Show Me a Hero

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 16, 2015
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 87 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 115
  3. Negative: 19 out of 115
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User Reviews

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  1. mikepariscritic
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    This is HBO at its best. Powerful, comeplling, moving, clever mini-series with brillant acting. This social dram will take you through years of politics battling with the issue of social housing integration. Thank God for HBO. This is superb TV.
  2. Awsaf
    Aug 31, 2015
    10
    Astonishingly majestic series it is. Amazing story writing, directing, acting, no lack in anything. A story that is said amazingly by every single actor and actresses. A story that puts every single person up on their feet. Staring from acting Oscar Issac is a true genius, the way he acted and showed rage and power was incredible. And also other actors and actresses like Catherine keener,Astonishingly majestic series it is. Amazing story writing, directing, acting, no lack in anything. A story that is said amazingly by every single actor and actresses. A story that puts every single person up on their feet. Staring from acting Oscar Issac is a true genius, the way he acted and showed rage and power was incredible. And also other actors and actresses like Catherine keener, Winona Ryder, Alfred Monila and Carla Quevedo and others they all were so great. From every character's perspective is shown and pretty delightfully. A mark of a genius which is put on by Paul Haggis. Surly a must watch series.… Expand
  3. Pdfortune
    Sep 1, 2015
    5
    The acting is very good. Oscar Isaac is always mesmerizing. I still can't believe he is the guy in Ex Machina.
    The story is way too long to be such a one note song. The low income housing issue is exhausting over six hours. The side stories about the families are for the most part boring. The end feels rushed. More detail about his feelings toward the end of the series would have been good.
  4. LamontRaymond
    Aug 16, 2015
    9
    Pretty outstanding show so far. Oscar is perfect in the lead role. Jim Belushi's rather modest exit - knowing what a cluser-f the situation would be for the new mayor - was pitch perfect. I like how the first 2 episodes set up the profiles of the future resident of the low-income-housing. Should make for an outstanding final 4 parts.
  5. lordrex
    Aug 21, 2015
    9
    This is a completely compelling and gripping drama that successfully explores an event from all the sides involved. As the story unfolds the viewer gets introduced to what at first seems like a lot of desperate groups of people, the first being the protagonist. We are introduced as the episodes unfold to not only the antagonist but we actually get introduced to the charactors who the eventThis is a completely compelling and gripping drama that successfully explores an event from all the sides involved. As the story unfolds the viewer gets introduced to what at first seems like a lot of desperate groups of people, the first being the protagonist. We are introduced as the episodes unfold to not only the antagonist but we actually get introduced to the charactors who the event actually effects. So for once we get to see how effects of decisions made actually effect the characters lives directly as opposed to them them just being theoretical of just facts or figures. Thats the only way I can describe it without spoilers. Spoilers would not be fair to this great production.

    The acting is top notch. Some of the character actors in this production who we’ve all seen in things in the past actually shine here and do their best work.
    I guarantee that 20 minutes into the first episode you are hooked. Once you gather who the players are you really get sucked in.    … Expand
  6. ahnehnois
    Aug 31, 2015
    9
    It's a fascinating rendition, and at once both a return to the past and a new trail being blazed for the David Simon enterprise. Far from the usual collection of unknowns, the screen here is littered with famous actors, and a famous director behind the scenes, and yet, the sense of authenticity for which Simon's earlier pieces became known is not lost.

    Who's star could possibly be    It's a fascinating rendition, and at once both a return to the past and a new trail being blazed for the David Simon enterprise. Far from the usual collection of unknowns, the screen here is littered with famous actors, and a famous director behind the scenes, and yet, the sense of authenticity for which Simon's earlier pieces became known is not lost.

    Who's star could possibly be blazing hotter than Oscar Isaac's? He's nothing like his Ex Machina mastermind or his upcoming Star Wars hero here, selling the location and the period completely. And somehow, the ridiculous period styles and accents, the mix of characters on all sides of the issue, and the obtrusive Blake Leyh soundtrack selections all come together to form a greater whole.

    Perhaps more interesting than the central tragedy and the politics was the astonishing display of NIMBY-ism and hypocrisy. It beggars belief that this battle over housing even happened, but it did, and unlike pieces that focus on characters disparate to the audience, the mostly white middle-class viewers of HBO will have to contend with a disturbing blend of community activism and terrorism that paints white America as being on the wrong side of history.

    The sixth episode is by far the best, as the piece swells to a conclusion, finally putting all its different characters into the same place at the same time, and twisting the knife as it reaches its eminently knowable but gut-wrenching end. By the time you reach it, you'll no longer wonder why you're watching a six-hour miniseries on small-town political bureaucracy and public housing.    … Expand
  7. avan1976
    Aug 27, 2015
    8
    Good show thus far (up to episode 3). The acting is great. The main story compelling. And for those that love The Wire, the many cameos are fun (and a little shocking).
    My only criticism is that there are so many little side stories included whose purpose is more to provide a 'fair and complete' picture of the social dynamics surrounding the rehousing case - almost like an in-depth    Good show thus far (up to episode 3). The acting is great. The main story compelling. And for those that love The Wire, the many cameos are fun (and a little shocking).
    My only criticism is that there are so many little side stories included whose purpose is more to provide a 'fair and complete' picture of the social dynamics surrounding the rehousing case - almost like an in-depth documentary - rather than for dramatic purposes. I think this is admirable from a social/education perspective, but it undercuts the dramatic tension somewhat.
    Still a great show though.    … Expand
  8. the_shepard
    Aug 23, 2015
    9
    It is a treat to watch this well-cast and well-directed story. You are being carefully shown integral characters in the first episodes, a ramp-up to the big events. Informative aerial shots and maps outline the geographic and social dilemmas confronting the new mayor and truly the entire community. It's the solid, immovable core of supporting characters, the well-intended citizens caughtIt is a treat to watch this well-cast and well-directed story. You are being carefully shown integral characters in the first episodes, a ramp-up to the big events. Informative aerial shots and maps outline the geographic and social dilemmas confronting the new mayor and truly the entire community. It's the solid, immovable core of supporting characters, the well-intended citizens caught in the heat of their own convictions that make this such compelling viewing. A fascinating insight into the mores and evolving ethics of the age!… Expand
  9. hunterand1992
    Aug 27, 2015
    9
    半年多都没有给影视打分了，因为觉得用一种量化指标去衡量一个艺术品是很难的，如果把分数看成是我对这个剧的喜欢程度我愿意打9分。
    跟随桃姐的推荐看了这部剧，第一集非常的出色，各个线索有条不紊地展开，相互牵扯，把“低收入住房建设”这个社会问题的困局清晰地展现在观众面前，人物塑造上也有亮点，主角的人物性格和所身份也注定是个悲剧式人物。
    第二集相比之下要弱一些，基本上是第一集的简单延续，情节的铺陈也比较缓慢。希望下一集有出色的表现。    半年多都没有给影视打分了，因为觉得用一种量化指标去衡量一个艺术品是很难的，如果把分数看成是我对这个剧的喜欢程度我愿意打9分。
    跟随桃姐的推荐看了这部剧，第一集非常的出色，各个线索有条不紊地展开，相互牵扯，把“低收入住房建设”这个社会问题的困局清晰地展现在观众面前，人物塑造上也有亮点，主角的人物性格和所身份也注定是个悲剧式人物。
    第二集相比之下要弱一些，基本上是第一集的简单延续，情节的铺陈也比较缓慢。希望下一集有出色的表现。
  10. Knighthawk81
    Aug 17, 2015
    8
    David Simon is an incredible storyteller. And he also focuses on important stories. "Show Me A Hero," the new six-hour miniseries for HBO, fits both those categories. It's the true story of the city of Yonkers and its battle with the courts over building low-income and affordable housing in more affluent neighborhoods, and the young mayor caught in the crossfire. The first two episodesDavid Simon is an incredible storyteller. And he also focuses on important stories. "Show Me A Hero," the new six-hour miniseries for HBO, fits both those categories. It's the true story of the city of Yonkers and its battle with the courts over building low-income and affordable housing in more affluent neighborhoods, and the young mayor caught in the crossfire. The first two episodes played like a slow burn -- building the world and the characters. I can't wait to see where this is going.… Expand
  11. Bo33y
    Sep 2, 2015
    0
    Thinking of Oscar nominations. I would watch films possibly like Crash showing interconnecting people and themes, or politically Mr Smith goes to Washington. Where any issues raised emotionally bring out a great story, out of award winning content.

    What I don't watch is another pretentious series that thinks to associate itself with issues plaguing society today. A series that comes    Thinking of Oscar nominations. I would watch films possibly like Crash showing interconnecting people and themes, or politically Mr Smith goes to Washington. Where any issues raised emotionally bring out a great story, out of award winning content.

    What I don't watch is another pretentious series that thinks to associate itself with issues plaguing society today. A series that comes across as all kinds of bling bling and phoney. Show me a Hero means what it says on the title. Meaning I want to understand how a 28 year old became the mayor. When I see those projects, I want to understand the people living there.

    I don't want to see two minute segments dedicated into nothing, jumping around everywhere, but are shown to be about what?

    This series starts out in a courtroom showing how the last mayor wasn't terribly competent on the issue raised concerning affordable housing. He fails to connect. Our hero in the opening sceen, and every later sceen regarding his position in public office, does nothing, says nothing, he intsead stares dreamy at the camera.. Any sceens that are shown last about a minute each before jumping onto the next. Later on there is a public debate, also showing anger from the public and the mayor to be quite disconnected. The mayor also asks his councilors for their vote of support on this issue, when he starts losing some votes and when he is pressed by the court for decisions.

    The mayoral campaign is shown with our "hero" handing out about 5, or so leaflets outside of a supermarket. He helps a lady carry her shopping, hoping to give her a leaflet. He complains at how far he has to walk., but he drives a car.. He successfully hands out other leaflets mostly to his own age group of peers. Previously he was supported by somebody offering the sum of 40 grand to support his campaign. There was no real lobbying seen, or any real message of campaigned policies.. The leaflets he had typed himself, lazily punching a single key before giving up. He tries copying his own leaflets. He has a friend helping him with his campaign who is around the same age. He is shown getting later support when a young adult shakes his hand, telling him, he will get his kin to vote. The mayor also shakes his hand wishing him luck with his campaign.. However what we actually see him doing most of the time, is him flirting with a secretary. The secretary offers to copy 300 more leaflets for him, because other staff at city hall won't support him running against the mayor. When he was talking with his friend in a diner about his campaign, it was spent largely talking about girls. He gives the secretary a ride home, kissing her, she offers to help him with getting pickets set up. Later on pickets magically appear everywhere within the mayor's district. In city hall he kisses the secretary. Than it jumps to a pub or somewhere serving drinks, he is with his girlfriend and his friend. He has just won being the mayor by starring at a TV. The relationship he with his girlfriend the secretary, in opinion was quite creepy and juvenile, fumbling eyeballs constantly half giggling smirks. She didn't want to kiss him, but no definitely meant yes, twice, in the car and than again in a public place city hall flustering her, causing him to be late to a meeting. In the meeting he gives excuses, a meeting that couldn't care too much about,.

    We see glimpses of other segments given about a minute each, before jumping around. In the projects there are some youth dope dealers, and a single mom wanting more for her children and her child minder. The mom was a carpenter struggling to get a raise, so instead she has to move out of her tenement block. The mom was saying that she couldn't afford much, but she was eating 5 different vegetables in the family feast, and her children are seen leaving their toys behind. The dope dealers are flashing lots of cash, even thinking about buying diamond rings, typically slagged everybody off, including the mayoral staff walking on their turf.

    I really don't know what I have watched in the opening episode putting me off this entire series. A series I consider to be absolutely pretentious and meaningless, showing me nothing and hasn't really manage to connect to the offered themes. I am annoyed that it jumped around everywhere constantly,, but has left me with little empathy, or any real concern. I wanted to understand how a smart and talented 28 year old supposedly the "hero" managed to become the mayor? I didn't want to see some dreamy eyed charmer magically getting elected, every..

    Jokes almost always lost in some kind fo correctness. It seemed some people considered Yonkers something else, slurred from any dutch?

    I thought why not make a better go of it this final time.    … Expand
  12. WillfromSF
    Sep 13, 2015
    3
    Started off like it was laying the groundwork for a great mini-series and I assume that was why the critic reviews were so high. But oh did it disappoint in the later episodes as it just kept doing the same acts over and over. Wasiksco became a bore and his constant angst about his political career an even bigger bore. The characters were rigid, stereotyped, and there was very littleStarted off like it was laying the groundwork for a great mini-series and I assume that was why the critic reviews were so high. But oh did it disappoint in the later episodes as it just kept doing the same acts over and over. Wasiksco became a bore and his constant angst about his political career an even bigger bore. The characters were rigid, stereotyped, and there was very little development of plot and characters. Sorry I wasted six hours on this.… Expand
  13. stevesf
    Sep 19, 2015
    0
    As a superfan of the Wire I was expecting so much. But then I adjusted me expectations much lower. And I was still disappointed. Were we supposed to find the lead character compelling?? Or for most of the other characters for that matter?? I can truly say that it was a waste of over 6 hours of my life. Do not waste your time. Hands down the least satisfying long form television I've everAs a superfan of the Wire I was expecting so much. But then I adjusted me expectations much lower. And I was still disappointed. Were we supposed to find the lead character compelling?? Or for most of the other characters for that matter?? I can truly say that it was a waste of over 6 hours of my life. Do not waste your time. Hands down the least satisfying long form television I've ever had to endure. And I am very patient usually as a viewer.… Expand
  14. Justinavery7074
    Oct 2, 2018
    8
    David Simon succeeds yet again. Oscar Isaac is great, all the story lines are great

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Best TV Season of 2015
99
#99 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
  1. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Emily Nussbaum
    Aug 24, 2015
    80
    Well cast, solidly structured, and emotionally stirring, the show is as sincere as the Bruce Springsteen songs that make up its score, a ballad of pragmatism with a passionate heart.
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  2. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Colin Fitzgerald
    Aug 20, 2015
    90
    Not only does Show Me a Hero deal with the same type of intricate institutional power struggles of city government--this time in 1987 in Yonkers, NY, where a battle over the desegregation of low-income housing is waged with newly elected mayor Nick Wasicsko (Oscar Isaac) caught in the crossfire--but it does it with the kind of nuanced, ensemble-driven, character-based stories that made The Wire one of the most acclaimed television series of all time.
    Read full review
  3. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Mark Peikert
    Aug 20, 2015
    80
    For the most part, Show Me a Hero revels in small, telling moments that say as much about human nature as how the American people perceive politics and politicians.
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