Surface

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 19, 2005
Metascore
39

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 23
  3. Negative: 12 out of 23
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Critic Reviews

  1. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    60
    Surface has no complex or cynical subtexts; it's straight-ahead sci fi.
  2. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Cynthia Fuchs
    60
    It helps that Bell is able to suggest complexity, emotional and moral, even when the dialogue fails her.
  3. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    60
    So far the stern-faced Lake Bell’s independent-minded oceanographer is too conventional a protagonist, while the series’ government cover-up thread... feels globally warmed over.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Dalton Ross
    58
    This by-the-numbers entry is pretty damn toothless. [23 Sep 2005, p.81]
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  6. Detroit Free Press
    Reviewed by: Mike Duffy
    50
    Lame storytelling and dialogue.
  7. The A.V. Club
    50
    Surface can be creepy fun, but the obvious debt it owes to the oeuvre of Steven Spielberg--from the hidden beasts and government stonewalling to the suburban angst and working-mom pluckiness--makes the rest of the show feel blandly familiar.
  8. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Sid Smith
    40
    Though relentlessly ominous, "Surface" is, so far, only good for surface scares.
  9. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Diane Werts
    40
    The pilot serves up flashy ooh-ah instead of anything tangible to wrap our arms around.
  10. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    40
    The most enjoyable moments go to the North Carolina boy (Carter Jenkins). It's too bad Surface didn't narrow its focus and become "A Boy and His Blob."
  11. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    40
    Interesting, but the sprawling pilot doesn't do "Surface" any favors.

Awards & Rankings

60
#60 Best TV Season of 2005
1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2005
41
#41 Most Shared TV Season of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 312 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 279 out of 312
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 312
  3. Negative: 28 out of 312
  1. JessTurner
    Mar 8, 2018
    10
    I really wanted to see where this went... but canceled. A good gem for the intrepid to unearth when they tire of the current crop of trash.
  2. rabaker07
    Apr 13, 2015
    0
    This show is awful. Unfortunate because there might have been something there, but the writing and acting are so horrifying that the show isThis show is awful. Unfortunate because there might have been something there, but the writing and acting are so horrifying that the show is actually hard to watch.… Full Review »
  3. Tss5078
    Feb 2, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Long before creating The Event, the Pate brothers had another show on network TV, Surface. The premise of the show was different and I think people really would have gotten into it if not for the way the show was presented.

    All over the world, people are suddenly seeing sea monsters. The United States Government tries to cover it up, passing the creatures off as a hoax, but that's not good enough for marine biologist, Laura Daughtry (Lake Bell), who is almost killed by one on a deep sea expedition. Together with a scuba expert, who lost his brother, they investigate these creatures, and try to prove just how real they are. At the same time, a young boy in suburban North Carolina has discovered a baby sea monster and has decided to train it and keep it as a pet, leading to some pretty funny and outrageous moments.

    The way this show was presented was really strange and problematic. For 12 episodes, the series just runs around in circles, with the group trying to prove the existence of the mysterious creatures, the government trying to cover up the creatures existence, and this young boy who has decided to keep one as a pet. It isn't until episode 13 where things finally start to take shape. It takes 13 episodes before we even learn about the vast conspiracy behind the whole thing and that's when things really get interesting.

    The sea creatures and special effects were cool, but I'd imagine that most people got bored with it after a few episodes, the way I did. Why not bring in this mysterious group and conspiracy sooner and add a little intrigue to the show? If they had, maybe people would have seen Surface as something more than a badly scripted show, hiding behind it's special effects.

    Lake Bell, an actress I've never really liked, stars as the marine biologist, and was beyond fantastic. This could have easily been a career defining role for her, had the show lasted. Bell is paired with former child star, Jay Ferguson, who I would have been fine with if not for his awful and completely annoying New Orleans accent. Finally, the cast is rounded out by young Carter Jenkins, a kid who has made somewhat of a name for himself. After the excitement of the sea creatures and special effects wore off, it was Jenkins antics with little nimrod that kept the show watchable. Jenkins was terrific and if it wasn't for this angle of the show, I probably wouldn't have even made it to 13 episodes.

    Surface was a show with potential, but the writers waited far to long to release their bombshells and conspiracies, leading to an audience that tuned out after a couple of episodes. Thankfully, the Pate brothers learned from their mistakes and came back with The Event, a terrific show that gained a cult following. While The Event didn't make the cut either, it was certainly much more enjoyable than Surface ever was.    … Full Review »
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