Notorious
ABC | Release Date: March 11, 2016
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
32
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews
Positive:
2
Mixed:
6
Negative:
15
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
33
Boston GlobeMatthew GilbertSep 16, 2016
Season 1 Review: The concept is muddy, the twists are hokey, the Shonda Rhimes-esque tone and pace are exhausting, the compelling ethical questions about journalism and the law are unexplored, and the relationship between Sunjata and Perabo is smirky and unintentionally hard to understand. Read full review
30
Yahoo TVKen TuckerSep 22, 2016
Season 1 Review: Featuring unconvincing dialogue. ... Notorious is otherwise instantly forgettable as soon as each scene is completed. Read full review
30
New York Magazine (Vulture)Jen ChaneySep 22, 2016
Season 1 Review: As silly and contrived as Notorious is, it might have worked as an end-of-the-work-week guilty pleasure if it were more fun, or more willing to wink at its own absurdity, or more something. Instead, it takes all of its poorly written media and/or legal manipulations so seriously that the only way to respond is with an eye roll and a yawn. Read full review
30
The WrapAmber DowlingSep 22, 2016
Season 1 Review: It’s like the writers are just throwing ideas on a wall to see what sticks. Nothing about this pilot feels finely tuned or carefully constructed. It’s a shame, actually, given the great chemistry between Perabo and Sunjata in the first place. Read full review
30
The New York TimesMike HaleSep 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: There are several deaths in the Notorious pilot, but there’s nothing that feels like it’s life-or-death. The story always returns to the eventful but uninteresting frenemyship of Julia and Jake, with its anemic banter and ever-so-slight sexual tension. Read full review
30
Los Angeles Daily NewsRob LowmanSep 19, 2016
Season 1 Review: The network was probably aiming for “Scandal,” but by the end of the first episode the mix of ridiculous plot twists and awful soap-opera-ish dialogue make you wonder if “Scrambled” might not have been more appropriate title. Read full review
30
VarietySonia SaraiyaSep 12, 2016
Season 1 Review: A nearly wall-to-wall mess. ... Every convoluted plot twist of the pilot feels like an unnecessary embellishment on top of an already nonsensical premise--because the show also fails to explain why this producer and this lawyer being friends with each other is unusual or interesting. Read full review
25
Uncle BarkyEd BarkSep 22, 2016
Season 1 Review: This is a show without any nutritive value, innate appeal or sense of purpose. It slogs through its muck until the buzzer sounds. Read full review
25
Newark Star-LedgerVicki HymanSep 22, 2016
Season 1 Review: There's little visual style to Notorious, and the main case of the week is standard fare, a trying-to-be-twisty but quite predictable tale of a tech billionaire accused in a hit-and-run, while the B plot about a political blackmailing is completely forgettable. Read full review
25
USA TodayRobert BiancoSep 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: Mistaking cynicism for sense and creepy for sexy, Notorious just might have been able to yank yet one more thread out of the social fabric--were it not, almost thankfully, so numbingly lazy, stupid and inadequate. Read full review
25
NewsdayVerne GaySep 20, 2016
Season 1 Review: Character likability is actually just one issue. Plausibility is the other. Read full review
20
Los Angeles TimesMary McNamaraSep 22, 2016
Season 1 Review: A show that halfheartedly duplicates the pacing and attitude of previous hits without bothering to create compelling characters or interesting plots. Read full review
10
The Salt Lake TribuneScott D. PierceSep 22, 2016
Season 1 Review: Notorious is populated by unpleasant, self-absorbed characters, some of whom are murderers. ... Their chemistry is forced. And, like the rest of Notorious, it fizzles. This is certainly a candidate to be the first show canceled this fall. Read full review
10
The Hollywood ReporterDaniel FienbergSep 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: Almost every beat of Notorious feels off, every emotion or attempt at humor feels sour. Read full review
0
Washington PostHank StueverSep 15, 2016
Season 1 Review: It’s a prime-time drama that leans too heavily on flash and trash without having the common decency to be ironic. Read full review
Current TV Shows
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 92 The Pitt: Season 2
2 90 The Celebrity Traitors UK: Season 1
3 87 Hacks: Season 5
4 87 Industry: Season 4
5 87 Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal:...
6 85 The Beatles Anthology
7 85 The Traitors [UK]: Season 4
8 85 Bait: Season 1
9 84 Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
10 83 Lord of the Flies
11 83 Riot Women: Season 1
12 83 For All Mankind: Season 5
13 81 The Muppet Show (2026)
14 80 Outlander (2014): Season 8
15 80 The Other Bennet Sister: Season 1
16 80 The Mighty Nein: Season 1
17 80 The Comeback: Season 3
18 80 The American Revolution
19 80 One Piece (2023): Season 2
20 80 Dark Winds: Season 4
SEE ALL