Project Blue Book

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Season 1
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 39 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 39
  3. Negative: 3 out of 39
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User Reviews

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  1. HiSticking
    Feb 1, 2019
    4
    After watching the first 4 episodes I am not sure what to expect... except that I now know that each episode begins with a nice premise and then leaves me disappointed by the time the episode ends. Could Laura Mennell's character be any more clueless? Can her new Russian Agent Friend get access to secure areas of an airbase that easily? There are so many groups to keep track of yet none ofAfter watching the first 4 episodes I am not sure what to expect... except that I now know that each episode begins with a nice premise and then leaves me disappointed by the time the episode ends. Could Laura Mennell's character be any more clueless? Can her new Russian Agent Friend get access to secure areas of an airbase that easily? There are so many groups to keep track of yet none of them seem to be doing anything other than just being in the background of each episode. The two generals are unrealistic, Neal McDonough's character gave them the project assignment and then gets furious when they do their work, which isn't much of any accomplishment... why? I gave it a score of 4 hoping it will improve as it gets more into the season and evolves.… Expand
  2. buddhalou
    Jan 20, 2019
    5
    Too little imagination, suspense, and talent to be compared to the X-Files and too much imagination to be taken at all seriously as an examination of Project Blue Book. Production values are decent enough.
  3. bozon126
    Jan 20, 2019
    4
    This second episode really has taken the show off the rails. The useless introduction of men kissing and the seduction of the wife by another woman is just that useless. There is enough UFO material from the 50's to keep this show afloat but the main story lines are not about UFO's. They seem to be an aside for the Men in Black intrigue running through the show.
    Come on! Give us some real    This second episode really has taken the show off the rails. The useless introduction of men kissing and the seduction of the wife by another woman is just that useless. There is enough UFO material from the 50's to keep this show afloat but the main story lines are not about UFO's. They seem to be an aside for the Men in Black intrigue running through the show.
    Come on! Give us some real writing like the X-files had.    … Expand
  4. madarasi012
    Jan 9, 2019
    6
    Project Blue Book is History Channel’s latest offering; its first premiere of 2019, dealing with UFOs and other unexplained reports that prevailed during the 1950s, and the Air Force’s attempt to deal with those reports. The show stars Aiden Gillan of HBO’s Game of Thrones fame, Michael Malarkey (Vampire Diaries), and Neal McDonough, who played the excellent Robert Quarles in FX’sProject Blue Book is History Channel’s latest offering; its first premiere of 2019, dealing with UFOs and other unexplained reports that prevailed during the 1950s, and the Air Force’s attempt to deal with those reports. The show stars Aiden Gillan of HBO’s Game of Thrones fame, Michael Malarkey (Vampire Diaries), and Neal McDonough, who played the excellent Robert Quarles in FX’s Justified, amongst other roles.
    When a pilot breaks down after a mid-air altercation with a strange flying light, the duo is sent to Fargo, North Dakota, to explore the claim. Of course, before that, Captain Quinn needs to convince Dr. Hynek to be a part of this tag-team, and he does so in the quickest manner possible: by bruising the man’s ego. Not a bad way to start things off, if you ask me. Dr. Hynek still gets to keep his job, choosing to moonlight as a secret operative, hoping the extra cash can help with his work, and hoping to get recognition for the work he does with UFOs.
    The show manages to be engaging, even if it does follow the same, well-beaten path of other shows that have come before it. The dialogue and characterisation needs improvement, with the lines bordering on corny and the characters not doing much to stand out;something that needs to change over the next couple episodes. The women of the episode are neglected as well, with one being a predictable element from the moment of her appearance, and the other reduced to a dull housewife of a character. Now, to be fair, it is set in the 50s, and the women then weren’t allowed to do much more than that, but I do hope to see real depth to these women, which has been lacking so far.My main issue with the episode is with the audio and how badly it has been balanced. The ambient and special effects are far louder than they should be, and are not accommodating towards the dialogue, making for a poor aural experience that I, once again, hope improves in the coming episodes.
    In terms of content, I’m glad to see the show actually exploring the supernatural, rather than serving as a true-to-history debunking series. This allows for more entertaining stories, even if it does stretch, bend, and warp the truth.
    All in all, Project Blue Book shows some promise, if not a lot, and could make for interesting viewing, if for no reason other than to watch Aiden Gillan on screen again.    … Expand
  5. Simcoe92
    Jan 16, 2019
    6
    I like PBB but have real concerns it can sustain itself despite hundreds of unsolved UFO cases to choose from. The structural flaw is somewhat like the X-Files. We ALL wanted to believe but there could never be a definitive episode of the series would effectively be over.
  6. LamontRaymond
    Jan 13, 2019
    4
    I was looking forward to this one, but boy, does it feel like a re-treat of much better, much more interesting, and funnier fare. Even the woman who is tracking the scientists's wife (from Lost Girl) is a tired trope. But the scientist's wife (from Alphas) is a winner. It's almost worth watching another episode or two to see what she does. She was great in Haven, too.
  7. Paulkruger
    Jan 9, 2019
    10
    Wow!, love this! So it's seems so far like X files meets the Americans... BUT REAL! Love that at the end of each episode, they break down the facts of what actually happened to piece together this well put together drama!
  8. onegist10
    Jan 12, 2019
    0
    I really love this show. The actual Project Blue Book was published when I was in High School, but watching the events dramatized is so much better. My only criticism is that many of us who are over 50 have hearing problems (maybe we attended too many concerts or were on too many firing ranges), but either way, the background music overwhelms the show and makes it difficult to even hearI really love this show. The actual Project Blue Book was published when I was in High School, but watching the events dramatized is so much better. My only criticism is that many of us who are over 50 have hearing problems (maybe we attended too many concerts or were on too many firing ranges), but either way, the background music overwhelms the show and makes it difficult to even hear the dialogue -- which totally ruins it for me. Tone down the music so we can hear what is being said!… Expand
  9. jack67
    Apr 17, 2019
    0
    This show is trash. If it were about fictional characters, it might be OK. The problem lies with this being broadcast on the History channel and being about actual people. Taking poetic license with historic figures, as all historic dramatizations do, is expected -- but this goes beyond poetic license and into the realm of malicious misinformation. Nothing like these events happened toThis show is trash. If it were about fictional characters, it might be OK. The problem lies with this being broadcast on the History channel and being about actual people. Taking poetic license with historic figures, as all historic dramatizations do, is expected -- but this goes beyond poetic license and into the realm of malicious misinformation. Nothing like these events happened to Hynek. He disagreed with the government being so quick to dismiss UFO sightings, but only because their science was sloppy -- not because he encountered actual aliens when investigating.

    This show takes the already out-of-control urban myth that Project Bluebook was a cover-up and cranks it up a few more notches, feeding the paranoid and misinformed more nonsense.    … Expand
  10. DorJ
    Jan 16, 2019
    10
    I got to see the first two episodes and I am really excited to see where they take the season. The casting is brilliant - you can't go wrong with Aidan Gillen - and the script is believable and witty without being too much or silly. The cinematography is gorgeous as well and really on point. It seems like they budgeted everything well too because there is a nice balance of realistic propsI got to see the first two episodes and I am really excited to see where they take the season. The casting is brilliant - you can't go wrong with Aidan Gillen - and the script is believable and witty without being too much or silly. The cinematography is gorgeous as well and really on point. It seems like they budgeted everything well too because there is a nice balance of realistic props and set, which give it a genuine feel for the 50's without being too much, and also believable CGI. Very well done for a tv series. All the little extra plots and twists have me on the edge of my seat and eagerly awaiting next Tuesday!… Expand
  11. bluealiens
    Jan 22, 2019
    9
    to many commercials Picture to dark gives me a headache straining my eyes I like the show but struggling to see the picture and OmG the commercials! Do we really need that many?
  12. UncleWillard
    Mar 12, 2019
    5
    So X-Files meets Mad Men? That's the vibe I got. Lots of good talent and it looks great, but it's a boring slog. I'm a sci-fi guy, but I'm just not keen on the whole UFO thing. Loved X-files, but I liked the stand-alone, weird episodes over this overarching alien story, which the movies addressed. This just looks and feels like they're trying to do that alien conspiracy along with a periodSo X-Files meets Mad Men? That's the vibe I got. Lots of good talent and it looks great, but it's a boring slog. I'm a sci-fi guy, but I'm just not keen on the whole UFO thing. Loved X-files, but I liked the stand-alone, weird episodes over this overarching alien story, which the movies addressed. This just looks and feels like they're trying to do that alien conspiracy along with a period drama like Mad Men as I mentioned and failing on both. Great cast, looks awesome, not much depth.… Expand
  13. Vasot
    Mar 25, 2020
    7
    Pretty good show but while the cases are based on actual events as they are described in the Blue Book the story and some other things are completely fictional. Anyway the show is entertaining enough and it's a good X-Files alternative but i wish it was more historically accurate
  14. AxeT
    Mar 1, 2019
    7
    Big production value period setting is part of the allure of this episodic procedural based on true cases while the larger continuing science fiction mystery backdrop is the real reason to keep tuning in.

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Most Discussed TV Season of 2019
61
#61 Most Shared TV Season of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    Jan 8, 2019
    70
    Even if it’s less nuanced than The Americans and a bit cornier than The X-Files, Project Blue Book has a pulpy energy that carries it over its rougher patches. Whether it has legitimately grand truths to uncover remains to be seen, but for now, it recognizes that concrete answers aren’t nearly as entertaining as mankind’s enduring (and tantalizing) quest to comprehend the great unknown.
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  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Caroline Framke
    Jan 8, 2019
    60
    Even if the show has trouble finding its sea legs, it’s a perfectly fun bit of distraction that could find an admirable groove if it proves willing to take a step back and make some calculated adjustments.
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  3. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Jan 8, 2019
    50
    Project Blue Book feels like “X-Files” Lite, only with a whole lot of indistinguishable men--and all the women are stuck on the sideline.
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