it seems like so much of the time the comments are just about what is wrong with shows. i want to
give credit where it's due. this show has exceeded my expectations. there are imho three things a
good show must do: make you become concerned with what happens to the protagonist, avoid
predictability so you care what happens next- but without unfair surprises for their own sake that
make suspension of disbelief impossible, and create enough narrative momentum so that you are
excited about the next episode and learning what happens next. even bad shows usually can do one,
and mediocre ones can accomplish two. this show does all three, which imo makes it top tier tv.
btw- some people on the net have complained that there's a cartoonish quality to some of the
horrible acts on this show. i disagree for two reasons.
the 'villain.' despite his actions, is more fully realized than that would allow.
people may be unaware of it, but all of the stuff on this show has historical precedents in postwar
middle eastern history. they aren't drawn from the same country, of course, (up to six by my last
count) but they're things that are realistic in that they're inspired by real historical events and
people.
give credit where it's due. this show has exceeded my expectations. there are imho three things a
good show must do: make you become concerned with what happens to the protagonist, avoid
predictability so you care what happens next- but without unfair surprises for their own sake that
make suspension of disbelief impossible, and create enough narrative momentum so that you are
excited about the next episode and learning what happens next. even bad shows usually can do one,
and mediocre ones can accomplish two. this show does all three, which imo makes it top tier tv.
btw- some people on the net have complained that there's a cartoonish quality to some of the
horrible acts on this show. i disagree for two reasons.
the 'villain.' despite his actions, is more fully realized than that would allow.
people may be unaware of it, but all of the stuff on this show has historical precedents in postwar
middle eastern history. they aren't drawn from the same country, of course, (up to six by my last
count) but they're things that are realistic in that they're inspired by real historical events and
people.
