The Goodwin Games
FOX | Release Date: May 20, 2013
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
57
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews
Positive:
7
Mixed:
8
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
PopMattersMarisa LaScalaMay 20, 2013
Season 1 Review: Instead of wink-winking at the audience about its own cleverness, The Goodwin Games mostly keeps things moving along at a snappy pace, with jokes as well. When the show gets too pleased with its own eccentricity, though, it becomes grating. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesMary McNamaraMay 20, 2013
Season 1 Review: Equal parts stupid and sweet, The Goodwin Games does not appear to be built for the long haul. Read full review
50
Slant MagazineMike LechevallierMay 16, 2013
Season 1 Review: The Goodwin Games isn't a sophisticated comedy by any means, and memorable quips are few and far between, but its overall lightheartedness manages to save it from becoming completely dull. Read full review
50
VarietyBrian LowryMay 15, 2013
Season 1 Review: It’s only too bad the writers (Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Chris Harris) don’t start by grounding their charges with a little more humanity; instead, the trio proves so mismatched and exaggerated as to have a very long way to reach any sort of common ground. Read full review
40
Philadelphia InquirerDavid HiltbrandMay 20, 2013
Season 1 Review: The writing is clever and crisp at times, but there's little chemistry among the actors. And the premise is contrived and confining. Read full review
40
Boston GlobeMatthew GilbertMay 20, 2013
Season 1 Review: The Goodwin Games isn’t awful, really, but it might have made a better light-hearted movie than a weekly series. The concept is so limited, it gets very tiresome very fast. Read full review
40
New York Daily NewsDavid HinckleyMay 20, 2013
Season 1 Review: It has funny moments. It’s just not a game we’re likely to want to keep watching. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineMatt RoushMay 20, 2013
Season 1 Review: The "games" in the pilot include a specially designed version of Trivial Pursuit where all the questions reveal aspects of this unhappy clan's back story. That's as clever as Goodwin gets, and except for Newton's daffy sparkle, there's no real incentive to play along. Read full review
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