John Adams

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 16, 2008
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 123 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 103 out of 123
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 123
  3. Negative: 8 out of 123
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User Reviews

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  1. BobW.
    Apr 7, 2008
    6
    Well executed, if glossed story as yet. I wait to see whether Adams' dark-side (with Hamilton) make it into the show -- the Alien and Sedition Acts used to suppress political opponents within the US on security pretexts - the historical precursor of components of the USA Patriot Act as well as Wilson's actions early in the 20th century. And where is Thomas Paine in the story? It Well executed, if glossed story as yet. I wait to see whether Adams' dark-side (with Hamilton) make it into the show -- the Alien and Sedition Acts used to suppress political opponents within the US on security pretexts - the historical precursor of components of the USA Patriot Act as well as Wilson's actions early in the 20th century. And where is Thomas Paine in the story? It is generally recognized that his pamphlet, "Common Sense," put the public call for independence to sufficient volume that the Continental Congress would act on their convictions. While a controversial figure for other writings, Paine was on the ground in this part of history.… Expand
  2. ToddinHB
    Jul 14, 2008
    5
    I used to believe that HBO and Playtone could do no wrong, and I was really enjoying this at first, but with each successive episode, the dialogue became increasingly unintelligible and I was forced to keep the volume blasting while I went back over scenes three or four times just to get a piece of the dialogue. It is a fascinating peek into our historical roots, but not the most engaging I used to believe that HBO and Playtone could do no wrong, and I was really enjoying this at first, but with each successive episode, the dialogue became increasingly unintelligible and I was forced to keep the volume blasting while I went back over scenes three or four times just to get a piece of the dialogue. It is a fascinating peek into our historical roots, but not the most engaging and the soundtrack was infuriating!… Expand
  3. TomB.
    Mar 27, 2008
    5
    Giametti is so bad that he takes down a great actor like Laura Linney.
  4. Evil-times
    Apr 16, 2008
    5
    Sloppy hand held camera ruins Paul Giamatti's incredible performance.
  5. DionT.
    Apr 16, 2008
    4
    The first four episodes were solid, but the fifth was average and the six outright boring. I don
  6. AW
    Apr 14, 2008
    4
    It took me several episodes to realize that in the interest of condensing decades of history into a mini-series, and creating an exciting product, the producers have completely rewritten much of American history (Adams' time in Europe, his vote on the Jay Treaty, and so on). I'm fully committed to watching through to the end, but I'm becoming increasingly disappointed at It took me several episodes to realize that in the interest of condensing decades of history into a mini-series, and creating an exciting product, the producers have completely rewritten much of American history (Adams' time in Europe, his vote on the Jay Treaty, and so on). I'm fully committed to watching through to the end, but I'm becoming increasingly disappointed at the obvious lack of attention to detail.… Expand
  7. judahjsn
    Dec 29, 2012
    5
    Paul Giamatti is a ham. Laura Linney is too in her own way, with her showy understatement as its own form of over-acting. These are actors that want you to see their acting and they are the worst part of this production. But I watched all seven episodes anyway, because there are so few re-enactments of this period in US history, which makes this a rare find. The rest of the casting is spotPaul Giamatti is a ham. Laura Linney is too in her own way, with her showy understatement as its own form of over-acting. These are actors that want you to see their acting and they are the worst part of this production. But I watched all seven episodes anyway, because there are so few re-enactments of this period in US history, which makes this a rare find. The rest of the casting is spot on though, and the other actors are so much better than the leads that it gives the strange impression throughout the story that John Adams is always the fool in the room, particularly the scenes with Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson and Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin (I wish they would make a movie about either of those two characters with those actors). This is worth watching but a strange experience. I couldn't tell if the creators were trying to portray Adams as an unlikable, melodramatic boob or if that was just the accidental byproduct of Giamatti's performance. For what it's worth, I loved Giamatti in the Ides of March and I've liked Linney in other roles. I think they are just mis-cast here.… Expand
  8. Alex_Klivecka
    Sep 2, 2013
    4
    While the broad scope of the series keeps things somewhat interesting and watchable, Giamatti as Adams is such a terrible miscasting that I could not bring myself to like this program. Additionally, Adams was apparently a very unlikable man, and so the series is left with no one to root for. Adams is not an antihero, he's just mean, cranky, and quite frankly annoying to watch for 7While the broad scope of the series keeps things somewhat interesting and watchable, Giamatti as Adams is such a terrible miscasting that I could not bring myself to like this program. Additionally, Adams was apparently a very unlikable man, and so the series is left with no one to root for. Adams is not an antihero, he's just mean, cranky, and quite frankly annoying to watch for 7 hours. Also, Giamatti is almost comical in the wigs and dress of the period, looking like a tubby, grumpy troll doll. The episodes with Benjamin Franklin save the series, and if you've got nothing else at least it's interesting from a historical perspective.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best TV Season of 2008
10
#10 Most Discussed TV Season of 2008
11
#11 Most Shared TV Season of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    91
    Who says TV doesn't make history thought-provokingly exciting?
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  2. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: John Leonard
    80
    We’re in excellent company, from the Boston Massacre to the Declaration of Independence to Adams’s plenipotentiary missions to Versailles and the Court of St. James to his unsought but extremely gratifying vice-presidency in the first Washington administration.
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  3. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Jill Lepore
    70
    At its best, the storytelling itself manages to accommodate a sense of historical contingency.
    Read full review
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