American Odyssey (2015) User Reviews (61)

It entertained me

[afortiorama · 7/10 · 6 March 2016]

The biggest problem of this show is that most of the characters are too trustworthy to the point of stupidity or just too plain stupid. In particular the activists who one could really nickname dumber&dumber, but also the corporate lawyer. Then again most people would probably behave the same.

Said that I really liked all the part in Africa involving Odelle, the main character, the diversity of characters albeit some unbelievable, like the publicly transgender uncle, their relationships and the fact that they spoke a mixture of English, French and Arabic. I quite liked also the way it ends, though that was meant to be only a mid-season finale and not a series finale.

No less credible than Homeland

[geoff_turner · 8/10 · 15 September 2015]

Critics have attacked this, but I found it just as credible as Homeland. We all know how deeply US corporations have been involved in war in Iraq, providing private security, and helping generate the misery that we see in the Middle East today. The bullying of Greece over its debt was also a nice realistic touch. OK, it is just a fictional story, but it is as credible as Homeland, which in later series became rather tedious and dragged out. It was also just as far fetched. The idea that the US would take any form of action against their ally Pakistan was utterly incredible. They allow this terrorist sponsoring state to have nuclear weapons without batting an eyelid, while threatening Iran. They need states such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as allies, even if they are the most extreme Islamic states in the world. As entertainment, I felt it kept the pace up well right until the last episode. Pity it has been dropped now, but I guess follow up series often tend to get weaker and weaker (except Breaking Bad, of course!).

Excellent show, good cast,

[rebeccax5 · 8/10 · 9 April 2016]

I never saw American Odyssey on NBC, but I just finished watching it on Netflx. It's a pity NBC has cancelled it. I hope it is offered on a cable channel for a season 2. The characters are great, Actors are top notch. I want to see more!

Although there are parts of it that feel rushed and incomplete or Network blandness, it manages to be a mostly tight thriller that is very reality based and sticks to it's controversial story with very little compromise.

Seeing it on Netflix without commercial interruption is probably far better then seeing it on NBC.

It's cancellation by NBC, like the cancellation of Hannibal, is a travesty and it should be a warning to other film makers to watch out for NBC's top brasses fear of controversy and lack of caring about the viewer.

Too Close to Home for Some?

[gwmdeclare · 10/10 · 21 May 2015]

The US have lost over 6,700 killed and over 50'000 injured in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003. Among the coalition forces another 300+ were killed including 179 Brits. Not to mention the million or so Iraqi and Afghan deaths Both conflicts are total failures militarily and politically. These brave people died for what exactly? The only true winners in these wars have been the defence contractors. Halliburton's stock went up over 500% and they aren't the only ones to make a 'killing' on these wasteful, terrible wars. Would a US corporation kill American service men to protect their profits. You bet they would. They have done it everyday for 13 years. This programme tells an all to plausible and engrossing story that sorely needed telling. The production values, acting, directing are all excellent. It is television at it's best. I highly recommend it

NBC yet again doesn't finish off a show

[pas-31645 · 10/10 · 14 September 2015]

This show was actually interesting. Yes it did have some slow moments, and sometimes it was a little all over. I was waiting to see what happened to Odelle as she was on her way back to the United States, as well as the Muslim boy who saved her. But NBC goes and cancels. The ratings seem high for all ages. NBC use to be number 1, but in the past years they seem to not care what the viewers like and/or watch - only if they really care for it. I also guess this is too close to home. Oh something the US couldn't do - lie. Loved how social media was able to aid (and hurt) in Odelle's hiding and return. NBC stop cancelling shows that viewers do indeed watch, because you think they don't. You must not have those ratings boxes in the right houses!

So far, so good

[macktan894 · 7/10 · 7 April 2015]

I found this first episode quite entertaining. A special unit finds out they've killed a prize terrorist and can't believe their good luck. In addition, they discover a laptop full of arabic intel though one item is in English and appears to be a money transfer from an American firm. Soon this unit gets a call from the top commander ordering them to stand down, telling them that the Intel unit will be there to take care of bodies and all material. They find this order odd but are told it comes from the highest of all high. And with this, their troubles begin.

Meanwhile, back in the states, a former US attorney runs into an old friend who casually tells him of an investigation into a corporation that his legal team represents. That attorney informs his colleagues of the info and soon gets shut down completely when the Corporate Man shows up and says they are all clear.

Bring in the Occupy Movement who are protesting all kinds of corporate and govt malfeasance and you've got a brew all connected to this Corporate/Military/Govt Conspiracy.

I give the series a number of points for showcasing the Occupy Movement! I give it more points for highlighting a Syriana-type corporate/govt conspiracy. The remaining points go to the entertainment values. So, yes, I'd recommend you watch it and see some truth in it.

Decent Mini-series based on Big Corporation 'conspiracy' theme

[canuckteach · 8/10 · 20 May 2015]

Ignore the negativity here at IMDb about this show. This is an interesting but complex mini-series that examines what happens when a monster corporation with good connections gets into political intrigue for the sake of profit, and tries to cover it up. We see the plot unfolding from three pairs of eyes: a young political activist (with a blue-blood background); a female soldier from an elite team who take down a wanted terrorist; and a lawyer who has signed on as an employee to defend a company that is in 'over their heads'. This show lacks the explicit language or sensual activity of series of this genre produced in Europe, although BBC (and, lately, the Danish) have certainly produced a bumper crop of hard-hitting (but adult-rated), exposé-type of shows, broadcast over 9-15 weeks. Nice to see an American show take up the challenge to produce a quality non-cheesy, but (PG-13) offering. My only complaint is that the remaining (6?) episodes of Season-1 are not yet available at Netflix - so, we will all have to wait for a final resolution. M Gull (May-2015)

Sigh, it could have been great, but...

[jdberner · 6/10 · 14 August 2016]

I forget whether a "wise" person once said to believe or disbelieve 2 implausible things before lunch, but the strain on one's credibility in this series does become too heavy a weight.

The initial "shock" of believing a US corporation made a deal with terrorists is hardly a shock; that hardly puts any tax on one's credibility. That a paramilitary company is used for "off-book" activities is likewise no harder to swallow than milk to a child. A general's collusion is more difficult, and far too many "evildoers" acting with impunity and no fear of consequences is a bit of a stretch, however.

Aside from Ms. Friel, who is more than equal to her role, the rest of the cast occasionally finds it hard to sell the dialogue the writers gave them (unless the editing is simply worse than it seemed - hardly award-winning by itself).

They did a lot of things right, however. The essence of the plot was good, flipping through various languages for a series that stretches through 3 continents was something we need to see done an awful lot more, and they kept the pacing nicely even, and the narrative of the three separate stories lucid (for the most part). Worth watching if your expectations aren't too high.

Goodness me !!! the Pilot was so Thrilling filled with conspiracy .. kept me on the edge of my seat ... if they kept going at it like this, it could become a new NBC hit :)

[Aktham_Tashtush · 8/10 · 6 April 2015]

Well it started in a good rhythm .. an operation in Mali, G8 protest a Privet Military or whatever they called it then Boooom ... a wipe out operation to cover up their secrets .. everything is gone, data, soldiers .. it makes you think did really something like that happened before in reality !!! i mean did that really happened after they killed Bin Laden !!! conspiracy !! propaganda !!

The plot is so catchy .. after the first 15 minutes it pulls right into wanting to watch more... the storyline is spot on, Peter Horton is not new in this and he did a good job producing and co-writing and same goes for "The following" guy; Adam Armus ;)

The cast were All fine,, doing a great job here .. the thrill is distributed over the whole characters .. each have story to tell and it might seem not connected at first, Ooh they appears to be are :)

I have no idea how much was the budget for this but hell i'm sure they spend a lot of money on the cinematography the Sets and locations .

I don't know if this is gonna last and i hope it does with the only condition of they're keeping it rolling on the same level of agitation and this could become a new NBC hit.

............................................................... ................ Update.............................................................. .............

Well for the second episode things still keeping us alarmed, full of suspense .. to be fair.. not as thrilling as the pilot but still averaged a 7 out of 10 for me.

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some problems with believability

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 1 July 2015]

Sergeant Odelle Ballard (Anna Friel) is part of a US task force which attacked a terrorist hideout in Mali. She finds incriminating evidence of involvement in terrorist organization by American private security company SOC. Her unit is massacred by SOC. Her family is told that she's dead while SOC tries to hunt her down throughout North Africa. She is helped by Aslam, the son of her captor. Meanwhile, former US Attorney Peter Decker (Peter Facinelli) uncovers similar evidence and is being hounded. Famed reporter's son Harrison Walters tries to blog about the situation. An acquaintance hacker Bob Offer discovers that Odelle may be alive. Reporter Ruby Simms befriends Harrison but she's not what she seems to be.

This is sort of like Homeland after its first initial good run. It has problems with believability. With the world in such dire straits, any fictional story would pale in comparison. The setting is probably as good as any TV show is going to get. It's not just the comparison to the real world that this show fails in. I can't understand why copying or downloading some computer files seems so impossible on this show.

There is probably one too many story lines in the show. Peter Decker's story could probably be eliminated. They think the show needs to explain the conspiracy. It's not really necessary. The US side of the story should be kept simple. The audience can usually fill in the blanks. The Greek debt crisis is a bad distraction. This show works most of the time as a mindless conspiracy thriller.

promising

[catpurdy · 8/10 · 11 April 2015]

1st episode was quite good. I already care about what will happen to several of the characters and the suspense held my attention. Definitely worth a watch.

I love the themes of corporate and government immorality vs true heroism.

Looking forward to the next episode. It does remind me of Homeland a little bit, but faster-paced. Very few programs rise to the level of that quality.

Why IMDb.com forces a reviewer to write ten lines of Text is a mystery - that's a little much! What else can I say _ try it!

mostly good

[klassenmtim · 27 May 2015]

I think this show has lots of promise but there are too many plot lines that are done over and over. It must be hard to come up with a totally original plot nowadays. I have to watch the next episode as soon as I can because they keep you in suspense and end the episode at a crucial point in the plot. I hope the season finale doesn't do that. It usually takes too long for the next season to wait to see what happens so I don't remember the details of the last season. I think this show is mostly original but like I said earlier, they have several plot lines that I have seen is several other shows. I also think that the characters tend to do the worst thing is certain situations that seem to be plot contrivances and not what intelligent people would do.

Odyssey

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 13 September 2015]

Shortly after a US Army unit destroy a terrorist cell in Mali Sgt. Odelle Ballard discovers encrypted files on a terrorist's computer that show that American company SOC has been funding the terrorists in order to provide a threat for them to counter… and earn vast amounts in the process. Shortly afterwards the unit is attacked by private military group OSELA leaving Ballard the sole survivor. With the evidence against SOC she soon meets a local boy, Aslam, who helps her as she struggles to get out of Africa while avoiding both OSELA operatives and local terrorists. Back in the states it is reported that the entire team was killed but rumours about Odelle's survival soon start circulating. In parallel stories former U.S. Attorney, Pete Decker discovers that corruption at his new employer; SOC, and activist Harrison Walters learns of a conspiracy when he and a friend hack into Sgt. Ballard's email account… as the plot thickens things get more and more dangerous for all involved.

This thirteen part drama starts well with the exciting events in the Malian desert immediately grabbing the viewer's attention. This establishes the basic set up for the series as Odelle meets Aslan and goes on the run. We are quickly introduced to most of the other protagonists and see that they too will find themselves in real danger. The story moves at a fairly fast pace with plenty of tense moments… this is a good thing as story is rather far-fetched. In particular it is a little hard to believe that Odelle could survive all the encounters with various threats. I thought Anna Friel did a fine job in the role however even though she looks younger than she really is it is hard to believe that she is a combat soldier. The rest of the cast were also impressive enabling us to believe in their characters even when the situation got rather far-fetched. Most of the series plot strands are tied up by the end but some are left hanging and others appear to be being set up; clearly the creators were hoping for a second series but as it is apparently cancelled we'll just have to decide for ourselves what happens next. Overall a decent action/conspiracy thriller but if you are expecting another 'Homeland' you are likely to be disappointed.

Pilot OK but it went downhill from there - fast

[knutgr-41025 · 1/10 · 1 June 2015]

I started to compile a list of clichés, inconsistencies and impossibilities of characters and plots but had to stop at eight, single line, pages. There were just too many. I really wanted to love the show, with its background story of increase of violent terrorism, failed sates, and America struggling to get a handle on things. But to no avail, the show failed miserably.

It would have been wise for the writers to let the main character Odelle struggle to get to some place from where she could get to the US (Odyssey!) but instead, she made it rather quickly to places where she could find allies, food, shelter, and above all, an internet connection and cell phones. The INTERNET!! CELL PHONES!! Do the writers know that you can use these devises to connect to just about anybody in the world? And fast?

So in order for the series to continue, they had to dumb her down to the level of a moron (down from a savvy special ops fighter). Just to make my point: She called the General, who in all likelihood, was in on her demise. Yes, she did call her family - once - but surprise surprise, the phone connection was blocked. How? Everybody else got through to the family's phone. And then, she called just one journalist from the NYT, but no, not to send her proof (the journalist apparently has no email account, just like the NYT doesn't seem to have one), but to arrange for them to meet in some obscure location.

It's a real shame that the script hasn't been thought through, because with the right premise, the background they have chosen could have made for a great story.

So to wrap it up: here is a synopsis of characters and plots that ruined it for me:

• The hacker: in this series, the hacker is one who uses Google and receives email. That's it. Ah yes, and he is of course all paranoid and lives with his mother

• The occupied wall street guy (Harrison): Does he even own a computer? Has he used his phone for anything else but calling somebody? He hooks up with Ruby,the undercover assassin, even though he knows she is not who she says she is. How dumb can you be as a leader of a large opposition group

• The husband: the one person you would think really, really, wants to believe his wife Odelle is still alive but instead, despite more and more evidence popping up to the contrary, he rather believes the story of the military that she is dead. And he even scolds his daughter to hang on to hope.

• The attorney Peter: BTW, he is the one with one single facial expression so far throughout nine episodes. He seems to have figured out everything but all of a sudden walks into the lair of evil (the CEO of the company that is responsible for killing all these special ops guys),and TELLS me that is onto him. Right,that's what you do, walk right up to your enemy and tell him you know everything. For what purpose? Did he except him to break down and confess everything? And the final kicker then was: All of a sudden, he demanded 40 million dollars. WHAT?

Wish I could Binge on it!!

[anavadya · 10/10 · 10 April 2015]

Well, I'm not one for Network T.V. but saw the ad for this show during the SuperBowl and figured I would check it out…. So I turned it on while I was playing a game on my phone and didn't think I would watch the entire show. I was surprised to find "American Odyssey" particularly intriguing and put down my game to follow all the nuances and characters….. I thought the acting was better than most TV and really liked Anna Friel as the lead….. the writing was seductive and the directing a cut above the rest….. I actually wanted to watch the next episode right away but I guess it's not available yet…. Anyway, I highly recommend this show and will continue to watch for the content and the creative delivery…...

Couldn't get enough of it

[poseidenx · 8/10 · 18 March 2018]

Well I have to say I am surprised by the negative reviews on this, I myself bought the whole season from Amazon and watched the whole lot in two days. I loved every minute of it, in fact I have not enjoyed a series as much as this for a long time. I understand that the plot could not ever be a long running series but I felt it had as least another season of storyline to tell, I am sorry to see it over. I strongly recommend you watch it.

Stop phoning the desert

[greenwhich · 30 June 2015]

The show has been quite amateur in acting, effects, and concepts. I sat through the first 1.30 hour, but everything made me wanna scream, and throw something at my TV.

The Jihadist headquarters within the nation of Mali, not quite the hotbed of global terrorism and Al Qaeda, but they must have had broadband fibre optic connections in the middle of the Sahara Desert via a notebook that had no dish or communications relays. I suppose that any WIFI can travel all the way across the desert, but we never saw those pipelines, power lines, cough. Strike team 14 leaves the ancient desert fort, and a marine calls her daughter in America via an apple i6 or i7 phone. Hello Mr satellite, please just go and dial up America, there is such massive signal coverage out here in the middle of the desert from all the local coms relay towers beaming out all those signal waves all across the Sahara, somehow she manages to send somebody else a text. Anyhow the chopper missile strike force lowers American marines to blue on blue other Americans marines, after pinging their mobile phones. I bet each one of them had signed the official secrets act. The tribal's also all had mobile phones in the middle of the desert to communicate with each other. These tribal's were super devout, they are making a pilgrimage to Timbuktu the cradle of that region's civilization. I just don't know why, possibly for some more technology?

A marine who is trained in modern warfare is jaywalking, and gets pancaked, forgetting basic duck and cover, alertness, from a screeching van screeching around a corner. A known public face is accused of this act, for calling up the paramedic's and a warrant for his arrest means his personal computer is seized and his house is raided.

I would be here all day with the amount of errors from the plot, corporation funds war to make money. What is new here? How does this tie into poor old Greece?

Greece have tried not paying the piper, because everything was tomorrow for them. Eurozone although after printing 1 trillion could have simply wiped out their debt before any interest accumulates, had tried to squeeze them austerically. Now they have all but, given up on their tourism. Knowing they would only haggle for another payment next time, without any set measures being met, any bailouts always mean another round of debate of why they won't pay today. So they have left it to a Yes or NO. No will probably mean Russia or somebody else bails out their economy upon exit, gaining some tourism, so they probably wanna try to say Yes to stay in Europe. Although they won't decide anytime today. The greedy bank lending doesn't like austerical European defaulters knowing they will only try to haggle for a better deal again and have made it a no tolerance policy. Greece is all like the middle finger, and will just go and borrow from some other tourist than, if they cannot decide today.

Please stop phoning up the desert, there just isn't any signal out there

Conspiracy in the US again

[billcallinderscott-2607 · 7/10 · 29 July 2015]

This is typical conspiracy theory fayre and this time is centred around a multi-national corporation. So it's part of a common theme that abounds in TV and cinema and has the usual twists and turns that are to be expected. Has it got anything that separates it from the rest? Not really but the cast are very good with a storyline that, as many reviewers have mentioned, often beggars belief. The level of stupidity is quite astounding especially considering that the characters are supposed to be smart and worldly-wise. People who are supposed to be suspicious of anyone they don't know believe strangers even after they are discovered to be liars. Friends who prove to be untrustworthy are given secret information over, and over, and over, .. again.

Even after all this it's still a decent, if not outstanding, series which I have continued to watch largely because of the cast as opposed to the script. It's hard to ignore the stupidity but the cast do a very good job of putting across an unbelievable story. Sometimes a great cast can raise a mediocre script into something that's worth watching.

Good surprise

[porchv · 8/10 · 24 August 2015]

American Odissey was a great surprise for me. Initially I didn't think it could be an extraordinary series. I thought it would be a ordinary one. But as long as the story advance it become more and more exciting and interesting. Everything is going to be conect and it is impossible not to wait for the next episode. Wait a whole week to see what is going to happens was something really disstressful. Some moments really take my breath away and let me exciting. There are no moments of peace during the story goes. Final episode is really good and let me wanting a second season. But I don't think a second one could be as good as the first. And maybe trying to keep going with the story could make it tiring.

Worth Watching

[gerryexdlr · 6/10 · 11 November 2018]

I binged watched the 13 episodes over 2 nights. Parts were good but there were more bad parts. Probably due to the script, direction and acting. Peter is awful and when I looked into his bio, I understood why. A 'twilight' actor. Ugh. Still, if you no other better choice, take a chance with this.

Brilliant, as far as it goes!

[richardlane-59839 · 6/10 · 19 May 2017]

But I'm gutted by an exasperating odyssey. What great potential this exhilarating and spectacular story had; drama, pathos, threat and thrill, but ultimately it's unfulfilled because the commissioners, NBC, didn't have the commitment 'balls' to see it through! (WHY???).

Superb performances by the cast throughout sustained suspense until the 'final' episode; except clearly this is not the story's denouement. So WHAT next?...come on, where is the faith and dedication this magnificent series deserved? Unquestionably it needs a singularly great resolution and not a 'damp squib' ending! Could have been a 9-10/10 but disappointingly ends up a mediocre 6! Frustrated!!!

Great show!! Had to keep track of each scenario as the storyline is laid out. Each has an agenda that is typical in our society today

[crbessette · 10/10 · 9 April 2015]

Scary to entertain the idea that this actually could be happening! Greed raises its ugly head and overshadows the Patritotism we hope to have as American citizens. Looking forward to watching again next week.

The casting is great and the characters fit well in connecting the families that are being effected by the media & trying to find the truth but not trusting their sources. I thought the Time reporter "plant" was surprising but the give away was when the reporter looked into the eyes of the over the top hacker.

Watching the scenes in the desert & the innocent people trying to find a safe place in their own land touched my heart and made me ever aware of the beauty of living in America . I can compare this series to Madame Secretary and the movie Patriot Games.

Would have made it to Homeland

[jkipkangor · 7/10 · 30 May 2015]

I give it a 7 because the writers and directors had a great story to tell. I like the whole conspiracy bit, military and private contractors working in earnest to destroy the truth. Conspiracy sells but the story must not be very predictable! Well, you can guess what comes next etc. I have come to like it though, it's intense in a way, makes me want to see what comes next... Like, will she get home? What happens to Harrison... My suggestion is that you keep watching, give it a chance, some good entertainment may come out of it. The part I haven't gotten to terms is why doesn't she call home directly and talk to her family? I think that is a flop in writing. Again, the family wasn't threatened not to quest for the truth, to find out if she was alive..

Mindless Stupidity

[jeemak · 1/10 · 29 April 2015]

I'll agree that things were at least digestible right through the hook, but then I began to gag. First up, the sheer stupidity of a supposed elite soldier who, while traveling incognito, gives herself away because she can't resist the urge to administer Tylenol, in the middle of the night, to a boy who seems a thousand times tougher than she is. Then there's the attorney guy who keeps revealing everything he has learned to the conniving co-worker whom he knows has already betrayed him. Oh, and let's not forget the husband who offers no resistance to the suggestion by the military to just cremate the supposed remains of his wife--no second opinion, no independent confirmation, no nothing, just "ok, Colonel, sure thing." My wife and I never called our TV stupid so many times before.

More like an African Odyssey actually

[jormatuominen · 9/10 · 11 March 2017]

One time in North Africa I got so fed up with the hassle that I bought myself a Nubian headdress and a gray-brown robe worn by most men. Suddenly I was invisible, being able to walk undisturbed right past the masses of desperate peddlers, boatmen, touts and what have you. For most part they didn't give me a second glance. In the Odyssey series an American soldier Odelle Ballard is on the run trying to hide herself in plain sight in North Africa and I really felt for her. I know what it's like. Odelle is put in the complicated situation of a whistle blower who possesses proof that private defense contractors do not hesitate to do business with terrorist enemies of her country. She is declared dead and the powers be will not rest until she is. Many reviewers who gave low points to the series have perhaps missed the title word Odyssey. What Odyssey means is a long and perilous journey where you are trying to get home but circumstances throw you further off the course again and again. This is exactly what happens to Odelle. The network was seriously misguided when they re-titled the series American Odyssey. There is none. There are a couple of quite hopeless subplots taking place in the U.S., but they are in place just to underline that the fate of Odelle will not be decided by others in America while she is on her African (not American) Odyssey, beautifully shot on location in Morocco by the way. Anna Friel is perhaps a bit old for the role of a active front line foot soldier and she looks (at least to this reviewer) very, very British rather than American, which she is, too. But wow, does she look good with those gray eyes peeking from under a blue Tuareg headscarf interwoven skilfully around her head. Only men do this in real life, women wear simple modest scarves, but in this case who cares. Anna Friel was a great choice to star in the series, she is able to convey the complicated emotions of a survivor fugitive from everything she's ever known, in an environment alien to most viewers but luckily not quite so alien for her character. She is for practical purposes the only female character of any consequence in this series, quite rare in these days, and makes the most of it. She gets to wear a lot of different clothes and costumes in this series of camouflage, hide and seek! There is a very good international cast to support her, while the American subplot cast is quite wooden in comparison. Having spent quite a lot of time in the Sahel area, North and West Africa I appreciate that the environment is seen in a much more realistic light than one would expect from an American network series. Sure there's exoticism and even magic thrown in, but hey, that's what Africa will throw at you in living color if you give it half a chance. I give it 9 out 10. As a final note, several reviewers have wondered why Odelle didn't just email the incriminating secret files from the nearest laptop to the press. I would say that the problem is the other way around, it would take someone reliable on the other end to decrypt the encrypted files to plain text once received. I am a member of the press and we do not decrypt top secret government files.