The Sinner

:

Season 3
  • Network: USA
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 2, 2017
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
4.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 60 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 60
  3. Negative: 27 out of 60
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User Reviews

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  1. sandycirks
    Mar 20, 2020
    1
    I loved the Sinner the first 2 season, the 3rd is just bad. I have forced myself to keep watching thinking it would get better. It is not good or interesting, confusing, you don't know what dreaming or what is real and it is just not done well Not worth my time watching I have tried over and over, but will not continuing the last 2 episodes
  2. Lbcmoe
    Mar 28, 2020
    2
    Like most people I myself proclaim that the first two seasons made for great television. Fantastic character development mixed with superb storytelling. I caught the first 2 season on Netflix and kicked myself a lot wondering how I missed this show. When I heard that there would be a season 3 I asked “how could they top what was achieved the first two times around.” Fast forward to theLike most people I myself proclaim that the first two seasons made for great television. Fantastic character development mixed with superb storytelling. I caught the first 2 season on Netflix and kicked myself a lot wondering how I missed this show. When I heard that there would be a season 3 I asked “how could they top what was achieved the first two times around.” Fast forward to the premier of this season and I thought it had some promise. I love Matt Bomer in AHS and White Collar so I knew he could bring some great character work to the small screen. We all know that Bill Pullman captivated us with his performance in the last 2 seasons so I knew his portrayal will be up to par if not better since he’s had a couple of years to develop the character. Somewhere between episodes 3-4 the show came off the rails a bit. The story telling was a bit of a mess and the back and forth from past to present didn’t make a whole lot of sense. I was mesmerized with the story telling in seasons one and two and to be honest this story was not at all gripping. I was vested in all the characters but Jamie was too hard to take in. I felt nothing while watching the story unfold. Now I know it was about a man going down that rabbit hole of “sin” and never looking back but I just didn’t get it. I also felt that Det Ambrose seemed like a tired shell of himself but it was way too much doom and gloom. Yes I get that the two characters had some sort of parallels between them but in the end I was bored and just couldn’t wait for it to STOP. If the show does get picked up for a season 4 I hope that we see some additional layers to Bill Pullman’s character then what was shown this time around.… Expand
  3. JustMoo
    Mar 30, 2020
    2
    We stayed with it until the end because the first two seasons were so good. Bill Pullman did what he could but the inconceivable actions of Harry were dull, plodding and nonsensical, the writing was lacking. A real let down
  4. mistaoononymous
    Jun 22, 2020
    0
    It is hard to out into words just how poor this season is. The extreme angst ridden main character comes across as a murderous stroppy emo teenager. I honestly couldn't stop watching it as it's so bad it's almost entertaining.
  5. Sunflower67
    Apr 13, 2020
    3
    I loved the first 2 seasons but this one was just bad. Very slow, not much story at all, almost unwatchable. Matt Bomer gave a stunning performance--he should win an award for this. And Bill Pullman is always great. Good performances all around--just weak writing.
  6. Jkozza93
    Jun 20, 2020
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First things first - brilliant acting! Loved the casting, they all performed extremely admirably. The writing, however.. yeesh. I wonder what the actors think when they're going through a script. While I love that this season challenges "traditional masculinity" and shows the leading men as more than heroes, and shallow in regards to the extent of their emotional capability.. I truly could not understand the romanticizing, the genuine fascination and the need to understand a complete narcissistic, delusional, socio and psychopath. It was so out of character for Det. Ambrose to empathize with a killer, in particular, one that murders his captain and kidnaps his grandchild no less. Just bizarre. Struggled to stick with it. This season pales in comparison to 1 & 2.… Expand
  7. MacMula
    Jun 21, 2020
    1
    I loved seasons 1 and 2, but season 3 was just awful! It was a challenge to watch until the end. Dull plot, cheesy dialog, an overall bad experience. If there's a season 4, I'll pass.
  8. Bitash
    Feb 19, 2021
    1
    I wanted to like this, as well as the actors acted, the story line was so unnecessarily dark and kind of predictable, i lost interest and used it as noice while we were eating dinner. Booooring! And I have to say, Hollywood again pushing biracial couple thing way too much. It’s constant.
  9. bhappenstance
    Feb 8, 2021
    1
    Bill Pullman is terrific as always, and the cast overall is talented and game. But the plot just isn't here this season. The first few eps have a great momentum, and then it's as if the writers had no idea where to take the characters or how to pay off the story. This might be a case of too much theme over too little substance, but it makes for an extremely aimless and disappointing secondBill Pullman is terrific as always, and the cast overall is talented and game. But the plot just isn't here this season. The first few eps have a great momentum, and then it's as if the writers had no idea where to take the characters or how to pay off the story. This might be a case of too much theme over too little substance, but it makes for an extremely aimless and disappointing second half of the season. After two stellar seasons, The Sinner totally loses steam this round. Not necessarily pointless, but definitely boring.… Expand
  10. Extpert
    Jun 23, 2020
    0
    It is very poor season 3 you have to admit it. Watched only because season 1 was great season 2 ok. It is going down the hill.
  11. Chrisjohngay
    Jun 30, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So many errors makes this by far the worst of the 3 series. Totally Ridiculous really… Expand
  12. Tamgranger
    Jul 4, 2020
    2
    Totally over the top and unbelievable. Ambrose weird facial expressions, allowing a known murderer to be free, inaccurate police action or rather inaction. Stupid characters aplenty.
  13. FlashHarry
    Jul 11, 2020
    1
    If you are looking for mystery then you will be disappointed as everything is revealed very early with no twists. If you are looking for a smart or profound story then you will also be disappointed as this is a r/Iam14andthisisdeep story
  14. Gazzle71
    Jul 13, 2020
    0
    Awful. After the first two were quite addictive, this one has not held me once. In fact as I got near the end I was glad for the credits to roll. It’s too drawn out. What takes place over 8 episodes could of been done far better in 3 or 4. It’s trying to be too existential in mood, but it fails. It tries to be dark, but is just plain boring. The acting is good, the production is good, theAwful. After the first two were quite addictive, this one has not held me once. In fact as I got near the end I was glad for the credits to roll. It’s too drawn out. What takes place over 8 episodes could of been done far better in 3 or 4. It’s trying to be too existential in mood, but it fails. It tries to be dark, but is just plain boring. The acting is good, the production is good, the cinematography is good but it just fails.… Expand
  15. Blondie1966
    Jul 23, 2020
    1
    I wish I’d been as smart as one of the other reviewers and just stopped watching. Unfortunately, I enjoyed the first two seasons so much, I would have watched season 3 anyway, even if I’d read the bad reviews beforehand. Let this serve as a warning to anyone reading this who is planning to watch season 3. It was so bad I was compelled to create an account specifically to warn otherI wish I’d been as smart as one of the other reviewers and just stopped watching. Unfortunately, I enjoyed the first two seasons so much, I would have watched season 3 anyway, even if I’d read the bad reviews beforehand. Let this serve as a warning to anyone reading this who is planning to watch season 3. It was so bad I was compelled to create an account specifically to warn other potential vict..viewers. Each episode just got worse. The writing was bad and the supposed connection between Harry and Jamie was so unbelievable, that it made their onscreen interactions either boring or just ridiculous. I kept checking to see how much time was left in the last episode and there were times that I just didn’t think I’d make it. I’ll need some serious convincing to watch season 4 if there is one after this mess. With all that said, if you’re reading this and haven’t watched season 1, do yourself a favour and watch it. Great writing, great acting and just great tv.… Expand
  16. otocan
    Aug 22, 2020
    2
    Loved the first two seasons so watched this one to the end despite wanting to give up around episode 4 or 5. Earlier seasons centered around people who had committed terrible crimes and we got to peel away the layers of mystery until we revealed the innocence underneath. This time around we have Jamie: an entitled, narcissistic, whining yuppie who is unhappy because his life with well paidLoved the first two seasons so watched this one to the end despite wanting to give up around episode 4 or 5. Earlier seasons centered around people who had committed terrible crimes and we got to peel away the layers of mystery until we revealed the innocence underneath. This time around we have Jamie: an entitled, narcissistic, whining yuppie who is unhappy because his life with well paid rewarding job and loving, pregnant wife is just TOO perfect. Want to watch a grown man spout edgy teenage quotes about how everyone apart from him is too scared to look death in the face? I hope so because that's the **** we get to put up with for the the next eight episodes!
    I never once bought into the parallels that supposedly existed between him and Harry, an aging and isolated police detective. This season hinged on their relationship and I never understood why they had one. Additionally, he (Ambrose) does not act like a consistent character and makes all sorts of decisions that don't make any sense (so do all the other characters for that matter).
    Not sure I'll watch a fourth.    … Expand
  17. Pickem
    Oct 18, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Don’t bother with this season. The plot quality dropped off dramatically from Season 2. Season 3 is basically angsty middle-aged man as rebel without a cause and turns to murdering. Because it’s hard to empathise with the main character, it’s hard to stay engaged with the season, aside from sheer curiosity about how it all ends. The episode-to-episode cliffhangers are still pretty good... maybe by necessity as otherwise viewers would drop off after 2-3 episodes.

    I saw a critic review that said this season deals with toxic masculinity. This critic has a weird conception of stereotypical toxic masculinity— the main character proudly admits to his wife that he had a homosexual relationship with his college friend who he bonded with over philosophy. Toxic masculinity ? Sure....    … Expand
  18. HurricaneEffect
    Feb 9, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Another absurd example of a PC culture gone mad--to the detriment of the show. Everyone has complained about the relationships being implausible, the tired, lonely Detective, etc. So I'll just re-cap a few of the obviously intentional social justice points that now dominate and ruin more shows and movies than not:
    1. He's a teacher at an all-girls private school--helping his naturally highly-gifted mixed-race student get into an Ivy League school. Her parents are black mother, white dad. The teacher gets called on the carpet because the student dared state she had challenges with depression--and God Forbid she seem "weak" to gain an edge (from the black mother). Affirmative Action and her being a minority already guaranteed her a place in ANY school, but it was a nice touch given that the SJW's have been exploiting weakness, mental illness, and the like as badges of honor for sympathy for years now. (which was what made it absurd).

    The white guy has a black wife (naturally).
    They go to their friend's house for a meal--a black gay man and his super white "honey"--busy raising their brilliant toddler and being perfect parents. Of course they were both highly intelligent, cultured, well-spoken and well-read.

    By the 3rd episode, as the teacher is questioning his way of life--he asks his pregnant wife if she is really comfortable bringing another life into this world "just to die" when they don't even know what happens after death or if there is a God.
    She tells him that what he is saying is "privilege"--and "you know who doesn't have privilege? Her Jamaican father, who worked 60 hours a week hauling cement."
    He replies, "So I can't have a moment because I'm white?" --and that's about the truth of it. We've now reached a point where even having an existential crisis and taking a moment to reflect on our existence, whether or not it has meaning, the role we play as parents, or even speculating over whether or not there is a Higher Power is now nothing except "privilege" for white people. Ya know, because whites are so well-to-do and have so many advantages to being alive in Western nations that they just sit around thinking about life, they never struggle, they never work hard, they never have hard lives, they never work physical labor jobs, and they never have to struggle.

    There's also plenty of other garbage--like the teacher telling his wife that he fooled around with his dead buddy once in college and it "didn't work for either of them"--and of course his super evolved wife found it "hot".
    Weird, liberal points of view that serve no purpose other than to be intentionally inserted to make sure people hear them--and you either have to agree or you're just a narrow-minded bigot, naturally.
    Hitler, Neitche, it's all there. All the liberal propaganda. It's hard enough to swallow that I have no desire to even finish the show--which isn't a compelling enough storyline to even bother. If I want to hear about Toxic Masculinity it's being pushed everywhere else. I'll just choose other programs--pre-2015, which is where we apparently need to go to JUST be "entertained" without the lectures.
    So why does it matter? It's just entertainment, after all.
    Well, it SHOULDN'T matter--that's the point.
    But once again, when the creators of such shows make it a very direct and INTENTIONAL POINT to insert all the talking points, to intentionally choose the cast based on their identities and race--it's all SUPPOSED to matter. They intentionally make the cast interracial and so stereotypical it's almost comical.

    Truly--the first two seasons were fine--good enough that when I saw that the 3rd was out I wanted to watch it and was looking forward to a good binge.

    But if my "entertainment" must come with PC SJW lectures, I'll pass.
    There's a thing that people say: "I don't care who you sleep with, but keep it in your bedroom and don't shove it down my throat".
    That's where we are today: it's all being shoved down our throats--the SJW propaganda ruins everything.
    It's being so intentionally pushed with every casting decision, moral theme, and carefully constructed piece of dialogue it's just unbearable anymore.

    If everything had this much of a "right-wing", heterosexual, Conservative, or Christian POV--the Left would burn Hollywood to the ground.    … Expand
  19. mrscoopman
    Feb 20, 2021
    0
    I loved the first two seasons, and watched at least one episode a night consecutively of them. They were mysteries with very interesting characters, good intelligent plot twists, and great acting.

    And then I started Season 3, and it was such an astonishingly horrible pile of garbage. The acting was good, but the writing and plot was so bad, the episodes were somewhere between funny    I loved the first two seasons, and watched at least one episode a night consecutively of them. They were mysteries with very interesting characters, good intelligent plot twists, and great acting.

    And then I started Season 3, and it was such an astonishingly horrible pile of garbage. The acting was good, but the writing and plot was so bad, the episodes were somewhere between funny and sad, and consistently unwatchable. The pacing of the show in Season 3 was so slow I fell asleep in a couple of episodes, but honestly it didn't matter because I was so not invested in the characters.

    Just watch Season 1 and 2, and then move onto another show -- or you will wish, like I did, to get the time I spent with Season 3 back.    … Expand
  20. Djb200
    Mar 7, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. All intrigue is spent by the fifth episode and so is any logic or believebility. The last three episodes are a drain and a struggle to get through as the absurdity is piled on in spadefuls, literally. And Bill Pullman's acting is stretched beyond the pale; all I can see is a confused and elderly Fred Madison still wondering what the heck is going on.… Expand
  21. TBall
    Oct 17, 2022
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Talk about jumping the shark! I stopped watching during the burial scene. Utter nonsense. A detective is going to let a murderer bury him? Never mind trusting a confession in his pocket? What person, let alone a cop, would agree to that? Seriously? Who wrote this script?… Expand
  22. s33c33
    May 8, 2023
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Plot isn't as good as the first two seasons. Trying to modernize Nietzsche and into a murder mystery. Jamie the try-hard anarchist supposedly brainwashed by the ideals of Nick. I took Sociology classes in college and the premise in this plot is too absurd and unbelievable. Real life villains (Nick brainwashing Jamie) who have been able to brainwash people into committing crimes have much deeper social aspects/situations than just "trying to feel alive". If the premise is supposed to be how serial killers feel alive when killing, then there are better documentaries/shows (maybe even Dexter). Supposed adrenaline junkies riding cheap sedans versus bikes? Supposed Private Equity guy who "reached" the top and can't feel anything - not riding a sports car to feel more adrenaline (was he really at the top in the first place)? These guys feel more alive standing on the edge of buildings. Why not show a scene of real Russian roulette if these guys are serious? Also the game of randomness via a Paper Fortune teller? Seriously? Odds for each outcome can be memorized and aren't fully random - another example of how underdeveloped the idea of this plot was. (The maker of the Fortune teller clearly knows each outcome!) Finally Harry...I feel bad for him trying to empathize with this plot. Gave it a 3 since the prod quality is decent.… Expand
  23. Flex78
    Oct 19, 2022
    0
    Season 3 is almost unwatchable. I disliked it from moment one, and of course they subtly pushed political narratives which added to my negative feelings towards it. The writing was awful, and it almost started to come across as comedic it was so bad. I mean, how is this the same series as the first two seasons?! Did the producers come in and say, “hey let’s scrap everything and start fromSeason 3 is almost unwatchable. I disliked it from moment one, and of course they subtly pushed political narratives which added to my negative feelings towards it. The writing was awful, and it almost started to come across as comedic it was so bad. I mean, how is this the same series as the first two seasons?! Did the producers come in and say, “hey let’s scrap everything and start from scratch guys! Oh and let’s hire third rate writers!” I also disliked the fact it involved NYC, as if we need another show taking place in NYC. (Insert eye roll) The charm of the first two seasons is that it took place in the Hudson Valley. Beautiful backdrops of lush green hills... great cinematography.... Season 3 was beyond dull. Season 1 is by far the best season out of the first 3. Beils performance was fantastic, the writing(for the most part) was fantastic and the general feel of the show generated intrigue. I *strongly disagree with those saying, season 2 was the best. The boy cast as Julian was obnoxious as an actor, and looked more like an Israeli merchant than anything related to either parent or the adopted Mom. The plot of season 2 was also ridiculous, and as someone who is from that area of NY, I can assure you nothing like that exists. Washington State, maybe ... but Hudson Valley NY? No. I am hoping season 4 redeems ... but if not, I am putting this show down for good.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Steve Greene
    Feb 6, 2020
    83
    These new episodes show how both the construction of the character and Pullman’s performance are a foundation worth building on again and again.
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  2. Collider
    Reviewed by: Diane Gordon
    Feb 6, 2020
    80
    The Sinner quickly pulls you in with a riveting first episode and gets its hooks in you. The haunting ambience of the show seeps in slowly and runs deep. This season is graced with three strong leads in Pullman, Bomer and Messina and the chemistry between Bomer and Messina is obvious from their first scene together
    Read full review
  3. Paste Magazine
    Reviewed by: Allison Keene
    Feb 5, 2020
    88
    For drama fans (and crime drama fans in particular), The Sinner remains a very underrated anthology that always delivers a solid case with a great cast around it. It’s a good binge watch, but a worthy weekly exploration as well.
    Read full review
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