It is an understatement to say I was pretty much disappointed after the third episode. Everything was there - well, in theory: my favorite genre, a good plot, a great cast, the famous British humor. But something was just off and I even tried watching the first three episodes again after the season finale, but no. I simply don't and can't like them, not sure why.
The fourth episode was the game changer. I though it was the first decent one, even had a few laughs ("meh" was my default reaction to any attempt at humor in the previous eps), so I decided to at least try and finish the season.
The next three offered a definitive upward momentum in terms of storytelling and humor. There was literally no dialogue, no sentence without at least a dash of perfectly dosed humor.
I watched the season finale alone, and it was so funny at moments it made me spew random comments and laugh out loud all by myself.
It is a great show, it is a unique show - please, PLEASE don't give up on it! Watch till the end, you won't regret your choice.
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pphatsoull12 March 2020
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LegendaryFang563 August 2021People need to stop being so obnoxiously negative. This show is extremely entertaining. Maybe not always funny, in a sense, but certainly always entertaining. Entertaining isn't as subjective as funny. And if you don't find it to be entertaining, at the very least, you're doing something wrong. Lower your negativity, lingering expectations, and I bet you'll begin to find it entertaining, a little bit, at first.
Anyway, all that aside, I enjoyed watching this show very, very much. The fictional history of the in-show world and the subtle references to little bits and pieces of it came out of nowhere and was probably one of the most shocking aspects of it if not the most. But it was super interesting from the start, and then began to be entertaining and a very wonderful running gag, so to speak. The gradual descent into anguish and madness made for a compelling theme and didn't disappoint.
The VFX (or CGI?) of outer space, and maybe the space ship itself as well, something that I think I've seen a person or two complain about and call bad, or at least comparing it to a much older show that had "bad" VFX/CGI that also didn't age very well, didn't look remotely bad to me. In actuality, it looked quite good and...crisp or whatever, I don't know.
Each significant character was entertaining. Yes, even Karen. Sure, if you're more passionate and generally immersive in what you watch than I am, you probably hate her and don't particularly like any of the other characters. That's fine.
Moving on, the main issue which a lot of people have with the show that I've seen is that it isn't funny, and I think that's a load of bollocks. While the show is advertised as a comedy or considered to be a comedy, first and foremost, you're supposed to be entertained. Not to mention, this is, without a doubt, and very obviously, a much different version of the comedy genre than usual. That alone should've been obvious before going off and complaining about how much the show sucks, and how remarkably unfunny it is.
That being said, feel free to freely act negatively towards the show, most of you probably already have. I liked it and I'm looking forward to the second season, and it's a good thing for the show that those of you who I've mentioned, you know who you are, have been weeded out and won't be returning. Goodbye. -
krumblburgh25 January 2020There seem to be some reviews here panning this show for not being true sci-fi. It's not sci-fi, it was never sci-fi, it's social satire. A terrific cast working well together from scene one, although it is true there isn't a lot of warmth or likeable characters. Life has very few of those, either. A couple, maybe. I might know one of them. Not me, but I know one.
The target here is the incompetence of so-called leaders and their inane systems running society and how society seems just fine with that. In real life, people are apparently are not bothered when politicians and captains of industry without skills or knowledge or empathy or investment in the future of humanity send the world crashing sideways into oblivion. But in this show the public are immediately upset that their holiday has gone dangerously wrong. In this sense, Avenue 5 is taking an artistic liberty.
The writing is not as sharp as it could be. Time has been spent instead setting up a much more involved scenario than, say Veep or In The Thick Of It. All we need to know for those shows was that manipulative jerks run the show in London and Washington. For this, the creators are trying to set up a larger theme. Will it work, will it not, I don't know. But the bones are there for better things, and I trust the cast and writers to know where they are going. Based on their track record of past shows I trust them more than I trust us, the viewers. -
Michael_Arm6 January 2022Great concept, Highly entertaining, and funny for all the right reasons! The writing is a great blend of dry humor and sarcasm mixed with a great cast that truly delivers. You'll find many of your favorite actors that you didn't even know you liked on this show and the way the writing is they each seem to have their own mini stories going along with the main story.
The premise is 100% relevant and 100% a possible livable situation with the efforts in space exploration and making space a tourist destination. This show brings humor to a dire situation and constantly reveals new stuff that makes the situation even more complicated than how complicated it already is!
Watch knowing you're in for a good time! -
deuce-8021820 January 2020For me it started off a little wobbly, began to chuckle here and there about half way through. Don't think the humor will be for everyone, seemed a little forced at times but still funny. I'll be watching to see where the story goes, my interests are definitely piqued.
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thestip4 March 2020I think that a lot of the bad reviews here are from people that are... well, slow.
The humor here is dry and quick. It's easy to miss if you're used to being hand-fed comedy or need a laugh track to tell you when something's funny. Think Hitchhikers Guide mixed with some Monty Python.
It's not often I actually laugh out loud at a show. This one has me doing that every episode. HBO has already renewed it for a 2nd season. Can't wait!! -
NoturBoris6 August 2023It embarks on an ambitious cosmic comedy voyage but lands in lukewarm territory. Josh Gad and Zach Woods provide glimmers of hilarity, but Hugh Laurie's performance leaves much to be desired. Laurie's attempt at comedic timing often feels forced, lacking the charm and wit he displayed in other roles. I couldn't help but wonder how Walton Goggins might have breathed life into the role with his natural charisma and comedic flair. The ensemble cast offers mixed contributions, but the absence of standout performances hampers the show's comedic potential. The satire occasionally hits the mark, but the overreliance on crude humor detracts from its impact. While visually impressive, the production cannot save the show from pacing issues and underdeveloped characters. The show offers fleeting moments of laughter but ultimately struggles to soar as a memorable cosmic comedy.
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UniqueParticle23 January 2020The pilot is wild and offbeat which isn't for everyone but perfect for me! I love unorthodox things, Avenue 5 is a delight! I loved Veep which started off meh at first and got so much better give this a chance everyone; if not there's so many other excellent shows out available to delve into. Hugh Laurie is legendary in anything, I'm intrigued regardless of the negativity.
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netgirljimi9 April 2021I want to see more of it. Huge Hugh Laurie fan. Like other people have stated it's a bit wobbly but I need more of it. It made me laugh.
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louiepapp17 February 2020This happens in the first 10 minutes so not really a spoiler. Imagine a cruise ship with no engine or rudder that uses tides to get from port to port. Now imagine it is so light that even the smallest nudge can knock it off course with no way to correct it. Put it in space so no one can help you and you have the plot of this story. If you can ignore all that then there are some moments of hilarity. Not a whole lot and no where near as many as you were expecting. I still love you Hugh.
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So many people seem to think that if they don't like something, then it must be bad. That is not true. Something can be good and, at the same time, not enjoyable for everybody. I don't like the music of Mariah Carey. That doesn't make her a bad singer. I'm not interested in boxing, so I didn't care for "Raging Bull." That doesn't make it a bad movie, it just wasn't for me.
If you don't like dark humor, you won't like this show. That doesn't make it bad, it's just not for you. I've read reviews in which the humor has been called "forced" and "not witty." I'm wondering if these people actually watched the same show that I watched, because I find the humor to be a good mix of wit and slapstick.
It seems that some people also get extremely angry when a show isn't what they expected it to be. It's not "The Orville," it's not "Spaceballs," and it's not "Veep." I read someone complain about the character actors. Why? If you want an actor to play a certain type of character, why not cast someone who's good at it?
Ignore the bad reviews. If you haven't seen it, give it a try. If you like it, great! If you don't, then it's just not meant for you. You don't have to come here and give it one star and rant, thus potentially ruining it for those of us who do enjoy it. -
ItsJustSlater11 December 2022As a big sci-fi and Hugh Laurie fan I was excited to see the two combined. I wasn't disappointed. Season one was a funny science fiction show demonstrating what a space cruise would be like with the average social media user and then things go horribly wrong. It was clever and the characters amusing. A solid 8 in my book. I eagerly awaited season two.
Season two took a loooong time to finally come out, and when it did I was unfortunately disappointed. The feel of the show had changed significantly. I haven't looked at the credits but given how much it changed I can only assume so did the writers and other staff. I made it through season two but would only give it a 6.
So between an 8 for season one and a 6 for season two it averages out to a 7. Given the ratings and time between the first two seasons it wouldn't surprise me if the show didn't continue. Truth be told, if they keep with the season two feel I wouldn't be terribly disappointed in it getting cancelled. -
memefactory20 January 2020What the heck happened? This is like watching a fourth rate improv company. The timing is WAY off, and the jokes aren't funny anyway. Really just nothing going for it at all. Three stars because the sets look nice.
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m_boggs23 January 2020I enjoyed the first episode and think things will only develop more from here. Sure, it wasn't and incredible pilot episode but I was interested, the actors are great and the storyline could be promising. I'll keep watching!
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Tweetienator2 March 2020Nice little show with some funny and grotesque moments + a good production + a well performing cast. Also the idea of the journey of the Avenue 5 is great, even if the execution got room for improvement left. All in all worth a try - one of those shows you most likely will like or not at all.
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catschasemice959421 January 2020Bucks the trend in recent comedy by being subtle. Finally, a comedy for adults. Sorry haters this show is actually imaginative satire that gets how to use language.
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cartsghammond20 January 2020I am definitely a fan of Armando Iannucci, coming from veep and the death of Stalin. So I was excited for this show. I think it is a pretty good comedy, with a good cast, Zach woods being the shining star, as he often is. There is things that this show does not as well, such as the tone and the inconsistency of joke quality. I think there is a lot of potential for the rest of the season and I am very hopeful that it gets better. I will definitely keep watching to see how it goes. I also find it silly to compare this to the Orville since that isn't what this show is trying to be. The 2-3 star reviews on here don't make a ton of sense to me, saying that every joke falls flat, I found a lot of moments funny. In no way was the pilot perfect, but I think it could be a very good season
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Wasn't blown away by the pilot and can admit there are some fall-flat moments with the humor and acting, but I found myself laughing a good handful of parts and am interested in seeing what happens next and if overall this show finds its footing. I'll be giving it a few more episodes before bashing or praising.
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This type of comedy is not readily accessible to everyone. It only pretends to be lighthearted. I think this is the reason why it has a low rating and polarized reviews.
The show is about a space cruise-ship that faces an ever-increasing cascade of errors and unfortunate events. The decisions and reactions from crew and passengers seem almost preposterous, but strangely plausible.
The absurdity of some situations makes you laugh, while making you think about what you are actually laughing about. The stark and serious soundtrack highlights this feeling, especially during the credits roll. -
glenn_gallagher27 January 2020Not sure if people think they are too smart for this show or they just don't have a sense of humor. It's funny, has a great cast and is what it says it is... A sci-fi spoof!!! Looking forward to the character development. I feel like it has started off like 'Veep'.
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sveto-8707428 March 2020Well, there are moments which are funny but overall...boring. I have tried 3-4 episodes hoping to get better.. but id did not:( pitty
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tomcuturic13 October 2022Reading a lot of the 1 to 4 star reviews and its nice to see we're all human. And I respectfully disagree. I LOVED the dry humor and absurdity in the show. I grew up watching Black Adder and its funny to see how Hughs character in Avenue is slowely becoming Rowan Atkinsons character in Ba. If you like sarcarsm, absurdity (ba is and old example. Something comparable these days would be the movie Dont Look Up) and dry humor. You're going to love the show.
Gave it an 8 because the eps should be longer. Almost seems rushed. Should have taken more time for some character development. Maybe something cheesy like (very short) flashbacks of their lives. Would have matched the setting. IMO. -
Turanic20 January 2020It's difficult to judge where the show is heading after 30 min episode... So far it's an interesting concept... You know all these rich pricks running our planet, ignoring climate change, just caring about profits etc... So imagine you put them all on a single ship and send somewhere in unknown direction on autopilot... Also don't forget to put in a crew which is completely incompetent, so far it seems that's what the show is about... Although it sound like a fun concept, the script seems somewhat flawed, a lot of talking about nothing ,I don't know if it will get better, it might , but I will watch episode 2 ....
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kraigg-127 January 2020I was excited for this show, until I watched the first episode. Dialogue feels forced and cringe-worthy, the "comedy" is non-existent, none of the jokes land, lots of telling and forced storylines, the characters are annoying and have no redeeming qualities. I've watched and enjoyed British comedies before, but I just couldn't get into this.
I forced myself to finish episode 1. Wanting to give it a chance, I continued on to episode 2, which had me hopeful that the show might improve, but instead it cemented my decision to not continue with this show.
Not sure what HBO was thinking here. 3 stars for the set which looks interesting. If you want to watch a space comedy done well, check out The Orville. -
naftalig20 January 2020I am absolutely stunned by how bad this pilot episode was. And, considering that it stars one of my favorite actors of all time - Hugh Laurie, AKA Dr. Gregory House - I was hugely disappointed. Assuming that he and his agent actually read this pilot before accepting the role, I just wonder what the hell they we're thinking when they accepted this role! With no exaggeration whatsoever, this show did not have one single laugh. Not one.....
Worst of all, this show also lacks one single sympathetic or likeable character. And the writing is completely chaotic, with no coherent plot. To put it simply, the whole thing was just a completely unfunny mess! It was actually painful to see Hugh Laurie, one of the most sophisticated and talented actors of our time, absolutely waste his talents on this crap. Next time around, I hope he exercises greater discretion before accepting a role.