If you love transformative performances go for it; if you love smart satires about powerful people, put on HBO’s other black comedies instead.
What it's about
In a fictional Central European country, a delusional chancellor and a violent soldier form a dysfunctional relationship and rule the nation with an iron fist.
The take
Between The Regime's star-studded cast, HBO-backed budget, gorgeous Vienna backdrops, and well-known producers and writers (some of the same people behind The Menu and The Crown), The Regime seems like a show that couldn’t fail. And yet, there’s something shallow about the series’ attempts at parody. It’s not as smartly observed as Succession, or as immediately funny as Veep. It’s a reflection of dictators, sure, but it says nothing more about them other than the obvious: that they’re awful. Bizarrely, they’re even painted as sympathetic at times. For those of us outside the confines of democracies like the US, the real world is bad enough without shows like The Regime making light of our dire situation. This isn’t to say that satires are inherently bad, just that they’re expected to be sharper and bolder if they truly want to pierce the privileged bubbles of their viewers and mean something.
What stands out
The cast, led by a commanding Kate Winslet. The show is watchable because of their funny performances, but still, it’s hard to shake off the feeling that they could be working with better material.
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Say Nothing
A powerful take on the Northern Ireland conflict that smartly shows all sides
8.5
Ethos
A level of attention to aesthetics usually reserved for the most elaborate films, mixed with a complex and relevant story, make this series from Turkey unmatched in its quality
9.9
Interior Chinatown
A novel and daring action comedy that plays on Asian American stereotypes
7.5
Caliphate
A psychological thriller that provides insight on what drove so many young people to ISIS.
8.9
Pretend it’s a City
A wildly entertaining series of interviews with a New York legend
9.2
Occupied
Norway's most expensive show ever is a timely thrill ride with a grim geopolitical premise.
8.7
Dune: Prophecy
Two sisters shift the balance of power in this Dune prequel series
7.0
Escape at Dannemora
Based on a true prison escape story, this slow-burn suspense thriller features once-in-a-lifetime performances by a star-studded cast
9.3
Unorthodox
A well-acted fact-based thriller about untangling the grip of a close-knit community
8.5
Cross
A gritty and gripping adaptation of the James Patterson crime novels