The Mysteries of Laura

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 17, 2014
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 76
  3. Negative: 30 out of 76
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Buy on

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. Shananny
    Oct 1, 2014
    0
    Comparing this show to Moonlighting and Columbo is practically sacrilegious. The writers should have to study those series before they come up with another concept. And to say it's a comedy so we're not judging it correctly? Puhleeze! Is Castle a comedy or detective show? Rizzoli and Isles? Claiming it's a "comedy" is no excuse for lousy writing. There's nothing new in this show exceptComparing this show to Moonlighting and Columbo is practically sacrilegious. The writers should have to study those series before they come up with another concept. And to say it's a comedy so we're not judging it correctly? Puhleeze! Is Castle a comedy or detective show? Rizzoli and Isles? Claiming it's a "comedy" is no excuse for lousy writing. There's nothing new in this show except wasted minutes of my time on not-funny bratty kids. I love Deborah Messing and so wanted this to be well done. She's the only reason I watched the first two episodes but i won't be watching any more.… Expand
  2. erom1943
    Sep 24, 2014
    3
    The problem here is that they couldn't decide whether to make this a police crime drama, or a comedy. They tried mixing the two together, and came up with a mess. They took a very good comedic actress (Debra Messing), made her a super sleuth, smart mouth, genius detective....and at the same time, a scatterbrained, hyper active, child abusing, conflicted separated mother. It didn't work.
  3. Geofferic
    Sep 26, 2014
    0
    This show, The Mysteries of Laura, is garbage. Everything about it is bad. The dialogue is bad. The plot is bad. The pacing is bad. The WARDROBE is bad.

    If you make Debra Messing look and sound awful, you are an awful show runner.

    This is an abortion. AVOID at all costs.
  4. jlizada
    Sep 22, 2014
    3
    Based on the pilot:

    I'm sorry, but no. The Mysteries of Laura wasn't funny and there was no suspense, at all. The show doesn't offer anything new.

    There's a slight chance the show will get better with that 'twist' in the end of the pilot but it's hard to be optimistic based on the pilot episode.
  5. tvnewsguido
    Sep 18, 2014
    1
    "The Mysteries of Laura" is, quite frankly, unbelievably bad.

    In a world with "Fargo" and "True Detective" - hell even with stuff like "Bones" and "Castle" available - just don't "The Mysteries of Laura" ever.
  6. PennyPenny
    Sep 19, 2014
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Don't want to take the time to even attempt to get a search warrant? Break the law.

    Don't want to go to the trouble of finding a Pre-K that might help your very, very disturbed, one dimensional demons you have been saddled with as offspring? Try illegal record searches and extortion.

    Afraid those kids won't make it through the resulting interview? Drug them.

    Thinking some of this might have been funny given a great script or proper delivery? Maybe, but unfortunately this desperate, throw everything at the wall (including feces, urine and soup) and see what sticks dramedy fails the viewer. If you are expecting entertainment, or even mild amusement, then you will be left disappointed.

    This heavy handed show is self consciously disrespectful and clumsy in its attempt to wrap itself in the crumpled overcoat of Columbo. She's sloppy! See! She's eating days old food off her desk! See!? She's spilling soup on a cadaver! Soup! (Insert yucks here). Her desk isn't just messy or cluttered, it's filthy! See how Columbo-like she is?

    No. Columbo was a capable, rules following (called douche bags in this show), detective that methodically moved towards solving a mystery while being consistently underestimated by his suspects. He didn't break the law for his convenience or for selfish reasons or to "find a place to dump off my kids at 8 and pick them up at 5". He didn't chew cheesecake with his mouth open and use cadavers as tablecloths. Yet somehow we still got it. He was a slob.

    The world has moved on, but really, have we really lost so much that writers feel comfortable in skipping the whole mystery concept and instead offer up cliches, neon signs and outrageously over-the-top antics to make a point? The mystery concept here was abandoned in favor of attempts at humorous or shocking interactions between characters largely outside of the mystery's setting. We are treated to watching an unlikeable, callous, grossly selfish woman chew, snort, bully and stomp her way through a silly story. And not in a good way. She wants place to shelve her children. This insult to working Moms everywhere was a bitter disappointment.

    I wanted this to be a fantastic show. A few minutes in I was hoping it could be an okay show, then a not-awful show, but in the end I fear it is not even a salvageable show. Though it may make a comfortable addition to a compost pile.    … Expand
  7. BogKid
    Sep 17, 2014
    1
    NBC! Are you kidding me? Someone slipped a grammar school writing project onto the programmer's desk and he bought it? This juvenile show is an insult to just about everyone. I tried to be fair and stick through with this thing to the end. II almost did, but sheer disgust forced me to click on the ERASE button a few minutes before the end. I probably missed the best part of the showNBC! Are you kidding me? Someone slipped a grammar school writing project onto the programmer's desk and he bought it? This juvenile show is an insult to just about everyone. I tried to be fair and stick through with this thing to the end. II almost did, but sheer disgust forced me to click on the ERASE button a few minutes before the end. I probably missed the best part of the show -- the credits, listing the brave, but clearly incompetent, people who put this thing on the air.

    Oh yes. I did not like "The Mysteries of Laura".    … Expand
  8. cdsmusicchart
    Sep 22, 2014
    0
    "The Mysteries of Laura" is a dramatic police procedural with a hint of "comedy" -- an intriguing recipe that is better left untouched.

    Characters are terribly bland, premise is completely cliche. It's surprising that this thing isn't already cancelled based on critical reception alone (it received a respectable 10.2 million viewers thanks to it airing after the season finale of AGT) --    "The Mysteries of Laura" is a dramatic police procedural with a hint of "comedy" -- an intriguing recipe that is better left untouched.

    Characters are terribly bland, premise is completely cliche. It's surprising that this thing isn't already cancelled based on critical reception alone (it received a respectable 10.2 million viewers thanks to it airing after the season finale of AGT) -- if its second episode posts a substantial drop in viewership, it will be pulled.

    To summarize: skip it. There are plenty of other shows that are much better (like the actually funny "Brooklyn Nine Nine").    … Expand
  9. martinex
    Sep 25, 2014
    3
    I love Debra Messing and hope she finds a vehicle worthy of her talent... Sorry Deb. This ain't it. The family comes off as over the top props (I did like the kid crime scene at the private school). I tried to look past that and concentrate on the cases but the show kind of revolves around her insane family life.
  10. thebestoftimes
    Sep 20, 2014
    3
    the mysteries of laura is a mess, there's nothing funny nor suspense about this show, debra messing who was so hilarious on will & grace (one of my all time favorite shows) is wasted here as a detective and single mom who with her ex-husband wants to check killers and more, the plot is silly, the characters are bland, the teleplay is a mess and the only good thing about is the title,the mysteries of laura is a mess, there's nothing funny nor suspense about this show, debra messing who was so hilarious on will & grace (one of my all time favorite shows) is wasted here as a detective and single mom who with her ex-husband wants to check killers and more, the plot is silly, the characters are bland, the teleplay is a mess and the only good thing about is the title, otherwise this is a real boring tv show and one of the worst tv of the year.

    I Give it a D.    … Expand
  11. machias
    Sep 28, 2015
    3
    The second season premiere revealed some cast changes that scream desperation. The new captain is way too icy for the vibe of the show, the bubbly Frankie is out. Laura's hot boyfriend is gone. The show feels way too crowded now and the vibe has gone too dark. I'd be surprised to see it last the slated 13 episodes. Sorry Laura, the show is too dark and too much like other stuff now. YourThe second season premiere revealed some cast changes that scream desperation. The new captain is way too icy for the vibe of the show, the bubbly Frankie is out. Laura's hot boyfriend is gone. The show feels way too crowded now and the vibe has gone too dark. I'd be surprised to see it last the slated 13 episodes. Sorry Laura, the show is too dark and too much like other stuff now. Your originality is gone.… Expand
  12. reellm
    Jun 22, 2015
    1
    1/5★ Well The Wire it aint. I like Debra Messing but not enough to like this mess. The writing is bad and the acting is worse. The Mysteries of Laura tries to be too many things and fails at all of them.

    Verdict: Skip
  13. Jlea
    Oct 18, 2014
    0
    Hello, I started watching an episode of Mysteries of Laura, but didn't stay long. The show is bland. Who thinks up this stuff? If it's supposed to be satire, it's got lousy delivery. Debra Messing? Machine gun spitting out dialog. Please find insightful people to write shows and use actors who know the difference between a sitcom and a drama. This generation is lame. Mysteries of LauraHello, I started watching an episode of Mysteries of Laura, but didn't stay long. The show is bland. Who thinks up this stuff? If it's supposed to be satire, it's got lousy delivery. Debra Messing? Machine gun spitting out dialog. Please find insightful people to write shows and use actors who know the difference between a sitcom and a drama. This generation is lame. Mysteries of Laura is no mystery, it stinks.… Expand
  14. Czarcasms
    Oct 22, 2014
    2
    The role of Laura might be cute if her kids weren't little monsters from Hell who never get punished for anything they do, if Laura didn't abuse her roll (returning a used swimsuit, yuck; lying to the neighbor about his broken window, no), and if the writer's used a bit more intelligence in the plot lines. Debra Messing is great with what's given her, but it will take more than her toThe role of Laura might be cute if her kids weren't little monsters from Hell who never get punished for anything they do, if Laura didn't abuse her roll (returning a used swimsuit, yuck; lying to the neighbor about his broken window, no), and if the writer's used a bit more intelligence in the plot lines. Debra Messing is great with what's given her, but it will take more than her to make this hot mess work.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
77
#77 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
37

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 28
  3. Negative: 13 out of 28
  1. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Michael Landweber
    Oct 1, 2014
    50
    Trapped in the hour-long drama structure, the half-hour sitcom that The Mysteries of Laura might long to be never finds its footing.
    Read full review
  2. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Diane Garrett
    Sep 24, 2014
    50
    Alas, some of the dialogue is extremely problematic, and the jokes tired.... but the action keeps moving, and there are enough glimmers of freshness to keep the show entertaining and warrant another viewing.
    Read full review
  3. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Sep 17, 2014
    20
    What a big mess, and what a disappointing waste of Debra Messing.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »