Waco

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Season 1
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
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Critic Reviews

  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Jan 23, 2018
    80
    It doesn’t go nearly as far as it could’ve, given what a quietly charismatic star it has in Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh, and how immediately human all of his followers seem. All that being said, this is still a necessary and sometimes powerful series, particularly in the third hour, which depicts the initial assault on the compound that led to the two-month siege.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Alex McLevy
    Jan 23, 2018
    75
    In every case, the actor elevates the material, raising passable storytelling to a more compelling and charismatic level.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Jan 24, 2018
    70
    Waco has a clunky couple episodes that fail to really depict the passage of time cleanly and probably will leave many viewers confused as to which agencies are making which blunders, even if they have their initials on their jackets. The third episode gets back into the initial raid in harrowing, well-directed style and it may give me enough momentum to watch the second half of the series, just to see if David Koresh ever does anything wrong.
  5. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Jan 24, 2018
    70
    Only Shannon’s Gary, as a calm-voiced negotiator, seems sensible or particularly intelligent. When you add in Kitsch’s charismatic performance, Waco comes out an oddity: A show that’s more or less on the side of a violent, exploitative cult.
  6. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Jan 24, 2018
    67
    No one is totally innocent in the Waco siege, including many of his followers, but the “Waco” series seems overly eager to vindicate Koresh. And that taints an otherwise well-told story.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018
67
#67 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 48
  3. Negative: 12 out of 48
  1. RTurlmann
    Feb 27, 2018
    10
    Kitsch is amazing, and the story is very compelling - especially as the events depicted actually occurred. One of the best shows I've seen inKitsch is amazing, and the story is very compelling - especially as the events depicted actually occurred. One of the best shows I've seen in a long time.… Full Review »
  2. geewah
    Jan 10, 2021
    7
    A more than solid telling of some of the darkest days in America's recent history. Kitsch is great as cult leader Koresh.
  3. darkapaw
    Nov 15, 2018
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. CONTRIVED CONSPIRACY BIAS THAT POSES AS OBJECTIVE TRUTH



    This must be seen as a very biased and one sided account of the Waco story... controversial at the least.
    The writers and directors have forged a diabolical image of the government agencies as military minded fascists moving in on a religious commune who were practicing their rights as US citizens to religious freedoms. David Koresh is sculptured as a martyr on the altar of heartless ATF AND FBI supremists who initially attack the commune in an abortive raid with tragic consequences, lie about provocation and the evil within, then set up a Nazi styled concentration camp to torture the innocents for 51 days!! The final fiery apocalyptic hellish climax is styled on the Auschwitz gas chambers and ovens. It is that unsubtle and brutal. Then come the coverups claiming the fire was a suicide pact by the Wackoes inside. Good movie storyline to boil ones blood.
    By blackening the FBI consistently by using a careless and one dimensional operation leader and a Patonesque co leader pitted against a sombre and reflective negotiator in Garry the evil is made even more flagrant. It is not lessened with the scene of lame attempt to lift the trapped dying mother and child in the gassed bus... if anything it is a monstrous Trumpian exaggeration to bring an audience into outrage and despisal.
    There are so many flagrant misreprentations of this story to create a vivid BLACK AND WHITE VERSION OF THE INCIDENT: Davidians GOOD, government agencies BAD and a couple of good guys caught in the crossfire who couldn't prevent the inevitable Hellfire Or Judgment Day.
    All this may be how the negotiator viewed Waco which seems to be the inspirational book as well as the very moody "convert" survivor who always seems unconverted but stays to face death... both are unconvincing portrayals and used to muster sympathy and empathy for the Koresh myth.
    Ultimately David Koresh is outplayed by three other characters who come over as more credible. Firstly Professor of Theology Steven who struggles to believe in this Latter Day Messiah especially when he sees his wife join David's harem and bear a child to to the 'Black Jesus' or Lamb of God. Secondly the Texan shock jock who keeps popping up to put acid on the lies being dished out daily by the fraudulent and lying officials of the concentration camp. Thirdly David is also in the shadow of Rachel his special wife who has a better grasp of the real world than her Gandhi like husband who is tortured to communicate The Message of the Seven Seals. I find it ironic that there is a theologian used to compliment David's accurate interpretation of the Seven Seals... the RIGHTNESS IS ANOTHER QUESTIONABLE BIAS. David is very seldom seen explaining the intricacies of this metaphoric scripture to his disciples because I think that would have driven the audience into seeing David as a delusional cult leader like Jones et al. This is carefully crafted to keep David as the Lamb slain on the Altar of a Far Right Agency bent on a show of force to keep the American people in a fearful servitude.
    Nice conspiracy position right there but it doesn't really fit the facts or the whole picture.    … Full Review »
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