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CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION | ||
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Positive:
6
Mixed:
13
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews
ColliderFeb 21, 2025
The Daily BeastAug 1, 2022
Season 1 Review:
A a surprisingly fun and engaging game of Clue. ... Surface has the deliciously engaging, nail-biting episodic structure of a suspenseful primetime soap you would’ve watched on ABC in the mid-2000s. The series is also bolstered by an ensemble of captivating performances.
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Jul 29, 2022
Season 1 Review:
In general West has wisely borrowed a page from British thrillers that don't try to do too much and focus instead on giving discerning audiences what they tuned in for. The only criticism after watching the first three episodes is that Surface already feels one episode too long.
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The PlaylistFeb 28, 2025
Season 2 Review:
West’s decision to expand the scope of the characters here creates a more propulsive viewing experience. Instead of the repeated shots of Sophie running through San Francisco that felt like filler, for example, we dive into the backstories of not only Eliza but also Quinn, their father and grandfather, as well as Grace. While this decentralizes Mbatha-Raw’s character, to a certain extent, it helps with the pacing of the show.
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Jul 29, 2022
Aug 8, 2022
Season 1 Review:
For the first two or three episodes of eight, the series is a reasonably entertaining game. ... By the second half of the series, though, the twists and turns of the game grew tedious, making the shallowness of the characters more obvious. I just wanted to get to the end already. Ultimately, “Surface” was half of a good time, leading to nothing especially satisfying.
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Jul 26, 2022
Season 1 Review:
It’s a pleasure to see this actor [Gugu Mbatha-Raw] at the center of the frame, even if everything around her isn’t quite up to snuff. ... “Surface” has a certain book-club-thriller breathlessless; its jaunty indulgence can be intoxicating in doses. But as a binge, the tendency to never settle for a whisper when a shout will do can grow exhausting.
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Jul 28, 2022
Season 1 Review:
Mbatha-Raw plays dress-up with stylish aplomb. She’s stranded, though, by the series’ lack of compelling supporting characters or performances. ... Don’t expect anything conclusive by the end of eight hours. And if you’re like me, don’t expect the finale to introduce anything to make you care about a possible second season.
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RogerEbert.comJul 26, 2022
Season 1 Review:
Instead of character development, creator Veronica West and her team (including producer Reese Witherspoon) are content to drag things out in a way that feels repetitive and shallow. These aren’t characters, they’re pawns on a board, and that would be fine with a few cheap thrills, but the game being played here is just too dull.
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