The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (2022) User Reviews (73)

He should win an award for this.

[Horror_Flick_Fanatic · 7/10 · 15 March 2022]

This might be the best performance I've seen from Samuel Jackson. The way he delivers his lines, and his body language nuances really show he did his homework on dementia. He is simply phenomenal in his role. The direction is pretty well done too. The camera lens becomes blurry along the periphery of the frame when we are seeing Ptolemy Grey's point of view as his eyesight become worse with age. We feel and see the world from his point of view. Now the rest of the cast is nothing to sneeze at because surprising, every other cast member gave extremely good performances as well. Especially the young Dominique Fishback. She pulled her weight alongside Jackson and that's not an easy thing to do at such a young age. I would love to see Jackson make more serious drama roles like this film. The directors should also be commended for getting such good acting performances from the cast.

At the time I am writing this review, the third episode has not aired yet. But I think I know how it will end. Two clues have led me to what I believe the third episode will reveal. I will not explicit say who murdered Reggie Lloyd, but I believe the directors has given us two important clues. I don't want to ruin it for anyone else but anyone who has paid close attention can probably figure out what I think whodunit. Ptolemy vows he will find out who murdered his favorite nephew, Reggie. The opening scene of the first episode is the second clue. I'll leave it at that :)

This film reminds me of two other good thrillers that deal with dementia. Jackson will join the club of distinguished actors like Anthony Hopkins in "The Father (2020)" and Christopher Plummer in "Remember (2015)"

Bravo Samuel Jackson!

Beautifully developed

[valerianodellalonga · 9/10 · 19 March 2022]

The topics this tv series covers are difficult and sad, they did a great job at developing this story.

Samuel L. Jackson might be doing with this his best work in his career so far: if this was a motion picture he'd deserved an Oscar.

All other actors are also doing a great job.

Great so far

[Joshumms · 8/10 · 11 March 2022]

One side of this show is a truly sad story about someone with dementia and how it affects their daily life and Samuel L. Jackson portrays the character very well. There is more to the story though, there are many odd flashbacks that aren't completely explained and it makes you wonder what may be hidden in his memory. Very well done and excited for the rest!

Best TV drama I've seen in ages

[trademarcdesigns · 10/10 · 11 March 2022]

As the title indicates, we are looking at the end of a man's life - and that life is not ending well. Ptolemy Grey once had a woman he loved, friends, family - but he has finally outlived them all and is now sinking into dementia.

But from the first few minutes of the series, we know three things about him: he has a plan, he has a gun, and he has nothing left to lose. What a great set-up...

This show is well cast, beautifully acted, and does an amazing job of taking us into Grey's world of confusion, suspicion, victimization and loss. But we are also piecing together his past life - little bits here and there that begin to form a picture of who this man was and still is.

It's been a long time since I've seen anything this good on television.

As of this writing, the show has an overall IMDB rating of 6.8 - about what you'd expect for a bland sitcom or a YA show. How the heck does that happen?

Very engaging

[calorne · 9/10 · 17 March 2022]

Great characters and great acting. I am very drawn into the story and looking forward to the next episode, but there's a definite feeling that there may be trouble ahead.

I've just finished episode 3. This is very well written and very engagingly portrayed. The dialogue is natural and witty and the characters are strong and distinct. I love the relationship between Ptolemy and Robyn. There are mysteries to be unravelled, but time might be tight.

If You Watch One Thing This Year

[barbara_schatz · 9/10 · 23 March 2022]

OMG when did Samuel Jackson go from being a top shelf actor to a world class thespian. Seriously the performance he brings to bear here is absolutely stunning and deserving of every award and acologue that exists. It's unfortunate that this is debuting early in the year which is generally not a good time relative to getting acknowledgment for rewards.

The insight and sensitivity that this program shows towards both the realities of dementia and the realities of dealing with unresolved trauma long term are amazing. Just try not to fall in love with Ptolemy Gray. Just try not to get drawn into this story. Just try not to laugh, cry and to think this over long after you are done viewing it. This is what the best kind of programming is all about. Don't miss this or you will miss something very important.

Pivoting Story So Far! Some Want To Remember While Others Want To Foget!

[zac-68274 · 10/10 · 12 March 2022]

I've seen Samual L. Jackson take on countless roles but this role is exceptionally genuine with remarkable timing. The writing is phenomenal but I wouldn't expect anything less from Walter Mosley. Sure after this series ends it will be applauded by Many.

Tuned in for Samuel L. Jackson, stayed for Dominique Fishback

[julieshotmail · 7/10 · 9 April 2022]

AppleTV+ runs "The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" concurrently with the series "Severance," dropping a new episode every Friday. While the two shows could not be more different in format, they actually share a similar theme - memories. "Severance" is getting accolades for a slow burn that leads up to a spectacular finale. Unfortunately for "Ptolemy Grey" it's the opposite, starting out strong with a fascinating concept but dwindles severely in the last episode. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable to continue seeing the work of Samuel L. Jackson. Here, his 'dementia acting' rises to the same level as Anthony Hopkins's Oscar-winning portrayal of an Alzheimer's patient in "The Father." I hope Samuel L. Jackson wins an award for this role. Another gem to come out of this series is the talented Dominique Fishback. I have never heard of her before this series. She portrays Robyn convincingly with a perfect blend of sass and heart. She will be recognized and I can see a bright future ahead of her. As a bonus, we also get a glimpse of the trusty Walton Goggins as the doctor. Overall, this short series is worthwhile to watch; just don't get your hopes up for a satisfying final 6th episode.

So endearing! Heart wrenching, but brilliant!

[mstaffordca · 9/10 · 11 March 2022]

I cant say enough great things. This pulls at the heart strings. I cared for my elderly grandmother and this brings back a lot of beautiful memories as well as deep regret for mistakes made. It's not easy caring for the elderly especially if you have alot going on. Even those of us with the best intentions bite off more than we can chew resulting in the suffering of others.. Samuel L Jackson is nothing short of spectacular genius. Absolutely magnificent and kept me weeping. Cant wait for more. Thank you.

Strong start, meandering middle, rather weak ending

[SeriousMayhem · 7/10 · 21 October 2022]

The show drags you in right away, through an intriguing premise and one of Samuel L. Jackson's strongest acting performances - if not the strongest - of his career. Dominique Fishback is equally convincing and fresh. Acting of most of the supporting cast is more than fine as well.

The story, while interesting, isn't as interesting as it could have been; it drags on for too long and the ending can be seen coming from miles away. I was hoping for a twist, but it never came. The show also hints at some possible paths it wanted to explore, but these all turn out to be dead ends. I guess they wanted to keep it simple and "real", but I'm not sure they should have, entirely anyway.

Some things that stood out to me: it's a bit heavy on the "white man bad" sentiment starting a few episodes in, which often feels forced, unneeded and unnecessary, especially when it concerns the stuff that plays out in the present. There's also the mention of some sexual attraction had our two main characters been of different ages. This came out of nowhere and was just weird and unfitting in the context it was placed in.

All in all, decent show, but I feel it would have been way better if it was condensed into three or four episodes.

7/10.

Is this show flying under the radar?

[yooniverse · 10/10 · 27 March 2022]

Just simply a spectacular piece of acting by Samuel L. Jackson! It's surprising to me that no one I know is familiar with the show, more so when it's on Apple TV+.

If we took the time to get to know the life of a 91 year old person, what kind of a past would we uncover? As his mind returns, he is transformed from a senile old man who many of us would just ignore and set aside in today's society, to become a vibrant, sharp, shrewd man whose intellect runs circles around everyone around him. He uses his heightened mind and memories to make the most of the time he has to set things right.

In addition to Jackson, the supporting cast is exceptional. This is a high quality show that should get more attention. It feels slow at times in the first couple of episodes, but it does gain speed. Looking forward to seeing how the plot unravels.

Ironically forgettable

[somethingreal81 · 6/10 · 9 April 2022]

This really should have been a movie and not a mini-series. The performances by Samuel L. Jackson and Dominique Fishback are great, but there's not nearly enough plot to justify six hour long episodes. The premiere also hints at multiple intriguing storylines like a murder mystery and a medical mystery that the show basically totally abandons.

Remember the Alamo

[Johnny_West · 1/10 · 17 March 2022]

Ptolemicus Grey is 91 years old, and nobody could care less. His family forgot about him a long time ago, and all his friends are dead. A doctor with an experimental drug treatment finds him as the perfect guinea pig, since nobody will miss him if he dies.

After a few shots of miracle formula, Mr. Grey remembers the Alamo and the birth of Jazz, and his first wet fart. What an awesome story and outstanding performance.

Brilliant

[judywalker2 · 9/10 · 17 April 2022]

Samuel L out did himself in this wonderful drama, its an award winning performance and an award winning screenplay. His performance and his co-stars were the highlight of this moving story of a man trying to remember the important things in his past. All of the characters were well fleshed out, especially Robyn. Though I wish the ending had been different, I enjoyed that the movie talked about the inability of Black people to leave a legacy and wealth to our families and our community.

One of the best series I have seen in a long. long time.

[grasswhisperer · 9/10 · 9 April 2022]

The usual great acting one expects from Jackson, but, also some serious work by. Dominique Fishback who plays Robyn. The rest of the cast were also,, awesome. I recommend this to anyone who wishes to see a good story;.

Samuel Jackson and Dominique Fishback Bravo!

[kwclients · 10/10 · 9 April 2022]

Being a long-time fan of Samuel Jackson, these two deserve Awards! Samuel just showed us all why the was the recipient of a long and well-deserved Oscar honorary award! If anyone has been affected by a loved one's dementia, this is a story that has you crying and laughing all at the same time. What an ingenious plot by Walter Mosely. The production company did a brilliant job portraying the real decline as I've never seen dementia acted out before. The young lady Dominique Fishback was all of us who showed the true roller coaster of emotions that you feel watching this happen to a loved one's mental decline and she did it with conviction. Kudos to her, she was just real, believable and I hope her career soars! The supporting cast was spot on for showing the unraveling fractures of a family and oftentimes the handout they expect at the end when they disappear with their disinterest in family support. Robyn is the caretaker that gets the abuse not the appreciation at the end of the day but without the money or gratitude. I think we can all relate to having a loved one if only for a moment in time become lucid, if just for a few days. I enjoyed it and it's one for the ages. While it may be poignant for the African American community, who may not always have the support system in place which I am glad this story did an excellent in portraying (sometimes the village needs watching) it's also relatable in so many ways to all ethnicities as a cautionary tale of a debilitating non-reversible illness. What stood out is the acting, storyline, and the depiction of a ravishing horrid disease that's foremost. Enjoy, this, I just could have watched this for a few more episodes. Not giving anything away, the storyline does that, it's about the illness. Now watch!

Mr Jackson stellar performance

[qtwavaz · 10/10 · 14 March 2022]

Wow what a display of acting - what a story that a lot of us can unfortunately resonate with.

Samuel L Jackson gives the performance of his life just wow.

This if what life is like for many people it actually happens and it's so hard.

Slow burner

[hotcupofcocoa · 12 March 2022]

This series starts out at an extremely slow pace.

The first two episodes is a total of an hour an and a half of a repetiion of that the main charachter is senile in all possible ways.

Nothing really happens for all this time exept that in the last 5 minutes of the episodes he gets slightly more clear.

Would have been much, much, much better if all this would have been in the first episode.

Pretty good but too long and too many flaws

[morganmckinley · 6/10 · 18 July 2022]

Samuel Jackson is great and it's good series with some interesting aspects but 6 hours is way too long.

But the biggest flaw is the obvious unbelievable parts.

Robyn meets with the judge but without her lawyer?

Obvious self defense on audio but Ptolemy.goes to jail?

They go to where Reggie was shot and just happen to talk to a junkie couple immediately who witnessed his shooting?

And this was the first people he asked about it and they give it up after a drink?

Yeah, right...and there are many others.

This is important to the quality of a movie or it's not as good as it could or should be.

Worth a watch and although there are some flaws, Samuel Jackson is fantastic and the characters are pretty well developed.

Sam Jackson is amazing in this

[cparousis-30615 · 10/10 · 13 March 2022]

In this country, we unfortunately treat our elderly like third class citizens. The first two episodes prove this. It's a shame. Sam Jackson is a marvel in this show. Two episodes in and I'm hooked. The cast is top notch. I'm definitely drawn in by the story. I want to see what's next. I've been pleased with 80% of Apple's shows. The scene where that punk who's a relative steals his money at the bank broke my heart. The young lady who takes cares of him shines.

Highly recommend this show. A+

Not about black excellence, positively, or light.

[manleygurl · 7/10 · 5 April 2022]

All pain and all the bad things that supposedly go on in the black experience. Drugs, murdered men, produce harassment, medical experiments, and lack of family support. Oh and a heaping dose of the N word. Only Lawd Jesus can help us (rolling my eyes).

I understand dementia is a universal problem but can't there be some positivity in this man's life? Can there be some happiness and kindness shown to this man or this community. Somehow I made it through the first episode. Not sure I'll make it to the end unless something gets better.

Virtuoso

[michelleoverton · 10/10 · 18 March 2022]

I enjoyed this work so much that I binged it until I couldn't watch it anymore. The cast is great and I really felt Jackson's role. It's so sad that many people live such fruitful lives and through no fault of their own end up older and unable to manage life independently. Hopefully after shedding a light, we might have more compassion and services for people in need of helping hands. Family isn't the only answer.

Poor Attempt to pull at the heart strings

[ricochet93-369-308802 · 5/10 · 16 July 2022]

Not a bad series, but the premise and story which is fairly thin is really dragged out. It really out stays it's welcome. Samuel L. Jackson should end up in the Guinness Book of records for repeating a name more time in a series...every two minutes its "Coydog...Coydog...Coydog", it becomes pretty wearing.

A man that remembers the important things.

[bcoke-20279 · 10/10 · 11 March 2022]

Makes the audience think about a situation that many people are dealing with now. Ptolemy is 91 his memory would not be the best. He's brave, he's on a mission for justice. Really good actors, have a feeling this is going to get emotional. Memories are the only treasures anyone has.

Greatest performance By Samuel L Jackson

[bornagain710-331-212635 · 10/10 · 19 March 2022]

This was truly the greatest performance by this actor. If he doesn't get an Emmy or Oscar then no one should. This man is a consummate actor far above many today. I can't tell you more about the show or I will be giving spoiler alerts. A must watch performance.