Red Band Society

:

Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 17, 2014
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 36
  3. Negative: 4 out of 36
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Critic Reviews

  1. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Sep 17, 2014
    88
    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.
  2. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Vicki Hyman
    Sep 17, 2014
    83
    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.
  3. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Sep 17, 2014
    83
    A dramedy poised to be the breakout show of fall — if it can only overcome the trying symptoms of treacle.
  5. Zap2it (Inside the Box)
    Reviewed by: Terri Schwartz
    Sep 17, 2014
    80
    Red Band is one of the brightest shining new shows of the fall TV season, thanks to solid writing and great, endearing cast performances.
  6. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Kevin Fallon
    Sep 17, 2014
    80
    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.
  7. Denver Post
    Reviewed by: Joanne Ostrow
    Sep 15, 2014
    80
    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.
  8. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Nancy DeWolf Smith
    Sep 12, 2014
    80
    An exhilarating burst of fresh air.
  9. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Lori Rackl
    Sep 17, 2014
    75
    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.
  10. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Sep 17, 2014
    75
    Red Band Society, although sometimes sappy, isn't sad or dreary.
  11. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Sep 16, 2014
    75
    If Red Band overdoes it in some areas, it's impressively restrained in others.
  12. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Sep 15, 2014
    75
    It does break your heart, to some extent, if you’re willing to let go of your cynicism for an hour.
  13. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Jethro Nededog
    Sep 17, 2014
    70
    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.
  14. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Ellen Gray
    Sep 17, 2014
    70
    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.
  15. The Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Kristi Turnquist
    Sep 15, 2014
    70
    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.
  16. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Sep 15, 2014
    67
    Red Band Society has enough lightness of being and appealing characters to counterbalance its overall sobering premise.
  17. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Sep 16, 2014
    63
    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.

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 78 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 78
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 78
  3. Negative: 10 out of 78
  1. OpinionatedGuy
    Sep 18, 2014
    8
    To call this show "the cancer version of Glee without the musical" or the "TV version of The Fault in Our Stars" is not how you shouldTo call this show "the cancer version of Glee without the musical" or the "TV version of The Fault in Our Stars" is not how you should describe this show. Yes, this could be Fox’s new Glee but it stands out alone without the stigma of being one.

    I would like to start this review with what’s wrong with the first episode. The setting of the hospital felt weird and unrealistic. It’s weird to see patients wearing the clothes in the show as if they never had a disease at all. Aren’t they supposed to wear their PJs or those hospital clothes? I find this part quite troubling. Also, is it actually possible to decorate your rented hospital room as if you’re in a college dorm? I don’t think most hospitals would allow this. If otherwise, that’s pretty cool but if this doesn’t happen on most hospitals, then it’s not realistic to me as far as I know.

    Another downside to this episode is that the adult characters seemed to be uninteresting. Even if the funny, witty Nurse Jackson, played by Oscar winner Octavia Spencer is not interesting enough to know her backstory.

    What really stole the show are the teenage characters which they have to carry the show and they did it wonderfully. They’re very likable and as a teenager writing this review seemed to be biased but hey, I like them! While they’re not the realistic portrayals of an average teenager, they’re not the unrealistic portrayals of an average teenager either. The way they think has a point and it makes sense and it’s something that comes from an average teenager, it’s just that it can be chessy and melodramatic at times. But nonetheless, this makes them likable for me to watch.

    While I do like them, it seemed like the most cliched character in the show was Kara. She is that cheerleader with a lot of problems that she uses her mean attitude to make herself better and I felt like I have seen that in another teenager book/movie/show. But her conflict is just enough to pass on how cliched the character is. I want to see the character develop and reflect on the things she has done.

    The character I relate to the most was Charlie. I think he is the most realistic character in the show. His thoughts are the ones that are realistic without being melodramatic. My concern for this character is how they will develop this character even though he has a coma. Will he wake up in the middle of the show? Time will tell.

    The teenage cast of the show played their roles well. It’s just enough to make me believe that they’re playing their characters as themselves, not just a bunch of teenage actors acting their characters.

    The tone of comedy and drama are balanced perfectly in this episode. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and has its fair share of light hearted moments.

    Lastly, the plot sure knows how to set up the storylines coming for some of the characters especially Kara, Charlie and Jordi.

    I hope this show grows a little bit more with many upcoming episodes along the way but this first episode of Red Band Society sold me to keep tuning in for more.    … Full Review »
  2. Hollywoodsucks
    Oct 26, 2014
    0
    Horrible show. The sappy dialogue, overtly obvious characters and constant stream of inaccuracies make for a giant horse pill of a show to tryHorrible show. The sappy dialogue, overtly obvious characters and constant stream of inaccuracies make for a giant horse pill of a show to try and swallow. If I was playing a drinking game where I took a drink every time there was something wrong in the show, I would have alcohol poisoning within the first ten minutes of the show! As a nurse, I am offended by the writers' idea of a hospital and the people in it. writing about something as serious as fatal illness and the healthcare it requires is risky because it's inevitable that mistakes will be made. In this show's case it seems they went out of there way to get everything wrong and then add a little extra wrongness in for added spice. If this show survives the season I will lose the last shred of respect I hold for tv storytelling.… Full Review »
  3. nutellaisgreat
    Oct 2, 2014
    0
    If you've had cancer or seen someone have cancer then you know that red band society is stupid and lying. People who have cancer are sicklyIf you've had cancer or seen someone have cancer then you know that red band society is stupid and lying. People who have cancer are sickly and throw up. Instead of spending money and time on a stupid lying tv show that is so untruthful and false spend it on researching how to cure cancer. end this show now.… Full Review »
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