• Network: IFC
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 8, 2015
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15

Critic Reviews

  1. Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Jul 7, 2015
    60
    The Spoils Before Dying requires some time and in return offers some rewards.
  2. Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Jul 8, 2015
    58
    Spoils takes its murder mystery too seriously. While this isn’t as dour an affair as Ferrell and Wiig’s recent Lifetime debacle, “A Deadly Adoption,” a little bit more nuttiness would make this mini more a treat and not so much an endurance challenge.
  3. Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jul 7, 2015
    50
    There are, admittedly, some funny bits strewn throughout--Michael Sheen delivers one of the better moments--but even at a little over two hours of actual screen time minus commercials, this feels as padded as Ferrell’s well-stuffed wardrobe.
  4. Reviewed by: Mark Peikert
    Jul 8, 2015
    40
    Most characters are reduced to a single joke repeated endlessly, under the assumption that the repetition of words or phrases constitutes comedy.
  5. Reviewed by: Keith Uhlich
    Jul 7, 2015
    40
    Despite the occasional laughs, though, this is still a one-note premise stretched excruciatingly thin.
  6. Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Jul 4, 2015
    40
    This three-hour miniseries from Will Farrell and some of his Saturday Night Live buddies is a send-up of 1950s film-noir that more closely resembles another classic Hollywood product: an overinflated boob job.
User Score
4.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 10
  2. Negative: 4 out of 10
  1. Jul 19, 2015
    0
    TantricSky has it right. What's so sad is that the first set of these shows, "The Spoils of Babylon," was so so funny. It was one of myTantricSky has it right. What's so sad is that the first set of these shows, "The Spoils of Babylon," was so so funny. It was one of my favorites.

    And then... What happened?

    I guess they didn't realize that "Babylon" was so funny because everyone played it straight, as if they were in a drama and not in a comedy. Whoever was responsible for season 1, bring that person back, he or she knew how to do it.
    Full Review »
  2. Jul 9, 2015
    0
    Wow I'm truly astonished that this got any positive reviews, I couldn't make it past 10 minutes in. Maybe if it was speeded up to "Airplane"Wow I'm truly astonished that this got any positive reviews, I couldn't make it past 10 minutes in. Maybe if it was speeded up to "Airplane" pace so the dead jokes went by quickly. I think the lesson here is that just 'cause your Mom tells you that you are fantastic comedy writer, it ain't necessarily so. Full Review »