The weird theremin music makes it a little hard to get past the beginning credits, and the 1st couple of episodes were slow, but then it finally picked up and got "juicy." These are no ordinary life stories!!
Unfortunately, we had to wait 2 years for the 2nd season, but I bought the DVD sets at B&N and got to watch at my leisure. I really liked the "bonus" materials in the 1st season, after each episode the writers-directors talked to us about the story. No such luck with season 2. A sit-down with the cast at the end, somewhat boring.
Reese Witherspoon (playing the character Madeline McKenzie) impressed me with her acting versatility, but she is a talented person, so no surprise there. Really, they were all so good, likeable and not-so-likeable characters included.
At the beginning, the men seemed quite competent, attentive husbands, supportive of their wives. Then the chinks in the armour started showing up. In the end, the women came out stronger.
There were many puzzling sides to each story, for example, little Ziggy being evaluated by the child psychiatrist who kept saying he was a lovely little boy, yet she wanted his mother (Jane, played by Shailene Woodley) to bring him back so she could see him again?!? The attention to the possible genetic contribution of violent tendencies was explored, with no real resolution. Ziggy displayed a temper (when he slammed the door in a fit of anger), but it wasn't really addressed.
I agree with some of the reviewers there were many other unanswered questions: -what happened to the 2 sons of Celeste (played by Nicole Kidman)? One of the boys bullied a little girl, but nothing materialized in terms of resolution.
-were there any other victims of Celeste's husband, Perry Wright (played by Alexander Skarsgard)?
-why did Bonnie Carlson (played by Zoe Kravits) marry Nathan if she didn't love him?
... the list could go on.
All-in-all it is a well-done series. Just would like additional information. Maybe a season 3? Please!
Unfortunately, we had to wait 2 years for the 2nd season, but I bought the DVD sets at B&N and got to watch at my leisure. I really liked the "bonus" materials in the 1st season, after each episode the writers-directors talked to us about the story. No such luck with season 2. A sit-down with the cast at the end, somewhat boring.
Reese Witherspoon (playing the character Madeline McKenzie) impressed me with her acting versatility, but she is a talented person, so no surprise there. Really, they were all so good, likeable and not-so-likeable characters included.
At the beginning, the men seemed quite competent, attentive husbands, supportive of their wives. Then the chinks in the armour started showing up. In the end, the women came out stronger.
There were many puzzling sides to each story, for example, little Ziggy being evaluated by the child psychiatrist who kept saying he was a lovely little boy, yet she wanted his mother (Jane, played by Shailene Woodley) to bring him back so she could see him again?!? The attention to the possible genetic contribution of violent tendencies was explored, with no real resolution. Ziggy displayed a temper (when he slammed the door in a fit of anger), but it wasn't really addressed.
I agree with some of the reviewers there were many other unanswered questions: -what happened to the 2 sons of Celeste (played by Nicole Kidman)? One of the boys bullied a little girl, but nothing materialized in terms of resolution.
-were there any other victims of Celeste's husband, Perry Wright (played by Alexander Skarsgard)?
-why did Bonnie Carlson (played by Zoe Kravits) marry Nathan if she didn't love him?
... the list could go on.
All-in-all it is a well-done series. Just would like additional information. Maybe a season 3? Please!
