Sharp Objects

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 8, 2018
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 227 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 157 out of 227
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 227
  3. Negative: 45 out of 227
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  1. gawss
    Sep 1, 2018
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sharp Objects' biggest strength was also it's biggest weakness. It had an uncanny ability to "suck you in" and grab your attention in a oddly compelling sort of way, make you engrossed in analyzing all the ambiguities. It was sort of like eating junk food- you don't enjoy it, you know it may not be good for you but you can't stop eating it. Yet the more you analyzed and focused your attention, the more weaknesses you saw. The quick editing cuts, dark atmospheric lighting (etc) and word hints that seemed to lend such an artistic communicative aura in the early shows failed to develop the narrative and seemed to become rather cliche and needlessly repetitious as it progressed through. There were so many seemingly hints that were not actually hints, actions that meant nothing, the director seed only concerned with atmosphere and creating a general dark mood, rather than telling a story, a narrative. After episode 3 I feared that I would not be presented enough info to make on informed opinion on the murderer, and wisely read the book. What struck me was how Camille in the book seemed more sympathetic because she said so many statements indicating a desire to improve and become a better person. These seemed totally omitted in the TV series. We were left to interpret actions which were troubling anyway. I really had a problem being sympathetic towards Camille and her decisions seemed compulsive, her motives not clear. Her appearance as a developmentally arrested person seemed understandable, although she was unaware of it. The book seemed somewhat brighter and did not resort to all of the sadistic emotional shocks seen in the HBO series. It would have been clearer if they had given Amy Adams more lines that could make her seem more sympathetic, rather then having the actress resort to all of her familiar acting staples- pretty looks with intelligence and a beguiling smile to make you like her. And I often felt too aware that she was Amy Adams and not Camile Preaker. Sometimes her physical beauty seemed diminished, but at other times she glowed with a perfect complexion like Lois Lane. Moving back and forth between 1st and 3rd person POV is fine, but it sucks when the audience doesn't know it. Why not have Amy Adams look rough and wiped out all the way through, all the time.? What's the point of making the audience uncomfortable, assaulting the audiences emotions? I'm concerned that Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy was presented in an exaggerated sensationalized way. Clarkson was great as Adora, but she didn't have to be that acute over the top.

    As the series progressed I began to see through all the dazzle, I become used to it and it began to seem like style over substance. I think this series will be remembered as polarizing for the audience, you either love it or hate it. Men will look at it much differently then women, and this review is a mans POV. Perhaps this series was geared more to women? No male sympathetic characters except Curry and even he had flaws. At least the women, though unsympathetic, were stronger characters. Why not show Camile looking strong by her personal attributes and decisions rather then by having her seem stronger by comparing to weaker, incompetent, and flawed men. Overall I was disappointed with this series. The ending was particularly disappointing and almost seemed frivolous, like it was just giving up and the book had a much more fulfilling ending. The writer and the director's motives perplex me. Why do they seem to want to gut punch the audience? It doesn't seem necessary, but I guess they do. Life is rough and depressing enough, why spend time watching something that seems to want to gas light you and bring down?    … Expand
  2. Boob72
    Jul 22, 2018
    3
    I am really getting very very tired of cliche scenes and the back and forth relapsed time travel, which has already been complained about in some reviews here. Great actors that are indeed wasted with naive and dumb writers and producers who seem to not have a very realistic understanding of crime stories. I think Hollywood is infested with naive, "overly imaginative" idiots who ruin itI am really getting very very tired of cliche scenes and the back and forth relapsed time travel, which has already been complained about in some reviews here. Great actors that are indeed wasted with naive and dumb writers and producers who seem to not have a very realistic understanding of crime stories. I think Hollywood is infested with naive, "overly imaginative" idiots who ruin it for the rest of us as consumers. Grow up and understand what real crime situations can involve and enough with the cutting scenes....so unrealistic ...especially after the protag sees an incapacitated young girl with blood everywhere. It's pretentious and annoying.… Expand
  3. Metal4U
    Aug 7, 2018
    0
    I really wanted to like this show (since HBO is known for "Good TV") so I sorta forced myself thru Eps 2 & 3, hoping for this show to turn the corner and get on with itself, except it NEVER does....It just keeps dwelling on the main character over and over again. Fine, we get it, we know she's an alcohol, with deep emotional issues tied to her childhood, growing up in her hometown, howI really wanted to like this show (since HBO is known for "Good TV") so I sorta forced myself thru Eps 2 & 3, hoping for this show to turn the corner and get on with itself, except it NEVER does....It just keeps dwelling on the main character over and over again. Fine, we get it, we know she's an alcohol, with deep emotional issues tied to her childhood, growing up in her hometown, how many times do we need to be bombarded with it..? We know small towns can be boring with nothing to do, it's a cliche that is being forced down our throats, glacially. To say this show is BORING would be an understatement. I would much rather sit and watch 2 flies *** !!!… Expand
  4. movieboy
    Aug 6, 2018
    2
    I really wanted to like this show as it sounded so promising and because it stars Amy Adams but three episodes in I can't take it anymore. It is so SLOW and basically boring. And I'm so tired of endless, torturous flashbacks that keep disrupting the narrative. For those who love watching nothing happening apart from Adams driving around town drunk listening to Led Zep, go for it.
  5. garmonbozia
    Aug 27, 2018
    2
    It’s a cliche show (about very stereotypical characters trapped in a small town mentality and history that loves to repeat itself every generation) which wants to merge two genres: psychological drama and murder mystery. It isn’t successful in any of those approaches. If you look at the series from the crime story perspective – it isn’t rich enough, it’s too slow and gives you very fewIt’s a cliche show (about very stereotypical characters trapped in a small town mentality and history that loves to repeat itself every generation) which wants to merge two genres: psychological drama and murder mystery. It isn’t successful in any of those approaches. If you look at the series from the crime story perspective – it isn’t rich enough, it’s too slow and gives you very few clues (yes, creators put some classic red herrings here and there but it’s not enough to keep you interested in the mystery) . As a psychological drama it doesn’t work either because characters are really one-dimensional (here me out…) – we watch only superficial symptoms (there is something there, but they will probably show it 8 hours later in the finale – typical waste of screen time and everyone’s time). Complicated relationships throughout the six episodes (so far) are the same. We didn’t learn anything new. It was already established from the start what was going on emotionally. And the series doesn’t give any new information about characters (small pieces that don’t really add anything new and can mean a lot of things or nothing). They’re another layers of the same. It’s like: Adora doesn’t like Camille. Six episodes later the progress is that: Adora really doesn’t like Camille. We don’t get any real answers, only small pieces to keep us wondering – but it’s not worth it. Glimpses of memories and visions are sometimes cool, but more often seem pretentious. Some fragments look like music videos and it’s cool, but also a bit gimmicky. Some of the acting is really exaggerated (the old cheerleaders and John Keen’s girlfriend, sometimes Amma and Adora). And there’s something wrong with emotions in the series. Characters are deeply wounded and they express many emotions, but as a viewer I’m not moved by the story at all. It’s like I’m watching emotions on the screen and I’m totally separated from them, and I consider myself a quite empathic person. Great cast, some beautiful visuals, great music but the story is almost the pastiche of a drama. It’s over the top and outlandish just for the shock value.
    It’s another TV-series after “Big Little Lies” that put women in the center to shine (which is a very positive thing), but fails to give us a satisfying story. There’s something very exaggerated and false in those stories. Something’s very pushy, overcomplicated and not real about it.

    After the finale I dislike the show even more. Why? Because all the plot points were so obvious. I didn't read the book and knew nothing about the story. I guessed who the killers were from the first scene I saw them in the first episode. It was screaming - them. It was so obvious. During the second episode I realised what was going on with Adora and her daughters. I actually new the name of the "thing". But the show started adding so much unnecessary stuff that I started thinking that something more was going on. I thought that maybe the murders have something to do with the history of rape crimes in this town. That a woman from the past seeks revenge and kills the daughters of the men who raped her or something like that. But no. The story was so simple. It was only distorted with many other stuff that meant nothing - there were just for weirdness and shock value. I really think that this show is pretentious. It is so overhyped that I find it laughable. It is unrealistic and has weird story, just for the sake of crazyness. Most of the acting was unnatural and exaggerated. I don't know. This show feels like it was written by literary wannabe teenage emo girl. Yes it has some production values, but that's it. It felt like Lana Del Rey videos most of the time.    … Expand
  6. Mooseloose
    Sep 14, 2018
    3
    My girlfriend and I both sat through this strangely compelling eight hour torture session and both found it ultimately boring and unsatisfying . The majority of the episodes are filled with unengaging characters talking about nothing interesting, basically padding out the vacuous screen time . A reporter who does little investigating, a borderline incompetent police chief, no murderMy girlfriend and I both sat through this strangely compelling eight hour torture session and both found it ultimately boring and unsatisfying . The majority of the episodes are filled with unengaging characters talking about nothing interesting, basically padding out the vacuous screen time . A reporter who does little investigating, a borderline incompetent police chief, no murder suspects, no tension or menace of a lurking child killer, the list goes on. Amy Adams main character is covered in self harm scars and words which she has conveniently carved upside down and in reverse to allow others to read them, also on her back too somehow. Her sister is irritating in the extreme, and the last episode is just ridiculous. Could have been so much better. Disappointing. Stick with Twin Peaks for a fix of small town weirdness.… Expand
  7. toolander
    Aug 8, 2018
    2
    This show seemed promising. Promising cast in an interesting setting. Anything can happen. Unfortunately for the viewers, nothing ever does. The script is terrible, full of clichés. It's just a bunch of people walking around, talking to each other about nothing. The cast is great but they struggle with it. Amy Adams and Chris Messina, who are both very likeable actors, get stuck with linesThis show seemed promising. Promising cast in an interesting setting. Anything can happen. Unfortunately for the viewers, nothing ever does. The script is terrible, full of clichés. It's just a bunch of people walking around, talking to each other about nothing. The cast is great but they struggle with it. Amy Adams and Chris Messina, who are both very likeable actors, get stuck with lines such as "So, why did you become a cop?". They do make a genuine effort to try and make their characters seem more human, but without a script, it all falls flat.… Expand
  8. metabad
    Aug 8, 2018
    3
    It's a show about a murder of young girl in a small town in Missouri and Amy Adams is a journalist named Camille who grew up in that town but has left it a long time ago, after her sister got murdered there.
    She is joined by Chris Messina as detective Richard Willis from Kansas City who is somewhat a specialist for those kind of murders.
    Now, according to Wikipedia this is supposed to    It's a show about a murder of young girl in a small town in Missouri and Amy Adams is a journalist named Camille who grew up in that town but has left it a long time ago, after her sister got murdered there.
    She is joined by Chris Messina as detective Richard Willis from Kansas City who is somewhat a specialist for those kind of murders.

    Now, according to Wikipedia this is supposed to be a psychological thriller.
    After watching 5 episodes, I can assure you, there is nothing thrilling about that show.
    It's a psychological something.

    Sure, it has atmosphere and brings you in a certain mood. Is that enough? Of course not.
    Since nowadays it has become almost obligatory to add a chock full of flashbacks to any tv show, the writers appear to have made the decision to double down on that.
    Being true or not, you get the impression half of every episode consists of flashbacks.
    Ok, maybe only 30%.
    Additionally the producers thought it was masterpiece cinema to switch back and fourth between present and past within a second.
    To go even further, you'll see Amy Adams (now) seeing Amy Adams as a girl as well as other characters from the past in one scene.
    Sometimes, while watching this, you get the feeling, these flashbacks give you some crucial information about the killer and you have missed it.
    Or maybe you haven't missed anything. You just don't know.

    After 5 episodes, almost half of the season, Camille and Richard still have no clue who the killer is.
    They have literally nothing.
    Instead we have the very original story of someone coming back to her home town having to face her past and confront her (*sigh*) 'inner demons' .
    Of course, after 5 episodes, we don't know much about these 'inner demons' either.

    How do make people watch this show and stay with it until the finale?
    You give them interesting characters and an interesting story even though it might have no thrills most of the time.

    The problem with this show is: It. Has. No. Interesting. Characters. Period.

    You get characters you get stories, but nothing about it is compelling.
    The main character herself is somewhat of a stereotype. A damaged, alcoholic human being incapable of maintaining a personal relationship.
    Yeah. Fresh and new.

    There is simply not much more to it. It's well crafted, technically, but it's so much style over substance it's infuriating.
    I really don't use the term 'pretentious' a lot but this is definitely a big pile of pretentious BS.    … Expand
  9. Steerforth
    Jul 29, 2018
    1
    This series ought to be called "Dull Objects". I watched "The Night of" with pleasure and was expecting a good series, but it is slow, dull and tedious. I have to wonder where the "good" reviews come from: Bored housewives who love the soap opera genre? Because that is all it is - and it is just a very poor screenplay.
  10. shoulderoforion
    Jul 29, 2018
    0
    *****update 072918* yeah i can't watch this show anymore. reducing my score to 0**** I don't even know what to call this brand of film making, it's "staccato" I think, with how it jumps back and forth between present, past, and imagined all within once scene, sometimes within the same 2 or 3 seconds, without end, constantly as if to keep hitting the viewer over the head with "hey look it's*****update 072918* yeah i can't watch this show anymore. reducing my score to 0**** I don't even know what to call this brand of film making, it's "staccato" I think, with how it jumps back and forth between present, past, and imagined all within once scene, sometimes within the same 2 or 3 seconds, without end, constantly as if to keep hitting the viewer over the head with "hey look it's different". It's all very disconcerting & difficult to follow, couple that with the incredibly slow burn of a story, and you get a mostly unpleasant experience just trynna sit down and watch a "decent" sunday night HBO show. Hope it picks up.… Expand
  11. monicitam
    Jul 25, 2018
    3
    I want to like this, but I just can't. I love the cast but they are wasted on this project. Sharp Objects is riddled with cliche. We get it, she's damaged and drinks vodka to manage her pain - please stop pouring the idea down our throats, too. Absolutely none of the characters feel like real people. Their motivations are confusing and they do things that people just don't do. Do newspaperI want to like this, but I just can't. I love the cast but they are wasted on this project. Sharp Objects is riddled with cliche. We get it, she's damaged and drinks vodka to manage her pain - please stop pouring the idea down our throats, too. Absolutely none of the characters feel like real people. Their motivations are confusing and they do things that people just don't do. Do newspaper writers call their editors at home to constantly update them on the story they're working on? Why can't the daughter go to the funeral? Why is everyone roller skating like it's the 1950's? Why are they trying to make us believe that Chris Messina is from Kansas City when he's talking with his NYC accent? The jump cuts and flashbacks are too often, too confusing and incredibly irritating. The music choices feel as forced as they did in Big Little Lies. Why are they showing on screen that she's playing M. Ward or Led Zepplin on her iPhone? Is it an ad? The more I write about this, the more I hate it. The funny thing is, is that I will continue to watch it - either to enjoy the slowest car crash ever, or in hopes that it speeds up.… Expand
  12. Aleximab
    Aug 12, 2018
    0
    The best part about this show is that it is “limited” series. Story is stale, no diversity in characters, not enough characters or character development, we already know who the killer is.. they keep showing her. Tired stale directing as well.
  13. pnoyfilmtvadik
    Aug 29, 2018
    2
    A total waste of time. It doesn't entertain at all. Actors are great. Editing is good. The critics are trying so hard to see the good in this series in parts not as a whole. Don't watch it.
  14. muses18
    Aug 19, 2018
    2
    This show is terrible. The plotlines are upsetting, and the characters are walking cliches that don't posses an ounce of joy in anything (doesn't that sound fun?). Everyone is miserable and completely self absorbed in their own pathetic histories. The script is stilted, and an insult to any semi-intelligent person. Chris Messina walks around like a piece of wood, acting like he'sThis show is terrible. The plotlines are upsetting, and the characters are walking cliches that don't posses an ounce of joy in anything (doesn't that sound fun?). Everyone is miserable and completely self absorbed in their own pathetic histories. The script is stilted, and an insult to any semi-intelligent person. Chris Messina walks around like a piece of wood, acting like he's auditioning for Law and Order. His character feels totally out of place. And what's more, literally NOTHING happens. It is not a show I look forward to watching. I'm not all giddy with anticipation like I am with Westworld of GoT. Or even Succession for chrissake. But I've invested so much time in it I feel I have to see it through. It's like being forced to go to a bad therapy session.… Expand
  15. geralt1
    Sep 3, 2018
    3
    How do you carve neatly on your back where it would be difficult to reach and would require a mirror.
    Most if not all cutters have been sexually abused yet this topic was not addressed.
    People with Munchhausen derive satisfaction from the pity of others so what possible benefit is gained from killing a neighborhood kid with no relation to you ? As drunk as she was she knew her mother    How do you carve neatly on your back where it would be difficult to reach and would require a mirror.
    Most if not all cutters have been sexually abused yet this topic was not addressed.
    People with Munchhausen derive satisfaction from the pity of others so what possible benefit is gained from killing a neighborhood kid with no relation to you ?
    As drunk as she was she knew her mother was poisoning her sister yet she opted to drink the poison herself instead of confront her mother which seemed a bit unbelievable.    … Expand
  16. jms333
    Sep 8, 2018
    0
    Compelling, esp Adams, but no editor and reporter work that way, and no unproven reporter spends that much unproductive time on an out of town assignment. Some continuity problems, too. But Adams and that cast are so good that that's a quibble. .
  17. EludiumQ36
    Jul 13, 2018
    3
    I typically love the characters Amy Adams portrays but not in this slow-paced murder mystery. She plays Camille Preaker, a nearly washed up, alcoholic, cigarette addicted newshound in St Louis running down a missing girl report in tiny (pop: 2000) Wind Gap, her hometown. So we're off to a bad start already. When she reluctantly arrives in town, she immediately pisses off the beat downI typically love the characters Amy Adams portrays but not in this slow-paced murder mystery. She plays Camille Preaker, a nearly washed up, alcoholic, cigarette addicted newshound in St Louis running down a missing girl report in tiny (pop: 2000) Wind Gap, her hometown. So we're off to a bad start already. When she reluctantly arrives in town, she immediately pisses off the beat down police chief, then the next day comes across three teen girls in a park where she's going to join a search. She acknowledges the teens' impressive rumor machine that they already knew who she was but she whiffs the opportunity to pump the gossiping teens for any backstory on the recent young girl murder or the missing girl. That's just poor writing, poor storytelling, and all this is only in episode one, ep two hasn't even played yet. There's all these cutaways, flashbacks, too, to her childhood there and that's irritating. The atmospherics are dark, moody, seedy, backwoodsy with little accompanying/transitioning music which is 1940s-ish when it's there at all. Such an environment is going to appeal to very, very few people. I expected so much more from Marti Noxon who brought us the edgy, fast-paced "UnREAL" series, oh well, one less show to follow.… Expand
  18. OlivierPiel
    Jul 13, 2018
    3
    Very disappointing. It's terribly lazy, cliché and pretentious as if slow pace was the mark of cinematographic art (désolé Monsieur Vallée, tu n'es pas Tarkovsky!)
    It's an obvious and contemptible attempt at riding the bandwagon of #MeToo, female empowerment
    and whatever nonsense has taken hold of Hollywood for it knows it can't be attacked by so-called media critics lest they want to    Very disappointing. It's terribly lazy, cliché and pretentious as if slow pace was the mark of cinematographic art (désolé Monsieur Vallée, tu n'es pas Tarkovsky!)
    It's an obvious and contemptible attempt at riding the bandwagon of #MeToo, female empowerment
    and whatever nonsense has taken hold of Hollywood for it knows it can't be attacked by so-called media critics lest they want to be stoned to death by feminists.
    Mind you he's done it before with the vastly overrated Dallas Buyers Club and Little Big lies. Hypocrisy of the highest order. Tartuffe would be proud. As a fellow Frenchman I'm ashamed.    … Expand
  19. mrharrybeck
    Oct 13, 2018
    3
    Sharp Objects is very, very disappointing even though its powerful cast did everything they could to keep it in the highest position possible.
  20. sethman1975
    Jan 5, 2019
    3
    Can't see why the reviews are so high. It had the potential to be a good murder mystery which it looked like in the trailer. Instead it turned out to be a torture simulator. If you are in the mood for watching a depressed self mutilator with severe mommy issues well your in luck, but if you are a sane person that actually likes a good plot that moves along, avoid this like the plague.

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Best TV Season of 2018
21
#21 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018
18
#18 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Richard Roeper
    Dec 14, 2018
    100
    Graced with some of the best performances Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson have ever given, directed with sure-handed and sometimes flamboyant style by Jean-Marc Vallee and dripping with honey-coated but often barbed dialogue, “Sharp Objects” is flat-out great television.
    Read full review
  2. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Kaitlin Thomas
    Aug 17, 2018
    85
    With many men and women working hard to give off the appearance of a perfect existence while others still close their doors and turn a blind eye to the darkness that clings to the corners of Wind Gap, trauma and abuse have been allowed to continue in a cyclical pattern for years. It's unclear through seven episodes how and if that will ever change for the people of Wind Gap as a community, but perhaps by the end of the series Camille will at least have found the answers — and the strength — she needs to be able to finally put the horrors of her own life behind her.
    Read full review
  3. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    Jul 30, 2018
    70
    The eight-episode series stretches its mystery to nearly unbearable lengths. ... It’s not as dense as Vallee’s “Big Little Lies,” but it does give its female cast meaty roles to savor. Clarkson gets the biggest slab, but Adams, Perkins, Scanlen and Lillis make the most of theirs. For them, it’s an acting banquet. Cut thinner, it might have been prime time prime.
    Read full review
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