Portlandia

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Season 5
Season #: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
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Critic Reviews

  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jeff Jensen
    Jan 5, 2015
    100
    Going deep allows Armisen and Brownstein to really dig in--the duo deserve Emmy attention, IMHO--and enhances, not diminishes, Portlandia's winningly weird shine. [9 Jan 2015, p.74]
  2. The Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Kristi Turnquist
    Jan 5, 2015
    90
    [The first 2] episodes are so solid and done with such polish, they're reason to think that Season 5 of Portlandia may be the best one yet.
  3. Salon
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Jan 8, 2015
    80
    Rather than break down each episode into sketches, each episode is its own, contained sketch, focusing on one particular set of characters and their stories. It makes Portlandia a lot easier to watch--and a bit more profound, too.
  5. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Jan 7, 2015
    80
    Revealing more of what makes these characters tick could remove some of the mystery about them, but Portlandia makes a compelling comedic case for offering this backstory.... The humor is broader and funnier in this half-hour [second episode] that also delivers some surprising plot twists whie acknowledging thier "logic problems."
  6. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Chris Cabin
    Jan 4, 2015
    75
    If the insights into modern existence on Portlandia never seem quite as profound as those on Louie, the series continues to brandish a view of gender that's almost casually radical.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 23
  3. Negative: 4 out of 23
  1. profrap
    Jan 9, 2015
    2
    I've been a fan of Portlandia from the start -- and let me just say, Season 4 was genius from start to finish. But I turned off the firstI've been a fan of Portlandia from the start -- and let me just say, Season 4 was genius from start to finish. But I turned off the first episode of Season 5 before it was over. Why? Well, for one, having a single, monolithic story is a huge shift; we love to hate many of these characters, but if we're subjected to the same ones for the whole episode, loving to hate turns to hate. The backstory isn't even believable in a comic universe -- high-powered bookstore execs? You''ve got to be kidding. And beyond the spot-on retro moments (when's the last time you heard the phrase "what's the 411?" or the song "I've Got the Power" by SNAP?), I think the biggest issue was that it was not funny. Not at all. I didn't laugh even once. And I have quite literally fallen out of my chair watching this show in the past.… Full Review »
  2. bdaybreakfast
    Apr 2, 2015
    5
    Focusing on one set of characters for an entire episode becomes tiresome and rarely ever that funny. I don't care about these characters, andFocusing on one set of characters for an entire episode becomes tiresome and rarely ever that funny. I don't care about these characters, and I don't want to care about them, all I want is to laugh. A comedy sketch show has been turned into a soap opera, and not in a fun way.… Full Review »
  3. PoeticDumpling
    Jan 12, 2015
    10
    I found the first episode to be hysterical. Reads as if profrap is taking it all a bit too seriously. Since when would the wacky world ofI found the first episode to be hysterical. Reads as if profrap is taking it all a bit too seriously. Since when would the wacky world of Portlandia make any sense. I loved the backstory to two of my favorite characters. The show is back and still in top form.… Full Review »
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