Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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The only reason Maniac presents to continue past episode 1 is your loyalty and faith in the actors. Not their characters or the story.
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| Network | ||
| Netflix | ||
| Creator | Patrick Somerville | |
| Director(s) | Cary Joji Fukunaga | |
| Writer(s) | Patrick Somerville | |
| Air Date | 9/21/2018 | |
| Genre(s) | Drama, Mystery | |
| Good If You Like | Shows That Make You Go WTF? | |
| Noted Actors | ||
| Owen | Jonah Hill | |
| Jed | Billy Magnussen | |
| Annie | Emma Stone | |
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The Introduction
In an alternate world, Owen finds himself posed with a lot. He just lost his job, he is expected to testify on his brother’s behalf, as an alibi related likely to something sexual, and he is having delusions. Specifically, one of his brother Jed being some sort of spy who can appear and disappear out of thin air. All the while pointing out patterns and making Owen believe he is the chosen one of some kind.
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Which, around 10 years ago, Owen had a psychotic break about but he seems to be fine now. Well, he has stopped taking his medication, so he isn’t truly 100% but he is functional. Though with his brother appearing again and him needing a job, he finds himself guided to Neberdine Pharmaceutical and Biotech to take part in a drug trial. It is there that he meets Annie who seems to be unhinged. However, her bark may be worse than her bite.
Collected Quote(s) or .Gifs
I am vulnerable, but I am not stupid.
On The Fence
The Actors Are More Of The Selling Point Than Characters & Story
Maniac begins as the kind of show which is driven by star power than anything else. Because you enjoy Jonah Hill, Emma Stone, or the rest of the characters advertised for us to see, that is really the only reason to stick around. For watching Jonah Hill walk around in a daze, there isn’t much to invest in with that. Stone be bug-eyed and threatening people? Again, no real hook there. And whether we’re talking about Owen’s rich family, who treat him as a black sheep, or Annie who is this mystery girl, you’re just led to wonder if this can get better or just getting these two to do a TV series is all Maniac has to sell you on.
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First Impression: Mixed (Stick Around)
Maniac begins like the kind of indie movies critics laud, present awards to and yet, going by box office totals, it seemed no one really wanted to see. It says a lot but gives so little that, perhaps like Forever, it depends on your faith and loyalty to the leads to stick around. Hence the mixed label for while I do like the lead actors, I don’t think there is anything that could drive those who don’t like them to continue past episode 1.
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