The River: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 91 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	Your Score
6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 91 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

ABC | Season Premiere Date: February 7, 2012

Starring: Paul Blackthorne, Bruce Greenwood, Leslie Hope

Summary: The search for explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) in the Amazon jungle by his family and friends is the focus of this series created by the writers of the "Paranormal Activity" movies.

Creator: Michael R. Perry and Michael Green and Oren Peli

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Horror

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Air Date: March 20, 2012
tbd
S1:E7. The Experiment
Air Date: March 13, 2012
tbd
S1:E6. Doctor Emmet Cole
Air Date: March 6, 2012

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Tom Gliatto

Feb 3, 2012

The scares are not as over-the-top as American Horror Story but more chilling because they're applied glancingly. [13 Feb 2012, p.44]

Ken Tucker

Apr 13, 2012

The performances are good but constrained by the parameters of scary-story acting. Read full review

Robert Bianco

Feb 7, 2012

A strong cast and that things-that-go-bump-in-the-night shooting style so far keep the show on course. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Feb 6, 2012

You have a series that cobbles together a pretty strong rooting interest. Read full review

Chris Heller

Feb 7, 2012

The series manages to serve up a legitimate fright or two, but it needs to slow down. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Feb 6, 2012

The River in comparison seems like stale tap water, unworthy of any prolonged big drink of time or effort. Read full review

Mike Hale

Feb 6, 2012

The mixture of "Lost" storytelling and "Paranormal" style is neither intriguing nor particularly scary, and it doesn't help that there's hardly a glimmer of humor. Read full review

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User Score

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6.2

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User Reviews

Arsenic_Touch

Feb 11, 2012

Was actually impressed with The River. I went into it expecting it to be the same 'ol. But I was pleasantly surprised. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Gaby1983

Feb 9, 2012

This show has a lot of potential, the premise is good, it just needs some time. The more and more I watched the more and more interesting it became. I do not get the critisism this is a good show, I hope it stays steady in the ratings next week, I hope people give it a chance because it isThis show has a lot of potential, the premise is good, it just needs some time. The more and more I watched the more and more interesting it became. I do not get the critisism this is a good show, I hope it stays steady in the ratings next week, I hope people give it a chance because it is something fresh. I am tired of the same old cop shows, tired concepts, etc. This just might work.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

kap

Mar 7, 2012

I absolutely am hooked by this show. Has a fair amount of tense moments as well as an addictive plot line. It has become my Tuesday night routine and will miss it after the season is over.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

AlexBugella

Mar 1, 2012

I have mixed feelings about this show. I didnt like how this is shoot like "found footage" , its really not because there are times where characters are alone and theres really about 4 different angles that are switched through when theres only 2 camera men. Anyway, the premise of the showI have mixed feelings about this show. I didnt like how this is shoot like "found footage" , its really not because there are times where characters are alone and theres really about 4 different angles that are switched through when theres only 2 camera men. Anyway, the premise of the show is that these people are searching for a guy who did this show in the wild and he mysteriously disappeared, and they uncover that there was more to his appearance, supernatural things. The story isnt very strong at all and the episodes are very disconnected since theres a different supernatural occurrence or entity in the wild. Other than that the episodes are sometimes interesting, although i havent been keeping up. Overall, Its a very "Meh" show and i dont expect it to get very far… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Bairdo

Feb 24, 2012

I wanted to like this one. In the first scene though, it's makers blew the realism big time. Mom enters a bar with a film crew, and within minutes (if not seconds), her son is opening his heart about how Daddy was never around. There's no hesitation whatsoever about describing theirI wanted to like this one. In the first scene though, it's makers blew the realism big time. Mom enters a bar with a film crew, and within minutes (if not seconds), her son is opening his heart about how Daddy was never around. There's no hesitation whatsoever about describing their dysfunctional relationship on camera - They go for in-your-face camera and hidden camera at once, making the scene awkward and unrealistic. They could have approached the family tension in far subtler and effective ways. Instead the introduction felt like a soad opera and they lost me. I'm very glad that there's actually enough quality TV out there nowadays, that I don't have to suffer through a show like The River, waiting for scraps of redeeming dialogue.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Blahsum

Feb 10, 2012

The comparisons between The River LOST are natural, but the two shows have little in common. LOST was shot nicer and had a more dedicated story arch. The River appears to be more of a 'adventure every episode' format. Comparisons with Supernatural are more apt, but it lacks the charm andThe comparisons between The River LOST are natural, but the two shows have little in common. LOST was shot nicer and had a more dedicated story arch. The River appears to be more of a 'adventure every episode' format. Comparisons with Supernatural are more apt, but it lacks the charm and scares of that show. The biggest let-down is the camera work, which does little to help the show. If anything, it hinders it. The River could have capitalise don its suspense more if it opted for a more traditional approach. But currently it is just painful to watch as the cameras give away obvious suspense moment (the camera man paradoxically never looks at what everyone else is staring at, mouths gaping, until the last second).

The River is an interesting idea and a fair premise: a light paranormal yarn that will scare anyone who can't stomach American Horror Story. But it still falls short.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Johnny_Dipp

Feb 26, 2012

I've seen episodes of Sesame Street that were more suspenseful than this show. The writing is vacuous and lacks any sense of humor. The acting is acceptable but unremarkable. The show simply moves way too fast for its own good. If you want to create legitimate scares, you must buildI've seen episodes of Sesame Street that were more suspenseful than this show. The writing is vacuous and lacks any sense of humor. The acting is acceptable but unremarkable. The show simply moves way too fast for its own good. If you want to create legitimate scares, you must build suspense, you must make your viewers care about the characters for them to care if they are in danger.

This was one of the worst premiers I've ever seen, don't waste 45 minutes of your life on it.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 39 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

65

Series Overview
Season 1

65
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 7, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E8. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
  Air Date: March 20, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Experiment
  Air Date: March 13, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E6. Doctor Emmet Cole
  Air Date: March 6, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E5. Peaches
  Air Date: February 28, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E4. A Better Man
  Air Date: February 21, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E3. Los Ciegos
  Air Date: February 14, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E2. Marbeley
  Air Date: February 7, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E1. Magus
  Air Date: February 7, 2012