Red Oaks

:

Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
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Critic Reviews

  1. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Oct 6, 2015
    60
    It's not the worst way to spend a half-hour, but Red Oaks also doesn't feel like essential viewing.
  2. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    Oct 5, 2015
    60
    Red Oaks too often gets almost satirical in its broad characterization of ‘80s New Jersey with hair and clothing out of “That ‘80s Show.” But when it focuses on its cast and allows them to breathe within the set-up, it can be surprisingly effective.
  3. Salon
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Oct 12, 2015
    50
    [Red Oaks] is executed with a lot of flair and sophistication--a nearly deceptive amount of sophistication, really.... But mostly, the story is scattered and unfulfilling.
  5. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Oct 9, 2015
    50
    Red Oaks doesn't have a whole lot in the way of plot, and I don't get the feeling it's pretending that it does. But season one (which I've seen most of) still feels repetitive.... There's a gently mocking sensibility in some of the comedy bits, and it's quite pleasing. And the performances settle into a nice, relaxed groove, particularly Reiser’s.
  6. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    Sep 16, 2015
    50
    Red Oaks is no better or worse than its peers in this genre; certainly it will trigger fond and awkward memories for those who lived it or something like it, but the pilot episode released earlier this year doesn’t make a case that these feelings have much thematic potential beyond the usual cliches.
  7. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Mark Peikert
    Oct 8, 2015
    40
    Almost every episode trades on our familiarity with the type--the heavy sidekick, the dumb, bullying jock, the knockout who wonders if she should be with the heavy sidekick instead of the dumb, bullying jock--but that familiarity too often comes perilously close to breeding contempt.

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Best TV Season of 2015
15
#15 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 41
  3. Negative: 4 out of 41
  1. taimur64
    Oct 16, 2015
    10
    I was surprisingly impressed by this amazon show. The characters are well developed, and the story lines very pretty original. I like the 80sI was surprisingly impressed by this amazon show. The characters are well developed, and the story lines very pretty original. I like the 80s feel of the shows as well as characters like Getty and Nash. I hope it gets a second season.… Full Review »
  2. mtg837
    Oct 13, 2015
    4
    What a big pile of angst-filled, coming-of-age tropes. In an age where well scripted television has all but exploded the cliche, films andWhat a big pile of angst-filled, coming-of-age tropes. In an age where well scripted television has all but exploded the cliche, films and movies that depict young men coming of age by the aid of forbidden, two dimensional women have somehow escaped the necessity to evolve. I'll give you the lowdown on this deeply non-compelling (yet self serious) failure of a show.

    A young MILDLY attractive college aged man is working at a country club (teaching tennis) while, inexplicably, dating the town's blonde beauty. But he's not happy, of course, because this blonde dumb dumb only cares about dumb dumb things like modeling (how silly) and starting a family (ew, how unambitious.) Our young protagonist (Chuckles, lets call him) finds what he imagines to be true love in....wait for it...a short haired brunette (they're the smart kind!) who is edgy because she wears overalls and smokes cigarettes and paints penises and has daddy issues.
    Problem is, she's the daughter of the rich guy at the country club who could get Chuckles fired if he found out he was having hanky panky with his daughter (Because it's totally reasonably for fathers to go to great lengths to get someone fired for having consensual sex with their daughter. Right?)

    Look, this show is dramedy with a major emphasis on the "drama" part, and too much self-seriousness to be genuinely funny. Also, the casual sexism is infuriating. But hey, if you like shows that are marketed as comedies but sparse on the jokes, treat women like prizes for young men to win, and think that the exploits of some entitled future banker are in any way interesting, this show is for you!    … Full Review »
  3. remarkable264
    Oct 10, 2015
    3
    I thought the pilot was very promising. Very nice 80s vibe with great style and music. Also interesting characters like Nash or Getty.

    But    I thought the pilot was very promising. Very nice 80s vibe with great style and music. Also interesting characters like Nash or Getty.

    But take Nash for example: His storyline in the new nine episodes is just not interesting. Why didn't they stick to him as the womanizer and bon vivant? That would have been much more fitting and charming. Instead his character was largely wasted.

    And many of the other storylines (like David's mother being lesbian) were just half-heartedly told. The foundation was there but they didn't really follow through because the writers didn't manage to tell overarching plots which were compelling and coherent.

    They only occasionally had good scenes and character moments (especially the scenes between David and Getty's daughter often clicked) but overall both the storytelling and the production weren't nearly as focused and dense as the pilot.

    Rather disappointing!    … Full Review »
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