State of Affairs

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Nov 17, 2014
Metascore
43

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 28
  3. Negative: 9 out of 28
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Critic Reviews

  1. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Nov 17, 2014
    37
    The episode being aired tonight is slightly better than the original pilot, which does mean the producers realized work needed to be done. They just haven't done nearly enough. An altered State, true, but a sorry one, still.
  2. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    Nov 17, 2014
    30
    Cluttered and implausible, the series premiere of NBC’s State of Affairs, hints at the show that could be engaging underneath the poor filmmaking and even more frustrating writing and performances.
  3. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Nov 17, 2014
    30
    NBC's disappointingly derivative State of Affairs [is] a clumsy and unconvincing star vehicle for a miscast Katherine Heigl.
  5. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Dorothy Rabinowitz
    Nov 17, 2014
    30
    Though Ms. Heigl does throw herself into those life-or-death presidential briefing decisions of hers--powers that could have been conceived only in the fantasies of desperate scriptwriters. They have much to be desperate about.
  6. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Diane Garrett
    Nov 17, 2014
    30
    The writing does no one any favors, failing even to make the most of Alfre Woodard as president.
  7. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Nov 14, 2014
    30
    A pilot that is, at best, flawed, and, at worst, messy-bad.
  8. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Nov 13, 2014
    30
    Everything about it feels TV-fake and contrived and throwing Heigl into the mix just heightens the sense that viewers are watching a high-glam actress pretending to be a top U.S. intelligence analyst.
  9. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Nov 12, 2014
    25
    You’ve seen it all before, done better at times, worse at others, and the presence of Heigl isn’t enough to make State of Affairs anything more than just another second-rate wannabe.
  10. Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Reviewed by: Mark Dawidziak
    Nov 17, 2014
    20
    This incredibly trite and preposterous series are serious about all the hackneyed twaddle lumbering and stumbling into view Monday night. Just when you think it can't get more laughably bad, it does.

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 69
  3. Negative: 21 out of 69
  1. ana_melinte90
    Dec 18, 2014
    10
    This show is great! And Katherine Heigl really managed to impress me with her performance on this one. I don't get why this show is rated so poorly...
  2. Jbingham
    Nov 23, 2014
    9
    I am eternally flummoxed by people who always expect a show to be something that it is not. Let's be very candid, "State of affairs" isn'tI am eternally flummoxed by people who always expect a show to be something that it is not. Let's be very candid, "State of affairs" isn't meant to be nothing more than CIA porn. If you expect it to be anything else you are going to be disappointed. That being said if you are looking for good CIA TV you are going to love the show. Katherine does a marvelous job of staying on top of her character and her supporting cast or what you would expect from a politically motivated drama. This may not be the best show on TV but it is included in my eight hours I have a lot myself per week. I think you will get a great viewing experience if you going to the show with the correct expectations. It seems like everyone wants to be wowed every minute of their day but this is classic entertainment.… Full Review »
  3. Lisa24
    Nov 19, 2014
    8
    Did you people who voted with such low numbers even watch the show? It wasn't Game of Thrones, bit it wasn't as bad as you made it out to be.Did you people who voted with such low numbers even watch the show? It wasn't Game of Thrones, bit it wasn't as bad as you made it out to be. It is far better than any reality show out there and better than 95% of the sitcoms. Katherine Heigl is not my favorite actress but she was fine. I think I need a little time to adjust because I am used to seeing her play less than brilliant characters. The story is actually quite interesting.… Full Review »
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