Portlandia

:

Season 5
Season #: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
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
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on
Stream On
Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. 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, 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.
  2. 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 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. TheI'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.… Expand
  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 of Portlandia make any sense. I loved the backstory to two of my favorite characters. The show is back and still in top form.
  4. Jackbookpro
    Jun 18, 2015
    10
    The best season yet, the people behind Portlandia never cease to deliver genius and relevant comedy that is smarter than anywhere else. Season 5 continues to evolve the structure of the original seasons, creating new and intersting stories.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. 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.
    Read full review
  2. 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."
    Read full review
  3. 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]
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »