State of Affairs

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Nov 17, 2014
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
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User Reviews

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  1. TheKiddy
    Dec 20, 2014
    3
    The lead Catherine Heigl seems so uncomfortable and miscast, like a cheer leader pretending to be a spy or pretending to be an actress pretending to be a spy. I admit to not watching a whole lot of broadcast TV shows: I'm more of a cable kinda gal. But I am enthralled by Scandal and this is no Scandal -- and this character (as played) is no Olivia Pope.
  2. maeganbeth
    Nov 18, 2014
    1
    Ugh. I had such high hopes for this show. I couldn't even get through the episode. The show is poorly written and is boring and so predictable. The actors don't really bring anything to the table and the episode didn't accomplish much of anything.
  3. Darth_Slacker
    Nov 18, 2014
    1
    Dear God - Either Comcast has money to burn or NBC lost a bet? It's shortly put- a cliche'd jumbled mess. In a world of strong female TV characters: Olivia Dunham "Fringe", Liz Keen "The Black List", Lt. Mills "Sleepy Hollow", Jada Pinkett on "Gotham"- even the wise cracking girls from "2 Broke Girls" have more depth and service their narratives better than Heigl plays a CIA secret weaponDear God - Either Comcast has money to burn or NBC lost a bet? It's shortly put- a cliche'd jumbled mess. In a world of strong female TV characters: Olivia Dunham "Fringe", Liz Keen "The Black List", Lt. Mills "Sleepy Hollow", Jada Pinkett on "Gotham"- even the wise cracking girls from "2 Broke Girls" have more depth and service their narratives better than Heigl plays a CIA secret weapon for the 1st female pres.
    This entire event explodes all over it self pushing all these buttons with bells & whistles that it's disturbing to think NBC thinks viewers are this impressed by the visual & not the substance of what could make this experience something to sing about. The components are there. The production value is present. Sadly this pilot plays like a Facebook page saying "Do you like this?" an "You like this?" and here's this cliche' - No, No, no.

    BUILD me something! It's a Journey! Walk me through your narrative - it should be an organic unfolding of characters in conflict & resolutions NOT, glamourized fan-fiction about what you think certain people want to see. Even the popcorn comic book shows on the CW take the time to grow their conflicts & characters instead of just exploding & button pushing.

    This could have been a cool sister show to "The Black List" or given Heigl some new depth as an enigmatic actress but it really just seems to want to look good more than be about something. "Lost" was intentionally vague! but it pulled you in - This is in your face but gives you nothing but "look at this!" - which is fine but what if you want substance & not cliche'd offerings. Heigls easy to look at but they did nothing to get me to look past the fact that it's Heigl. 1st female Prez - ok but so what? make the show about her then - she at least didn't seem to think I was a an idiot.    … Expand
  4. alangee
    Nov 25, 2014
    1
    How bad can a TV drama be? Find out in State of Affairs. This show is a joke that takes itself far too seriously. It's all smoke and mirrors with no substance, no heart, no logic and totally unlikeable characters. And talk about "nepotism"! Heigl's character was engaged to the president's son. Holy unreal melodrama. I'm not sure which is worse, the acting or the writing. This has to be theHow bad can a TV drama be? Find out in State of Affairs. This show is a joke that takes itself far too seriously. It's all smoke and mirrors with no substance, no heart, no logic and totally unlikeable characters. And talk about "nepotism"! Heigl's character was engaged to the president's son. Holy unreal melodrama. I'm not sure which is worse, the acting or the writing. This has to be the worst new show of the year.… Expand
  5. docjohn
    Dec 1, 2014
    0
    Just because Madame Secretary is a hit, NBC decided they could do the same with K.H. Their attempt to compete didn't come close. Watched once and have not watched since.
  6. dbee
    Dec 8, 2014
    1
    What a pity that Catherine Heigel didn't hold on to her job with Grey's Anatomy... every since she left, her work, believability, and talent has gone down hill. She looks like a ditzy Barbie Doll on SOA. Pony tails? Hot pink lipstick? Seriously? She's 'playing at' being a DC political figure and it's **** boring, and full of cotton candy fluff. Ugh. Good luck with future gigs Cathy...
  7. talonps1
    Feb 3, 2015
    0
    Seriously, some series got canceled and this POS is made. If anything is ever true in hollywood it's this...TV and Movie execs are so drugged up and retarded they develop shows only people with limited intelligence truly enjoy anymore.

    Case in point, this show and the 600 million copies of CSI and Law & Order shows, absolutely pathetic.
  8. Pookster
    Dec 3, 2014
    1
    Nobody expected this to be good, or realistic; and by now, nobody expects much from Katherine Heigl as an actress. From that perspective, perhaps the show overachieves the rock bottom expectations for it. Still, even in the genre of Washingtonian fantasy, wannabe-wonk-porn shows like West Wing or The Newsroom, this is awful. I worked in DC for years, had friends working in the White House,Nobody expected this to be good, or realistic; and by now, nobody expects much from Katherine Heigl as an actress. From that perspective, perhaps the show overachieves the rock bottom expectations for it. Still, even in the genre of Washingtonian fantasy, wannabe-wonk-porn shows like West Wing or The Newsroom, this is awful. I worked in DC for years, had friends working in the White House, CIA, DOJ, State, Pentagon, and I'm not applying an expectation of "reality" to this, only that the fantasy stay within some cognizable bounds of plausibility. Even if you're going to make a show about vampires or werewolves, for example, viewers understand they're not "real" -- most do, I hope -- yet you have to stay within some bounds of the accepted context for your premises, right? This is simply bad, no way around it.… Expand
  9. dymond
    Dec 1, 2014
    1
    I knew I wasn't going to like this, I didn't even like the previews. Still, I gave it a chance, but I couldn't get through the first episode. Katherine Heigl doesn't work in this role.
  10. Thebuzz
    Dec 1, 2014
    1
    Wrong actors, script writer trying to imitate current events, NBC is so cheap they squeak, they ruined all their networks TV programs with bad scripts, cheap actors, to much SGI...SyFy was good now it's junk, an example of poor management, squeezing out every dollar, no quality at all...
  11. yinker
    Dec 2, 2014
    3
    I was indifferent about State of Affairs until i watched the third episode. The representation of the kidnapped chibouk Nigerian girls of the show and the characterization of the Nigerian Government to be afraid of the terrorist group and corrupt is too judgmental and insensitive. I like Katherine Heigl from Greys Anatomy and i was looking forward to the show because of her but now i don'tI was indifferent about State of Affairs until i watched the third episode. The representation of the kidnapped chibouk Nigerian girls of the show and the characterization of the Nigerian Government to be afraid of the terrorist group and corrupt is too judgmental and insensitive. I like Katherine Heigl from Greys Anatomy and i was looking forward to the show because of her but now i don't know if i want to continue watching the show.… Expand
  12. Flibbity
    Dec 3, 2014
    2
    I have always liked Katherine Hegel. That said, what happened? Her character is so stiff and angry with little or no saving graces. Too smug, too self righteous, too stiff. I'll watch a series because I like the character or admire the character, neither of these emotions are felt watching this show. It is ok to be strong and resolved but the likability factor is missing. Come onI have always liked Katherine Hegel. That said, what happened? Her character is so stiff and angry with little or no saving graces. Too smug, too self righteous, too stiff. I'll watch a series because I like the character or admire the character, neither of these emotions are felt watching this show. It is ok to be strong and resolved but the likability factor is missing. Come on Katherine, I know you can do better! Smile as though you mean it, not as though you want to bite someone's head off and spit it at the director! Show a little humanity!… Expand

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Nov 20, 2014
    50
    The show is modestly exciting, at the very least watchable, and has network-quality production values, though no discernible filmmaking personality to speak of.
    Read full review
  2. Under The Radar
    Reviewed by: Zach Hollwedel
    Nov 20, 2014
    55
    Heigl's serviceable, and the show's writing is fun enough that, as long as audiences don't expect the next great political thriller, State of Affairs could be a worthwhile way to spend the concluding hours of a Monday night.
    Read full review
  3. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Nov 18, 2014
    40
    State of Affairs is not quite a pulpy thrill ride, not quite an addictive melodrama and not quite a serious, searching drama.
    Read full review
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