Patriot

:

Season 2
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
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Critic Reviews

  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Nov 8, 2018
    100
    The delightfully creative series from writer, director and creator Steven Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) returns better than ever, a wholly original vision that has distant-cousin connections to the vibe of the Fargo television series and Wes Anderson films, while being its own weird thing.
  2. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Nov 9, 2018
    80
    There’s much to appreciate in Conrad’s mastery of building tension toward ludicrous outcomes in some case, or punctuating stretches of relative calm with explosions of chaos and violence.
  3. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Nov 12, 2018
    75
    Season 2 is shorter (both in episode count and length), darker, and lacking in much of the whimsy that kept Season 1 afloat, but it’s an intriguing narrative with unique payoffs.
  5. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Michael Starr
    Nov 13, 2018
    63
    If your personal tastes run to off-kilter comedy, then this weird, atmospheric spy caper, back for Season 2 on Amazon, is right up your alley: think of a series mixing the offbeat sensibilities of the Coen Brothers with the quirky darkness of David Lynch.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 35
  3. Negative: 5 out of 35
  1. mlewis1029
    Nov 11, 2018
    1
    OMG, season 2 is off the rails. I like quirky and innovative, but this thing is a mind-numbing mess that bears no resemblance to season 1.
  2. gonzo888AS
    Dec 17, 2018
    3
    I loved season 1, but season two is god aweful. They are really overplaying the whole music thing. I'm not a chick, I don't want to watch aI loved season 1, but season two is god aweful. They are really overplaying the whole music thing. I'm not a chick, I don't want to watch a musical. It was fine in season one, a sprinkle here or there, not is like some lame crutch, overused every second. And whats with all the random characters. Season 2 is so bad I had to stop at episode 5, what a shame.… Full Review »
  3. anthony_todd
    Nov 15, 2018
    7
    With the deafeningly-quiet release of Season 2 of its original series Patriot, Amazon provides viewers with a completely different experienceWith the deafeningly-quiet release of Season 2 of its original series Patriot, Amazon provides viewers with a completely different experience from its highly-publicized release of Jack Ryan. Both series present clandestine government operatives thrust into situations of dire importance to national security. That, however, is where the similarity ends.

    Jack Ryan is a typical Amazon offering, designed for mass appeal. It offers a cookie cutter protagonist in the mold of “24’s” Jack Bauer and largely sets up rooting interests that are unyieldingly black or white. Jack Ryan takes few risks with its retelling of the Tom Clancy franchise – the heroes and villains are incapable of confusion or even observations of commonality. Jack Ryan (played by John Krasinski) is a reluctant hero’s hero – a familiar, comfortable and unimaginative cinematic trope.

    Patriot is the anti-Jack Ryan -- an off-beat, sometimes whimsical dark comedy/drama focusing on a lone-acting government operative (John Tavner aka John Lakeman played by Michael Dorner) who is every bit as conflicted as he is quirky. John Lakeman is a deadpan, depressive, under-resourced son of high-ranking government officials whose unique skills and knowledge are brutally practical rather than awe-inspiring. Parallel lines between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” are clearly traced throughout the series. In fact, Patriot does not really present “good guys” or “bad guys” -- only our guys and theirs.

    While the series consistently relies on farcical scenarios that take Murphy’s law to its illogical extreme to build the drama, the plot takes a backseat to Lakeman’s inner-conflict which drives his dynamic with both the “allies” and “foes” he encounters along his journey. Writer/director Steven Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) presents his protagonist as a figure to be pitied as much as he is to be admired and Dorner is exceptional of evoking empathy for his character. It is this quality, not charisma that ultimately allows Lakeman to forge some strange alliances.

    With my appreciation of the series, I warn that it is not for everyone. I also caution that Season 2 fell short of my lofty expectations built by Season 1. The second season missed its mark at times – most notably with a group urinal scene (a recurring device in the series), this time involving a group of French policemen and depicting their extremely small genitalia for the punchline of a bad, pointless joke. With a few exceptions, it also fell short of Season 1’s compelling use of music -- particularly the improvised folk songs performed by Dorner in Season 2 lacked the consistent charm of those from Season 1. The end production of Season 2 – presumably the series finale – also seemed rushed. The final episode was not particularly satisfying, leaving many characters, questions and subplots only partially developed. It felt as if Conrad had more to tell in this story than Season 2’s eight episode run would allow. Based on Amazon’s unceremonious release of Season 2, it seems doubtful that the series will be renewed for a third season to allow Conrad to complete his storytelling.

    If your tastes in television align with the big network offerings and/or you are a fan of predictability, you probably want to pass this series – and especially its second season. If you are a fan of quirky and offbeat shows such as Fargo, I strongly recommend that you give Patriot a try.    … Full Review »
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