Amazon’s Patriot is a good example of how “peak TV” inspires overconfidence in outdated ideas

Amazon Patriot Not bad, except from an SEO perspective (“Oh, here I’m suddenly reminded of A woefully inaccurate historical drama Starring Mel Gibson’s Extremely Gross Or read reviews of the 2017 Jeep Patriot, “America’s Best Priced SUV.”). Created by Steve Conrad (writer behind The Hidden Life of Walter Mitty And The pursuit of happiness), it’s a competently written black comedy about an off-color intelligence officer with a hot wife and a strange father who talks about an international conspiracy as if he’s considering buying a new tractor for the family farm. If you watched it, you’ll probably be fine. content, even.

The lead actor is definitely charming. Michael Dorman, the New Zealand-born actor who has done most of his Australian TV work to date is a younger, sexier Michael Shannon and a funnier, more physical Michael C. Hall. He really is the next great Michael, and I believe in that. The rest of the cast is a collection of faces that you probably recognize from one place or another (orange is the new black’Michael Chernus, Lost’Terry O’Quinn, That ’70s ShowKurtwood Smith). But if you stick with this show, chances are you’re watching Michael Dorman.

Dorman plays a spy named John (Get it? He’s a classic!), who has a dark sense of humor and makes a great “Who am I?” Confront him when he is called upon to violently kill someone as a step in the scene. He is, of course, tormented. droning. I’m not sure he’s into it. Bound by family duty (his father is his spymaster and his brother is a congressman). More than a murder (his wife was played by little-known Canadian actress Kathleen Monroe, and she naturally sitting down to drink tea in her underwear when he gets home from his first exotic spy mission). My God, what a lot of challenges he faces.

He’s also a great singer and folk singer, and takes several breaks in the first episode to talk about a show like “I just got paid to look for birds, I wonder why hotels in other countries don’t have male maids and you never see it” and “You show me signs.” increasing on mental instability.” The episode’s soundtrack is mostly John’s own folk music styles, mixed in with some Townes Van Zandt.

You can get beat up in three minutes playing a drinking game called “Take a shot every time you feel like saying… Oh, looks like those guys have seen a Coen Brothers movie, huh? ” The show has the same color scheme and supernatural violence as Fargo (And Noah Holly Fargo), as well as the same comedic style and satirical appreciation for white men who openly declare their love for power Burn after reading. At one point, John’s father had him read him an elaborate plan to prove he was listening. “Money, Luxembourg, Iran, buy an election,” he grumbles, and his father admits that’s the key.

It’s okay, but it’s not very interesting to go back to a familiar place. Patriot It has so many elements that point to it as prestige television (the premium streaming service, aesthetic violence, Europe, politics, and murky plot), which, in this “golden age of television,” is often enough to earn a show you’ll probably eventually have to watch. This “character. In reality, Washington Post titled review Amazon Patriot is another show you have to detour to see someday.”

The show’s most offensive flaws are also the most common in this golden age of television. It is very boring and confusing. The protagonist is in Milwaukee, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, and I think Texas (?) in the first episode and it’s never really clear why or when he’s traveling. He has to push a guy in front of a bus and steal someone’s urine to keep his secret job in Wisconsin, but no one ever says why he needs one or why the government makes him do the dirty work himself. He also interacts with half a dozen white men who are barely over 60, and one of them hands him this note:

Prestige TV has got it Kind of out of control. shows like Weird things or a night It’s made by subscription outlets and includes so many proven ideas that it suggests it’s sure to be good and fools us into thinking there’s no meaningful difference between a TV show that’s really interesting and one that’s well-made and not brazenly stupid. We have been told Everything is okay Now and that , and that anything exotic is vision, and pastiche is high art. TV viewers have been conditioned to expect that “premium” shows will cater to the range of their references: 90s neo-noir, 80s kitsch, 70s music, true crime, cable news, political paranoia,” Don Draper but [fill in the blank]. If the show-maker can think of a way to include one of these things we’ve identified is prestige, it inspires confidence in the final product that’s often out of line.

For examples, see a nightor Weird thingsor real detective (both seasons, sorry), or Hulu 11.22.63, which had the distinction of being a broadcast exclusive, a paranoid historical drama, an adaptation of a popular novel by a very famous author, and a project signed to man of the hour by JJ Abrams, yet it seemed like no one was watching it. Not much has been warranted like whispered during award season.

Patriot It is, again, not bad. It’s better than some of Amazon’s other original series, and it gets bonus points for casting an unknown lead actor instead of dragging the classic FX or HBO action of signing different A-list stars for each season. It’s miles up man in the high castle, Amazon’s insufferable, basically unwatchable adaptation of Phillip K. Unfortunately, timed marketing campaigns. but Patriot It will still only attract attention for what it indicates, and not for what it actually is: good.

The first 10-episode season Patriot Available now on Amazon Prime. You can stream the first episode for free without a subscription.