ancestor Twin Peaks.
  5. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Cynthia Fuchs
    60
    Happy Town‘s rhythm is like that, pitching between the obvious and the obscure. It’s not yet clear where it’s “snap sharp.”
  6. Deseret News
    Reviewed by: Scott D. Pierce
    60
    After watching the first three episodes, I'm not sure if "Happy Town" will deliver on its promise. Let's just say that I'm cautiously optimistic.
  7. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    50
    There are legitimately chilling, funny and suspenseful moments in the early episodes of "Happy Town," but the many fine performances are battered to death by a welter of plot twists and cheesy revelations that come speeding out of the sky like those murderous crows in "The Birds."
  8. Slate
    Reviewed by: Troy Patterson
    50
    Naturally, Happy Town is excessively sudsy in its soap-opera aspect, just as its atmosphere is a bit too atmospheric.
  9. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    40
    There’s no sign yet that “Happy Town” deserves the “Twin Peaks” comparisons that it so badly wants.
  10. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    40
    The pieces are here. They just feel messy and unfocused, which means the show's fate may depend on whether the audience will hang around long enough to sort it all out. That may take a little sprinkling of magic.
  11. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    40
    The show is so self-conscious of everything it’s doing that nothing has quite the effect its creators want it to have.
  12. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    40
    Great TV always flows from the specificity of a show's characters; "Happy Town" traffics in banal generalities.

Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Best TV Season of 2010
85
#85 Most Discussed TV Season of 2010
77
#77 Most Shared TV Season of 2010

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. jmdebb
    Mar 30, 2018
    10
    This show was terrific, I loved it. They did a great job at keeping you interested in it. I can't believe it was cancelled so soon.
  2. BrentA
    Apr 30, 2010
    9
    I was impressed with the 1st episode. Can't wait to get more answers.
  3. JohnnyW.
    Apr 29, 2010
    8
    The first episode really appealed to me. A little Twin Peaks feeling, but nowhere so extreme on the weird factor. Dialogue is a bit stinted The first episode really appealed to me. A little Twin Peaks feeling, but nowhere so extreme on the weird factor. Dialogue is a bit stinted in places, but I get the impression it's intentional and I found it added to the 'something's not quite right" feeling. Loved the characters, liked the variety of storylines introduced and looking forward to more.… Full Review »
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