Waco

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Season 1
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
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User Reviews

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  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 in a long time.
  2. jgzeger
    Mar 15, 2018
    9
    A powerful and disturbing account of the events at Waco, Texas with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. It shook me to my core, and had me searching for answers to what really happened there.
  3. eagleeyeviking
    Jun 20, 2018
    6
    Despite being more of a retelling of events rather than a constructive dissection of the events and reason behind the events that unfolded near Waco, "Waco" is nevertheless a thrilling, well-acted (especially by Michael Shannon), and compelling miniseries.
  4. section20mi6
    Feb 12, 2018
    6
    While sequence of events are paced adequately in this mini-series to keep audience engaged, story line is seemed to be biased and Taylor Kitsch's performance as a cult leader requires more work.
  5. WhiskeyStories
    Jun 9, 2018
    7
    Waco is really good, I'm surprised there's no real buzz around it. I've never heard of what went down there in 1993 so I'm really glad there's a show to tell this tragic story. The first three episodes are genuinely great. The mainly objective storytelling and the clashing of multiple ideologies with a quite profound (religious) morality element surprised me. It all had a strong TrueWaco is really good, I'm surprised there's no real buzz around it. I've never heard of what went down there in 1993 so I'm really glad there's a show to tell this tragic story. The first three episodes are genuinely great. The mainly objective storytelling and the clashing of multiple ideologies with a quite profound (religious) morality element surprised me. It all had a strong True Detective vibe. After a phenomenally thrilling third episode things kinda go south though. The last half does away with the intriguing intellectual themes and becomes a straighforward retelling of the events (gradually turning more and more subjective as well) making it far less engaging or interesting. Still I'd highly recommend Waco, the true story is stranger than fiction, the main cast is absolutely fantastic (the best performance I've ever seen from Kitsch) and those first three episodes, man are they f#cking great.… Expand
  6. CoKronakan
    Jul 31, 2018
    6
    It tells a tragic true story which depicts the U.S government as the 'bad guy' because of their arrogance and trying to keep their glory high, which leads to a lot of dead people. Also disrespecting regulations. Plus the FBI is going through a changing time and this causes them to act more in violence rather than negotiating. The directing style is really basic and it makes it a chore toIt tells a tragic true story which depicts the U.S government as the 'bad guy' because of their arrogance and trying to keep their glory high, which leads to a lot of dead people. Also disrespecting regulations. Plus the FBI is going through a changing time and this causes them to act more in violence rather than negotiating. The directing style is really basic and it makes it a chore to watch at some times. Visuals and sound was great. The actors did a great job, no wonder the series had so big names in the cast. They outperformed in my opinion. I loved Taylor Kitsch's acting roles until now but this made me hate him so much. He performed so well that from now on when I will see him I will think Waco. But the actors are just not enough to save this show. So overall it's an average TV series, which could have been a lot better without the massive pacing issues and the rest of the faults. Because sadly the actors are just not enough to save this show.… Expand
  7. darkapaw
    Nov 15, 2018
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand 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.    … Expand
  8. 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.

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Jan 30, 2018
    60
    It’s in the interactions between the Branch Davidians and the federal government that the Dowdles best capture the sense of an easily avoidable yet nonetheless inevitable catastrophe. Where they struggle is in conveying how it would feel to live a life so tightly entombed in cataclysm that manipulation and abuse become simple facts of life, not dark horrors to overcome.
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  2. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Jan 24, 2018
    50
    Skimming the treatment Koresh’s manipulative dark side in Waco, a story that puts the humanity of the Branch Davidians and that of Koresh at its forefront feels ... weird. And this is but one of several niggling oversights in a story that begs for a new consideration.
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  3. 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.
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