Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Utopia (2020) (2020)

6

BubberOct 6, 2020

On it's own it would not be too bad, however it's just another remake that fails to improve on the original. Go watch the original instead.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

Falling_ManSep 27, 2020

Even if this didn't have the original UK Channel 4 series to compare to, it would still come across as a middle of the road series aiming to be dark and edgy, but failing to actually pack a punch. While the timing is unfortunate, I don't holdEven if this didn't have the original UK Channel 4 series to compare to, it would still come across as a middle of the road series aiming to be dark and edgy, but failing to actually pack a punch. While the timing is unfortunate, I don't hold it against it, this iteration of the show was in gestation since 2014 long before the pandemic. But along side the state of the world we're in, a lot can change. It was originally supposed to be directed by David Fincher. And it probably needed somebody of his calibre who could really deliver a sense of style, originality, and tight craftsmanship.

While this hits many of the beats of the original UK series, it doesn't at all capture its essence. The original had a stark sense of style. The cinematography could only be described as a cross between David Fincher and Wes Anderson. It had sickly vibrant colour grading, and its eerie score by Cristobal Tapia Vermeer was almost a defining feature. This version looks like any standard show, sounds like any standard show, and only so often tries to be creative.

While the actors in this are likable enough, they all just seem like watered down versions of their originals, especially Jessica Hyde and Arby. I honestly had high hopes for it, and spent six years anticipating this series all the way through its bumpy ride full of twists and turns. In the end, just kind of landed with an unremarkable thud.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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4

klokwokSep 30, 2020

It is so mediocre and not even close to uk series. Visual design is meh.
Soundtrack is almost nonexistent.
And there are fillers.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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10

BelsonburSep 26, 2020

This show is surprisingly good. It has a lot of depth I think people are missing. Yes, it's very violent and shocking but with reason. If you can get passed the first few episodes the violence calms down and the story starts to fall intoThis show is surprisingly good. It has a lot of depth I think people are missing. Yes, it's very violent and shocking but with reason. If you can get passed the first few episodes the violence calms down and the story starts to fall into place. The motivations are quite compelling and the characters have a lot of room for growth. It is not a perfect show by any means but it stands on it's own, separate from the original. I've seen the original and they are two very different shows. They're both good in my opinion. Definitely give it a chance. It'd be a shame if it doesn't get a second season.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

BertitoBeibisSep 26, 2020

This show is too convoluted. The only likeable character is Rainn Wilson’s. Everything else just seems dine for the shock value or for the sake of having som edge. Terrible premise during pandemic times.

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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3

EamerSep 25, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Warning - Spoilers included for both this and the original British version.
Everything that made the original British version of Utopia special, intriguing and ultimately great is lost in this new version from writer, Gillian Flynn. The main thing that made the original show stand out so greatly was not just the story it created but through the visuals and the score, it was a stylised masterpiece. It was something we hadn’t seen before. This is not that. In Gillian Flynn’s own words, she wanted to make it “more gritty” and wanted to “Americanize” Utopia for the US audience and she’s certainly succeeded in that, but at the same time, she has, as mentioned taken away all of its wonder.

The introduction of new character Samantha adds absolutely nothing at all and when she is killed abruptly there is no sadness from either the audience or really from the rest of the cast. She dies and the reaction is not one of mourning but just a bit of shock. Honestly though, as mentioned she was a nothing character anyway. The show was trying to build her up as “the leader” but it just felt like they were stretching Becky’s original character across two characters instead and not leaving enough to make Becky interesting afterwards. Instead, both are barely a shade as interesting as the original character and ‘Deals Syndrome’ here is just a side-note. It may as well have not been mentioned.

But they don’t get much better from there. Rod (Lee in the original) is killed off early but again had no personality really as the show instead tries incredibly hard not to pull focus away from how excessively weird Arby is this time around. Arby in the original show is conflicted and simple-minded, easy to please and later builds his own life, grows, tries to have a family and saves them. Arby never gets that respect this time, instead being turned into a stereotypical Autistic man who has the voice of a serial killer and you’re never allowed to feel for him. He’s given no backstory.

Jessica, obviously the main character in the original is given a little more time than others here but Sasha Lane’s depiction of her is much like Arby’s. In the original, yes she is brutally honest, forward and knows she has to get things done right to save herself and the others but she also has an almost child-like innocence about her – A sense of wonder if you will. She is seeing things for the first time. She is experiencing love for the first time, she smiles, finds things funny and develops a relationship with Grant that’s almost like a big sister. Here, she is just brutal. Nothing else is given to her as a characteristic and it’s just weird when she splits from the rest of the group and they have an embrace in the final episode. None of them ever got that close to one another so what are they embracing for? They don’t like one another.

For some reason they’ve made Jessica’s story that she wants to find her daddy and go home rather than seek revenge and save people too. She’s selfish, yet cries her eyes out when she finds out daddy might be dead and that’s just so out-of-character it’s as weird as Arby.
Grant isn’t given enough time either but Alice is given far more. Wilson, I have fewer complaints about and Desmin Borges was a solid choice in his role, as was Rainn Wilson as Michael.

The main issue though outside of not caring about any characters, the wonderful score being a series of dulcet tones this time around and the visuals being unspectacular is that in this version of the show, the audience have no choice on what to believe. It isn’t until 42 minutes before the end that we’re told what the real reason behind the entire conspiracy is. We are given just 42 minutes of the near-eight hours to think about Dr. Christie’s world-saving sterilisation vaccine. In the original show we find this out around half-way through and it allows the audience to feel conflicted because we are given genuine reasons for it and enough information to allow us to truly think – what if?

And don’t get me started on John Cusack’s catchphrase, “What have you done today to earn your place in this crowded world?” – It is said SO MANY times that you just don’t care. I think Flynn thought this sounded edgey and cool or something but it just sounds awkward, clunky and becomes a catchphrase for the cult. I never want to hear that phrase again.

Ultimately, it’s predictable… We knew Colleen was on the bad guy’s side. We knew Dr. Christie was Mr. Rabbit. Milner was pointless in this version too. At the end of the series, you’re just left not really caring for anyone. Nobody is likeable except Michael and then he drives off into the sunset with an egg for some reason!

This is thankfully, just entirely forgetful and you can go back to the original and forget Gillian Flynn’s Utopia ever happened. She just doesn’t “get it” despite believing she did.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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4

Akira_Sep 26, 2020

This show is in itself barely tolerable and compared to the masterpiece original a disaster engineered by inept clueless clowns. The beautiful and original cinematography of the original? Replaced by bland random generic images. TheThis show is in itself barely tolerable and compared to the masterpiece original a disaster engineered by inept clueless clowns. The beautiful and original cinematography of the original? Replaced by bland random generic images. The intriguing score of the original? Gone. The show is dull and generic and crawls along in a boring way. It has clumsy exposition, wooden dialogue and a mythology that doesn't make any sense anymore. But most importantly, none of the characters make any sense. I'm okay with them being changed and "americanized". But they are boring and one-dimensional. They lack the depth and uniqueness of the original and are just unimaginative fillers to convey plot. The relationship between Jessica and the group is absurd. Arby is a joke. Did no one with minimal writing experience check this script before it went into production? The production value is great in this show, but it is all wasted. It would have worked if the Fincher deal had worked out, but the showrunner has no talent for this kind of show. She has no idea what she wants to say or how to say it. The show features a very interesting and unique mythology but it doesn't deliver. What a wasted opportunity.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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0

VicMillanTOct 3, 2020

Utter sh*t please don't watch it, it's a great series turned into a generic piece of american garbage, no idea why they keep butchering great shows with their adaptations, why not carring over the original one? or actually do somethingUtter sh*t please don't watch it, it's a great series turned into a generic piece of american garbage, no idea why they keep butchering great shows with their adaptations, why not carring over the original one? or actually do something original for once.
Remember the beautiful and unique cinematography? gone.
Memorable characters? byebye.
Amazing soundtrack? not even close.
I wish I never had listened about it or watched it, it's so wrong.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

UncleWillardSep 26, 2020

I dig it. Not a comic book person, but I get fandom. Love the cast and the first two episodes hooked me. I like that there are stakes and the show is unafraid to throw them out there early. The criticism I've hear is that the characters don'tI dig it. Not a comic book person, but I get fandom. Love the cast and the first two episodes hooked me. I like that there are stakes and the show is unafraid to throw them out there early. The criticism I've hear is that the characters don't get the appropriate death to make those stakes resonate. If that is the worst critics offer, I'm still willing to stick with the show to the end. Amazon has upped its original show game.

Final thoughts; lowered to a six. It was a fun ride for a fairly generic conspiracy plot. I liked everyone except Jessica. The actress generated no sympathy for the character. She came off amateurish at best. Loved Arby. John Cusack made an excellent villain.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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10

NitrapOct 8, 2020

Freshest thing I’ve seen on stream or tv in decades. The story and it’s characters are so captivating that I have yet to move back from the edge of my seat after just completing the last episode. A must watch. No Cap

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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8

TVJerrySep 30, 2020

This conspiracy theory series revolves around an elusive comic book, which is full of clues about a diabolical scheme. As is typical for this genre, a ragtag group of comic nerds sets out to solve the mysteries and save the world. Star turnsThis conspiracy theory series revolves around an elusive comic book, which is full of clues about a diabolical scheme. As is typical for this genre, a ragtag group of comic nerds sets out to solve the mysteries and save the world. Star turns from John Cusak as the innovative leader of a drug conglomerate and Rainn Wilson as a frustrated scientist who may have the clue to the puzzle. The first 2 episodes are chocked with quickly-dispatched killings and one nasty torture sequence. After that, it’s more about the intrigue and interactions between the various personalities. While the plot offers expected twists, the pacing is solid and there are enough surprises to keep the puzzle interesting. (The final episode left it obviously open for another season.)… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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9

Seansy00Oct 10, 2020

I am really enjoying this series so far. I dont understand the low reviews.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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8

gmonster320Nov 27, 2020

Shockingly violent, the death toll mounts in episode 1 and beyond. No one is safe in this world. Think of it as "Game Of Thrones" for comic book nerds. Visually, the series is very appealing. There's always something cool to look at. HavingShockingly violent, the death toll mounts in episode 1 and beyond. No one is safe in this world. Think of it as "Game Of Thrones" for comic book nerds. Visually, the series is very appealing. There's always something cool to look at. Having said all that, the pace of the show is a bit slow. "Utopia" only has eight episodes but could have benefited from some more trimming. It seems like a lot of time passes without much going on. You'll notice there is a disclaimer at the beginning of each episode. It says that the show is a work of fiction and 'not based on actual, related or current events". Despite being in the works for years, this series happened to arrive during the pandemic. I'm not sure if that's really good timing or the worst timing ever. It is impossible not to draw parallels between "Utopia" and current events. Let's just hope the QAnon and anti-vaxxer folks dont use this show to bolster their agenda. Lord knows they already believe stuff far crazier than this. The door is left wide open for a season 2. Are you game or have you seen enough of "Utopia"? I personally think I'm good stopping here. There are plenty enough dreadful things happening now in the real world. Watching a shows about them too is a bit much. Maybe I'll feel different at a later date.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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0

MyDadJan 24, 2021

Stop killing rabbits. I'll up this rating if the rabbits start eating people.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

nevillejohnOct 7, 2020

almost unwatchable if you've seen the UK original. feels like a watered down, more comedic version with worse casting, writing, and music

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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1

RidingHoodNov 19, 2020

A watchable pilot, then it's all downhill from there. Looks like they conned Amazon Prime into picking up the show.