The Passion
FOX | Release Date: March 20, 2016
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
40
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews
Positive:
0
Mixed:
6
Negative:
3

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
New York Daily NewsJoe DziemianowiczMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: The two-hour show was a hodgepodge that never built momentum or drama. So this Passion aroused none. It was less than the sum of its parts. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyJeff JensenMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: It wasn’t the worst possible thing it could be, but it was also far from the best. Read full review
50
NewsdayVerne GayMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: This all felt too commercial, too slick, too “American Idol”-ized. The Passion is Christianity’s foundational story. This usually--also awkwardly and regrettably--felt like just another TV one. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesRobert LloydMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: One would say that on balance they were chosen for their singing, which was faultless, rather than their acting, which in some cases felt stiff even as it was obviously impassioned; on the other hand, the acting didn't take up much screen time. Read full review
40
Boston HeraldMark A. PerigardMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: Fox managed to turn the final hours of Jesus Christ into an extended “Today Show” concert. Except “Today” has never had so many taped segments. The bewildering sort-of-live production in New Orleans last night starred Tyler Perry as host and violated the cardinal rule of storytelling: SHOW, don’t tell. Read full review
40
The New York TimesMike HaleMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: The script written for the host and narrator, Tyler Perry, included some attempts to cast the city’s post-Hurricane Katrina history as a resurrection, but it was notable mostly for the wooden, studiously neutral way it told the story of Christ’s last days. Read full review
30
SalonSonia SaraiyaMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: As a production of television, The Passion’s main problem is that it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be--Christian “Glee,” Jesus-y “Romeo + Juliet,” or Tyler Perry’s megachurch concert extravaganza.... The real problem with The Passion: It was trying to engage a mainstream audience through pandering. Read full review
30
USA TodayRobert BiancoMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: It was well-sung, to be sure; it just wasn't well thought-out. Read full review
30
VarietyBrian LowryMar 21, 2016
Season 1 Review: A project that seemed to pander on multiple levels.... While Perry gave the assignment his all, what emerged was at times oddly sterile, such as the images of people in the live audience staring up at screens, watching Canela and others belt out pop tunes. Read full review
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