The Slap (2015)

As it stands now, The Slap may be one of the few American adaptations of a foreign program that actually works on the same levels as the original.

In the end, it’s all about the stellar cast and the insightful and sharp writing.

Irritating and fascinating, The Slap is unlike anything else on network TV.

The result is a depressing--if engrossing--rehash of arguments found every day online.

The best of The Slap feels like the jazz that Hector loves, riffing on themes instead of hitting them directly on the beat. It helps to have good to great performances all around.

Based on two episodes, it’s premature to give the show an unqualified endorsement. But it does represent the kind of drama that should appeal to a sophisticated palate if the ongoing quality justifies first impressions.

The Slap is rare TV, depicting the kind of drama viewers might find themselves caught up in. It’s nice to see a show shamelessly go about doing its manipulative business.

A sophisticated, suspenseful comedy of ill manners that seems much more like a Showtime or Netflix drama than a broadcast network offering.

The Slap has the complexity and subtlety that's hard to find in a lot of broadcast network programming, and it's to NBC's credit that they're taking a chance with a limited-run series we'd expect to find on cable.

A momentary lapse could lead to weeks of thought-provoking drama. The Slap echoes.

The slight overdose of hideousness and the faintly mocking narration by Victor Garber combine to sabotage our investment. Yet Quinto is strong, and most of the characters pique curiosity, even as they grate.

The two episodes sent to critics aren’t perfect, but their flaws (pompous introductory narration, a weak performance by Thurman, a handful of telegraphed cliches in the plot) are easily overlooked. Other performances, especially those of Quinto and Sarsgaard, are stunning in this provocative and surprisingly literate character-driven drama.

The Slap, a provocative new NBC drama, is a saga that gets under your skin. That doesn't mean it's a great show, but I imagine the issues it raises will spark plenty of spirited dinner-table chatter among those who see it.

Different and complicated, The Slap feels like something viewers might flock to on cable or Netflix.

If ever a show was made for hate-viewing, it’s The Slap.... Where The Slap will be going in subsequent episodes is unclear and, mostly, irrelevant. Any and all misfortune, however, will be warmly welcomed.