Surface (2022)

The exploration of identity and why we make particular choices ensure the framing of this series isn’t just a cheap gimmick and worth scratching beneath its shiny exterior.

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.

What Surface fails to understand is that it isn’t clever in its lack of clarity. Sure, revelations about Sophie’s previous memories shouldn’t be abundant. But giving nearly nothing to viewers, Surface makes a poor case for itself as anything but fluff TV.

"Surface," created by writer Veronica West ("Ugly Betty," "High Fidelity"), does a decent job of keeping us puzzled.

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.

Surface fittingly and ironically never really finds itself.

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.

There’s no sense of depth or attachment here, all is obvious and shallow and ultimately contrived. Again: Forgettable.

Only hardcore Mbatha-Raw fans might deem this drama worth watching, because outside of her, Surface is all splash and no depth.

Bogged down with a flat script and a formulaic story that moves at a snail’s pace, Mbatha-Raw is left floundering for the few scraps of nuance to be found in her character.

Surface is a paint-by-numbers psychological thriller.

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.

It's an "elevated soap opera" – Neighbours if it was given a massive budget and had all the fun sapped out of it. ... It just feels like, given Mbatha-Raw's talent and Apple's money, Surface could have been so much more.

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.