Red Band Society
FOX | Release Date: September 17, 2014
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
58
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews
Positive:
16
Mixed:
16
Negative:
4
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
People WeeklyTom GliattoSep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: Red Band Society, which could turn out to be one of the best new shows of the fall, is like that, constantly catching you unexpectedly. Read full review
83
Newark Star-LedgerVicki HymanSep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: The show is soapy for sure, but only at the end of the premiere does it descend into the borderline sappiness that could have been its calling card. It helps that the entire cast has charisma to spare--even the kid in the coma. Read full review
83
Boston HeraldMark A. PerigardSep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: A dramedy poised to be the breakout show of fall — if it can only overcome the trying symptoms of treacle. Read full review
80
Zap2it (Inside the Box)Terri SchwartzSep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: Red Band is one of the brightest shining new shows of the fall TV season, thanks to solid writing and great, endearing cast performances. Read full review
80
The Daily BeastKevin FallonSep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: Red Band Society is by no means the perfect network drama. (That would be The Good Wife, for those who are keeping count.) But there is something admirable about what it is doing, and about the fact that it has no qualms about it. Read full review
80
Denver PostJoanne OstrowSep 15, 2014
Season 1 Review: What could be a trite pitch for togetherness is probed for deeper meaning in an hour that has a big heart behind its hip stance. Read full review
80
Wall Street JournalNancy DeWolf SmithSep 12, 2014
Season 1 Review: An exhilarating burst of fresh air. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesLori RacklSep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: A diverse assortment of teenagers--The Mean Girl (played by Glencoe native Zoe Levin), The Rebel, The Girl Next Door, The Player--try to cope with the challenges of life, not just their life-threatening illnesses, which keeps the series from falling into Debbie Downer territory. Read full review
75
St. Louis Post-DispatchGail PenningtonSep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: Red Band Society, although sometimes sappy, isn't sad or dreary. Read full review
75
HitfixAlan SepinwallSep 16, 2014
Season 1 Review: If Red Band overdoes it in some areas, it's impressively restrained in others. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeMatthew GilbertSep 15, 2014
Season 1 Review: It does break your heart, to some extent, if you’re willing to let go of your cynicism for an hour. Read full review
70
The WrapJethro NededogSep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: The writing is fairly predictable on the pilot, which plays a lot of emotional notes we're all very familiar with on TV.... Problems aside, there's a “Wonder Years” quality to Red Band Society that transports viewers back to those simple firsts in life, the coming of age rites of passage that we all instantly understand and can connect to. Read full review
70
Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen GraySep 17, 2014
Season 1 Review: Narrated by Charlie (Griffin Gluck), a 12-year-old in a coma (yes, it's very "If I Stay"), Red Band boasts a telegenic young cast that otherwise spends little time lying down. Read full review
70
The OregonianKristi TurnquistSep 15, 2014
Season 1 Review: In a gimmicky touch, it's narrated by a boy in a coma. But despite the easy grabs at our heartstrings–-who in their right mind isn't rooting for young people to get well?–-the pilot benefits from the vivid, likable performances of the cast. Read full review
67
Uncle BarkyEd BarkSep 15, 2014
Season 1 Review: Red Band Society has enough lightness of being and appealing characters to counterbalance its overall sobering premise. Read full review
63
USA TodayMatt RoushSep 16, 2014
Season 1 Review: Too much of Band is either overly familiar or overly unfamiliar, such as the young boy in a coma (Griffin Gluck) who serves as an omniscient narrator and who, through some metaphysical stretch, can speak to other patients whenever they lose consciousness. Read full review
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