My granddaughters, 10 & 7 years both love it. Perfect for them to enjoy. Not really my cup of tea but I'm going to allow them to watch it in it's entirety. Wife enjoyed it too so far.
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stevedownsrph16 March 2022
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pittsvillesc14 March 2022Her 12 year old brother is into it too. I worry about introducing them to simple depictions Empire and Rule Britannia but this is fun entertainment amd I found it watchable as well.
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Feels like a preteen WB or Disney show but more enjoyable. Writing and acting is not consistent, not that the actors are bad, just seems like they did everything in one take. They did seem to pay more attention to the costuming/cinematography/special effects, than anything else.
If you're looking for something fun to watch, where you can turn off your brain, this is it. -
Nineteen2031 May 2022It's a likable show! Besides the forced drama (usually by the brother being a complete moron) and the terrible acting (also, by the brother), oh, and the fact every adult says the same thing - "Theo, what an active imagination" - it's a cool KIDS show with a fantastic premise. Easy to watch and somehow makes you want to see it through to its conclusion.
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Several other reviews on this site seem to take umbrage with the fact that this show is "on the wrong platform," almost as if they were expecting some adult show with swearing and blood and guts and gore; as if they were expecting that just because Eloise Little is an alumna of His Dark Materials that this show was somehow going to BE His Dark Materials.
Spoiler alert:
It's not.
I don't want to call it a "kids' show," because I feel that term is a bit derogatory. To me, when I think of "kids' show," I think Sesame Street or Zoboomafoo, which this is not (though it still has more in common with Zoboomafoo that it does with Game of Thrones). This is more what I'd consider an "all ages" show, with teens and tweens being its target audience, but it being complex and engaging enough to entertain older viewers - obviously, since I've been watching it and enjoying it, and I'm an adult.
This show is like the perfect meeting place of Young Sherlock Holmes and Magic Tree House, with a touch of a modern single-cam sitcom. It has the feeling of an easy-reading chapter book, which - although I have not read them - I assume the Theodosia books fall into this category (similar to the Enola Holmes books, which another reviewer likened this to). This show is fun, fresh, and easy to watch. The acting and production value are superb. Though the choice of 2000s funk akin to X-Men: Evolution is admittedly an odd choice for underscore, it's not one I entirely dislike.
I wrote this review because I wanted to counter the notion that just because it wasn't what you were expecting that that means it's bad, or that anything short of Theodosia lopping off a bad guy's head is poor television. And furthermore, if it wasn't what you were looking for when you were scrolling through HBO Max because you assume HBO Max is the TV-MA platform, why would you spend the energy to leave a bad review for a show that wasn't meant for you? Can't we review a show based on its merits, not based on whether or not we thought it was a good fit for HBO Max? -
This celebrates a bunch of white people who steal items from a tomb, from a culture that is not theirs. Although this was done in history, it is not something to celebrate or perpetuate in a children's show. Of course they feature a black person who performs tricks for the white girl.
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broussardm-1649712 March 2022It's not a HBO Max show but should be like HBO kids maybe with the merger will bring structure. HBO max needs a true kids section. The scenes are beautiful, the story is a little weak, and the kid actors need a little work.
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DRSTEVO16 January 2024I gave up after the first episode. This is fluff content with a touch of ancient Egyptian subplots... and just enough magic to make it appeal to a younger audience.
I blame the director.
While the cinematography was actually interesting, the acting was mediocre, at best, and the dialog /script was a bit unrealistic for the time period.
The language ... "Wow" ... "Go for it" ... and the too obvious racial diversity / inclusions, were trite and distracting.
Not sure what I was expecting... this was obviously aiming for a much younger audience.
It is not quite up to the Enola Holms or Narnia standard.
I blame the director. -
lilyduck13 March 2022I am 30+, I didn't think it is only for children. It is just a fantasy and happy ending short TV show. Eloise Little will be a good actress in the future.
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johnschubert-9385410 March 2022This series would be more entertaining for preteens watching it on Disney+ or Nickelodeon. It's not a bad series but it definitely not for teens to adults. I was surprised to see it included on HBOMAX. The acting for was quite good for the genre and the special effects were excellent. But it was too generic and predictable to be enjoyable for anyone older than a preteen.
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serieslover_15 March 2022I understand this show is meant for kids, but as a 20+ years old, I found myself really enjoying this series.
The story was quite intriguing and the characters were pretty well written (loved Theo and Safiya's relationship throughout the episodes).
Not to mention the amazing costumes and sets used for this show.
Of course if you expect a series for young adult, then is isn't it.
10/10. -
db-5957211 March 2022Why have a show like this on HBO? Just seems so out of place. I thought this would be a cool magic show and didn't realize it was for kids at first. I feel like it needs the other elements to make this show worth watching. Acting is meh, story premise is okay, but the characters are not it. No continuity in their actions. This needs to be on Disney+ or make the rating PG-13. This was a let down.
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greenjackjc12 July 2022Yes, I knew it was a kid's show, my own kids were watching it on BBC iPlayer (CBBC).
They gave up after 2 episodes.
This is yet another show that promised a lot and failed miserably.
The plot seemed okay, but it was let down by astonishingly bad acting. The dialogue was confusingly modern, though the characters were in 'period' costume. Characters used terms like 'hey guys' and 'woah!' and I'm pretty sure one even mentioned Flickr! The obligatory 'diversity' was painfully obvious and the main characters were unlikable and two-dimensional. Another swing and a miss, I'm afraid. -
cecilelv14 March 2022My kids are 9 and 14 girls and they loved it. They like the fact that there is a lot about ancien Egypt. They also love the main Character played by Eloise Little but also the other 3.
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mwadezero13 April 2022Title says it all. There's a neat little premise here (although not anything new), but the acting by the principle cast is bad. Like, bad-bad. It looks alright, and the VFX are decent enough, but the acting distracts from everything else. The dialog is also odd, as the kids drop semi "modern-esque" terms and phrases. And I'm not sure who the target audience is supposed to be.
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sammoth-4214611 March 2022This is a kid show.
Not for 50 year old men who think that their opinion matters when it's clearly not made for them. It's advertised on HBO kids, if you can't tell between HBO max and HBO max family then please think about going to the opticians, you don't know how to read.
Overall, this is a very good KIDS show. -
The reason I've given this more than one star is down to some attractive cinematography and set designs.
My biggest problem with this show is the lack of respect to the period. Theodosia is set in Victorian England and yet for some bizarre reason they've chosen to use modern music, modern clothing (at least some of it is too modern in design for that period) and modern dialogue.
You may think me hyper critical but I just think a lot of it is just lazy; pandering to their younger audiences in the hope that they would relate or perhaps hoping they wouldn't get an audience who notices these things.
The acting here is pretty dire but I've seen these young actors in other things and they have demonstrated that they can act so I think much of the blame comes down to the script and it's director, Matthias Hoene, whose biggest claim to fame so far is the lamentable 'Cockneys vs Zombies'.
The first episode showed more potential, the story line was slightly more exciting and the delivery was far more consistent with its characters. The other episodes could have been exciting; it would have been nice to go on some adventures with this intrepid gang - but the ploddish dialogue, the forced humour that never hits the mark, and the lack of dread and intensity in any moments of action, water down what in someone else's hands could have been a brilliant series for young adults. -
Tok9414 March 2022A really good kids' series, with talented young actors and a great set. Surely it wasn't easy creating such quality and premium content during a pandemic so congrats!
Ps: this show does fit in the HBO max FAMILY landscape, a kids content does not necessarily mean Disney+ ! -
namob-4367313 March 2022This looked kinda cool. I knew it was for kids, but I felt like it could work for me too since I am a sucker for Egypt, history and mumies. Sadly this was not for me, nor should it be viewed by anyone.
The first episode showed a bit of promise. And it almost hooked me there for a second, but the more the episode passes the more I started to feel cringe and wishing people could stop making nonsense with bad casting.
This is what is wrong with modern TV. A laughable cliche premiss, an overpowered protagonist with few weaknesses and of course her plucky band of diverse token hires. Together they solve riddles that make no sense with bad acting in a very anti-historical world filled with so many inaccuracies I felt that the show-runners should learn history before creating lousy TV shows.
This is also boring. I do not think anyone can like this, not even the intended audience. Speaking of as a parent I would advice against showing this to children.
I give the show a 3/10. -
alinaboicenco15 March 2022It's really really bad. Very clingy from the sound track music to the plot of the episodes. It feels like a Disney channel kids show. Not what I expected from HBO tbh. I like shows more aimed at kids like His Dark Materials is great, also by HBO good story line and acting. This one is unfortunate a flop.
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People complain and give 1 stars because they didn't expect a kids show....did you read the description?
Many others complain that a kid show is on HBOMAX. HBO has always had kids shows.... Good lord many morons on planet earth.
Look yes it is a kids show. Yes it is cheesy and the acting inst the greatest, but my 8 year old loved it and binge watched it. -
emelie2357 July 2022I don't know the bad reviews but this show is made for everyone. This is like those easy reading books you read between waiting to read or digest something more complex. Loved the fun and imagitveness of the show and overall the feel of the show is very well paced and the story is very easy to get into.
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kaylaemmm5 March 2023Theodosia is a great middle-grade show that is entertaining for adults as well.
Other reviewers have mentioned their dislike of the time-period inconsistencies with costumes and language; my stance is that the target audience isn't going to care about the period costumes and won't fully understand the languages. The series moreso used the time period as a storytelling mechanism, similar to how Enola Holmes, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and The Mysterious Benedict Society are told.
Each character is very unique and has a distinct personality and set of skills. This show does a great job of showing how each of those characteristics can be a weakness in some situations and the greatest of strengths in others - a lesson the target age group needs to learn.
Is this show predictable? Yes. Is it a fantastic way to get younger generations interested in Egyptian mythology and history? Absolutely. -
orthohawk9 April 2024Even with the anachronistic elements (although the concept of "fangirl" probably existed in Edwardian England, I'm pretty sure the word did not), it's good clean adventure/fun for the whole family. I particularly like the more slapstick (a la Lucy and Ethel) aspects of the show.
As a linguist, I'm glad the director used the authentic Egyptian names for the gods and other personages (along with what I'm assuming is authentic pronunciation).
Overall I'm giving 9 stars; sorry but the blatant anachronisms really grate on my nerves.
Does Eloise Little remind anyone else of Jenna Ortega a little bit? -
clark7719 January 2024Love this series, this is like a Indiana Jones but in a girl version.
The characters are fresh and very well acting for part the the 4 young kids.
I can't wait for the second season.
The first season is full of surprises and is very exiting too.
I would love to see more about those 4 kids in the second season.
I really like it from the first episode until the last episode of the first season keep me hooked up on the TV wanted to see more of this series.
I got only one word for this series.
I love it, I live It, I love It, I love it, I love it, I Love it, I love it so much and I really love it.