What?! That's the ending? I agree that it started off so strong, but then took a turn for sure. I understand that many find it clever and multi-dimensional to have lots of loose ends and unanswered questions. Mysterious. However, sometimes "mysterious" just falls right on in the abyss of those "clever" plot holes. I don't regret watching it all, just hate so much talent was wasted in the last few episodes and the ending.
46 Reviews
Started off with a bang! Ended in a whimper.
PlatoTheForms23 July 2022
Started off with a bang! Ended in a whimper. Jeff Bridges is excellent aside from saying "yeahgh" in that gargled voice of his not dissimilar to his role in "True Grit". The rest of the cast is fine. I was hooked from the first episode as we were thrown in with all cylinders running at max horsepower from the word "yeahgh".
Then something happened; every writer's nightmare: They jumped the shark AKA they killed the dogs! Well, not literally kill them but they wrote the dogs off the script. Granted, the show was already slowing down as new characters were introduced. Julian Carson ended up as just another hitman and I don't see the point of following that arc. It's not strong enough. I would have liked to see more of a cat and mouse game between Carson and Dan. Carson was initially hyped up as this elite navy seal/hitman type of guy but was reduced to a lapdog. The show again, having strong premises but weak conclusions.
The flashbacks to a younger Dan were intriguing at first as they gave us more information on Dan's current situation. They quickly became burdensome. No longer did I want to go back in time and hoped the writers would let me fill in the blanks, but hey, dead horses.
Dan's an old man and the show is acting like one; inconsistent energy levels due to an initial caffeine rush, slowly crashing. It's too bad because I keep thinking of what this show could have been instead of what it currently is. I'll keep on watching, thanks to Jeff Bridges.
Then something happened; every writer's nightmare: They jumped the shark AKA they killed the dogs! Well, not literally kill them but they wrote the dogs off the script. Granted, the show was already slowing down as new characters were introduced. Julian Carson ended up as just another hitman and I don't see the point of following that arc. It's not strong enough. I would have liked to see more of a cat and mouse game between Carson and Dan. Carson was initially hyped up as this elite navy seal/hitman type of guy but was reduced to a lapdog. The show again, having strong premises but weak conclusions.
The flashbacks to a younger Dan were intriguing at first as they gave us more information on Dan's current situation. They quickly became burdensome. No longer did I want to go back in time and hoped the writers would let me fill in the blanks, but hey, dead horses.
Dan's an old man and the show is acting like one; inconsistent energy levels due to an initial caffeine rush, slowly crashing. It's too bad because I keep thinking of what this show could have been instead of what it currently is. I'll keep on watching, thanks to Jeff Bridges.
Terrible Ending to a good series
wkdragon22 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There was no need for anyone to get killed for Hamad to just request a meeting with his daughter. Dan Chase hasn't seen the daughter he kidnapped in ages and Harper wants her to understand her real history. Why all the histrionics and body count? Ridiculous!!
Nice ingredients covered with ketchup
MNR87BPF22 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
If you think of the whole storyline since the beginning there is so much in it to make it a blast. I didn't review since the beginning, because I consider myself a Jeff Bridges fan.
But the execution was really kind of boring. I already thought at some point that Angela could be Faraz' daughter. So this is a nice cliffhanger.
But there were so many illogical things happening. Like Dan and Harper sitting in that FBI convoy in the first place. Yeah, right. They chase a guy all over the world and then he gets to sit in the FBI car and get a lift or what ? And since when are FBI windshields not bulletproof ? Like he just shot all of them in like 2 mins. That was lazy.
Same as the action sequence before where the house is "surrounded". That guy just knew like where everyone is and executed them in like 2 mins as well. "Surrounded" by like 3 people. That's really terrifying.
And also what's with that Tarkovsky thing out of nowhere ? For those who do not know what I mean. The dream sequences from Angela when she got taken with that woman talking and there are like tiny hills. That's a quote form Tatkovskys "Stalker". For what reason, I don't know. Because the rest has absolutely nothing in common with it.
I really wanted to like this show, but it really went downhill after the second episode. Sadly. Things could have been more on point. More risky. Darker. Immoral.
This was such a silent ending. This is what we're left with like for a year or what ?
But the execution was really kind of boring. I already thought at some point that Angela could be Faraz' daughter. So this is a nice cliffhanger.
But there were so many illogical things happening. Like Dan and Harper sitting in that FBI convoy in the first place. Yeah, right. They chase a guy all over the world and then he gets to sit in the FBI car and get a lift or what ? And since when are FBI windshields not bulletproof ? Like he just shot all of them in like 2 mins. That was lazy.
Same as the action sequence before where the house is "surrounded". That guy just knew like where everyone is and executed them in like 2 mins as well. "Surrounded" by like 3 people. That's really terrifying.
And also what's with that Tarkovsky thing out of nowhere ? For those who do not know what I mean. The dream sequences from Angela when she got taken with that woman talking and there are like tiny hills. That's a quote form Tatkovskys "Stalker". For what reason, I don't know. Because the rest has absolutely nothing in common with it.
I really wanted to like this show, but it really went downhill after the second episode. Sadly. Things could have been more on point. More risky. Darker. Immoral.
This was such a silent ending. This is what we're left with like for a year or what ?
You can almost hear the heart beats fading
kw-192-48755522 July 2022
What a fantastic finale! Everyone's skeletons come out and everyone's true grit is revealed. Interesting ending especially when you see the last seen. I did not read the book so did not know how it would end but it was definitely foreseeable in certain ways.
Season One Review
southdavid11 November 2022
Surprised to learn that this show is going to be one that continues, rather than a limited series, particularly as I found out by looking for episode 8 and discovering that it wasn't there. Though I think that makes the season ending a little anticlimactical, the performances and story leading up to it more than make up.
Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges/Bill Heck) is a former CIA operative who has been living a quiet life for the last few years. He suddenly discovers that he's being hunted by the FBI and goes on the run. Leading the chase is Assistant Director Harold Harper (John Lithgow/Christopher Redman). Harper, however, has history with Chase from operations in Afghanistan in the early 1980's and there are aspects of that past he'd rather not come to light. Harper's protégé, Angela Adams (Alia Shawkat) begins to wonder what is being kept from her.
There's nothing particularly original about "The Old Man". The gunslinger coming out of retirement for one last stand is well covered and the exploration of the murkiness of the American intelligence agencies has also been done before. Rarely with this level of talent though. Bridges is excellent, as you would expect, and when the scenes need him to become a physical threat, the action scenes are brilliantly thought through in such a way that luck, and training, allow him to take down men much younger than he. As the show runs on though, it becomes Lithgow's though. The confliction within him, transitioning in and out of grief, anger, arrogance and a broken heart is wonderfully played. I should also give a little shout out to Christopher Redman, who does an excellent impression of Lithgow's mannerisms.
There's a lot going on in these seven episodes. As Amy Brenneman is charmed and then co-opted into being Chase's partner. Assassins and operatives for all sides are summoned and despatched. The action cuts back and forth between the present day, and 80's Afghanistan as we learn exactly what Chase and Harper did back then. There is a twist towards the end season that I suspect you'll see coming, but it doesn't harm the series overall.
So far so good. Just hope the cast can stay healthy enough to make the follow up.
Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges/Bill Heck) is a former CIA operative who has been living a quiet life for the last few years. He suddenly discovers that he's being hunted by the FBI and goes on the run. Leading the chase is Assistant Director Harold Harper (John Lithgow/Christopher Redman). Harper, however, has history with Chase from operations in Afghanistan in the early 1980's and there are aspects of that past he'd rather not come to light. Harper's protégé, Angela Adams (Alia Shawkat) begins to wonder what is being kept from her.
There's nothing particularly original about "The Old Man". The gunslinger coming out of retirement for one last stand is well covered and the exploration of the murkiness of the American intelligence agencies has also been done before. Rarely with this level of talent though. Bridges is excellent, as you would expect, and when the scenes need him to become a physical threat, the action scenes are brilliantly thought through in such a way that luck, and training, allow him to take down men much younger than he. As the show runs on though, it becomes Lithgow's though. The confliction within him, transitioning in and out of grief, anger, arrogance and a broken heart is wonderfully played. I should also give a little shout out to Christopher Redman, who does an excellent impression of Lithgow's mannerisms.
There's a lot going on in these seven episodes. As Amy Brenneman is charmed and then co-opted into being Chase's partner. Assassins and operatives for all sides are summoned and despatched. The action cuts back and forth between the present day, and 80's Afghanistan as we learn exactly what Chase and Harper did back then. There is a twist towards the end season that I suspect you'll see coming, but it doesn't harm the series overall.
So far so good. Just hope the cast can stay healthy enough to make the follow up.
Good season finale, to a very good show.!
jbonemail25 July 2022
I think most of bad reviewers just got hooked by the dogs and violence in first episodes, and it was good and fun. But soon ater you need to realize that's it and that the show moved on to something different, or you will not be able to enjoy it.
I loved the acting, that characters, and the developments in the last episodes put it all together. What more do you need to enjoy a tv show?
I loved the acting, that characters, and the developments in the last episodes put it all together. What more do you need to enjoy a tv show?
If this season was a git repository ....
chrisboringlife27 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
You know what they said about the last season of Game of Thrones...
What the biggest critique was, even more than hurt expectations?
All these storylines, that been meticulously crafted for 5 or 6 seasons to eventually merge together in a finale where all branches would melt together in one master branch...
It never happened there...
This is exactly the problem with this show.... All these branches are set, but lead to nothing, bloated air...
I was somewhat frustrated about people complaining in episode 4 about the Zoe branch... it made no sense, there was no logical transition, she was all over the place... and they were right... her branch was completely useless, weakened the overal story on a massive scale.
Branches are out of place or make no sense, - same as Hamzat's daughter, unless either Jeff or him were transgender, there was no way a white girl with freckles would've been born from to Afghanii, those branches, weaken the plot.
Is the Zoe branch done? Or will there be a massive point to it in next seasons?
Nothing connects... why does nothing add up?
All these storylines, that been meticulously crafted for 5 or 6 seasons to eventually merge together in a finale where all branches would melt together in one master branch...
It never happened there...
This is exactly the problem with this show.... All these branches are set, but lead to nothing, bloated air...
I was somewhat frustrated about people complaining in episode 4 about the Zoe branch... it made no sense, there was no logical transition, she was all over the place... and they were right... her branch was completely useless, weakened the overal story on a massive scale.
Branches are out of place or make no sense, - same as Hamzat's daughter, unless either Jeff or him were transgender, there was no way a white girl with freckles would've been born from to Afghanii, those branches, weaken the plot.
Is the Zoe branch done? Or will there be a massive point to it in next seasons?
Nothing connects... why does nothing add up?
Not a bad episode at all
mcmoshers23 July 2022
Disappointed
johnschubert-9385427 July 2022
That's it ?
mrkrw-9610926 July 2022
The road so far. Good episode and finale of season 1. Waiting for season 2.
Shadowboy_25cm1 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Bridges and Lithgow team up and have common screentime: excellent chemistry between them.
In this spy games, that feel like chess, the opponent is witty and one step ahead.
Embedded in an exciting plot are two action scenes: focussed and efficiently crafted. This episode is balanced between action, suspense and character development and stays true to the whole tv show.
The final minutes are really beautiful with the introduction of Faraz Hamzad, who was always in the story like a ghost or from the flashbacks, but now, there he is in flesh.
Beautiful and touching.
As a season finale, this episode feels like a midseason finale episode.
Now: Waiting for season 2.
Highly recommended.
In this spy games, that feel like chess, the opponent is witty and one step ahead.
Embedded in an exciting plot are two action scenes: focussed and efficiently crafted. This episode is balanced between action, suspense and character development and stays true to the whole tv show.
The final minutes are really beautiful with the introduction of Faraz Hamzad, who was always in the story like a ghost or from the flashbacks, but now, there he is in flesh.
Beautiful and touching.
As a season finale, this episode feels like a midseason finale episode.
Now: Waiting for season 2.
Highly recommended.
Oh it ended?
rwakeman200129 July 2022
I enjoyed the show and was looking forward to episode 8 not having a clue that VII was actually the season finale.
I guess not noticing a finale is a finale says everything about it, oh well I'll wait until next series to continue watching....
I guess not noticing a finale is a finale says everything about it, oh well I'll wait until next series to continue watching....
Disappointing. Could be great
hugor13 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
(Season 1 review)
Was very excited about the show when announced, but now, after watching it, i feel disappointed with it.
Starting with the positives. The overarching concept and story are cool, Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow do a fantastic job, in particular Jeff Bridges. His action scenes are amazing and surely the highlight of the show, his dogs are also amazing. Great production values, great cinematography, it all looks great. The flashback scenes are very good.
But then, we have the negative aspects. The whole "Zoe" storyline is rubbish and completely takes the show off-rails. The daughter storyline is predictable from the start and her acting is as wooden as i've ever seen. And to top it all off, the show moves at a crawl. There is a lot of 'dead air', brooding silences, pointless conversations... whole episodes worth. They could have cut it better, paced the story better along and have an amazing show, but alas, they decided to bloat it with meaningless stuff and i found myself zoning off frequently.
A shame, could have been fantastic. Now it's just mediocre with some amazing moments from Jeff Bridges carrying the show on his back.
Was very excited about the show when announced, but now, after watching it, i feel disappointed with it.
Starting with the positives. The overarching concept and story are cool, Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow do a fantastic job, in particular Jeff Bridges. His action scenes are amazing and surely the highlight of the show, his dogs are also amazing. Great production values, great cinematography, it all looks great. The flashback scenes are very good.
But then, we have the negative aspects. The whole "Zoe" storyline is rubbish and completely takes the show off-rails. The daughter storyline is predictable from the start and her acting is as wooden as i've ever seen. And to top it all off, the show moves at a crawl. There is a lot of 'dead air', brooding silences, pointless conversations... whole episodes worth. They could have cut it better, paced the story better along and have an amazing show, but alas, they decided to bloat it with meaningless stuff and i found myself zoning off frequently.
A shame, could have been fantastic. Now it's just mediocre with some amazing moments from Jeff Bridges carrying the show on his back.
A clifhanger as I have ever seen one
rob-vantiel8 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I understand some of the disapointed ratings below, given the sudden ending. I too was sort of dazzled by it. But what I realized some moments later on and those people don't get is that it is actually an enormous clifhanger. I just went to verify and I can give you all consolation: Season 2 is on its way!
But I really like the way that this series is actually a very clever mystery. It is fantastic by the way that it lets us learn more of the complex and secret story as it unfolds. And as it does that, at the same time it gives us more and more questions to seek answers for. I think it is brilliant!
But I really like the way that this series is actually a very clever mystery. It is fantastic by the way that it lets us learn more of the complex and secret story as it unfolds. And as it does that, at the same time it gives us more and more questions to seek answers for. I think it is brilliant!
Watch the entire season and don't listen to haters...
tahuano18 July 2023
It's a great show. Not the greatest. But a great one.
A lot of violence at the beginning and a lot of talking and thinking at the end. People doesn't like to think. That's all.
Has a lot of great acting, great directing and cinematography.
I loved a lot of things and some don't, but to say "what happen with the action?" is childish. Not everyshow is about "ONE" thing.
It evolves!
Entire season is about inner and physical violence, regrets, lost of people you love, and moral limits. There's a lot to think about and reflect. Somethings on the script were too much obvious but others don't and it's a good balance of everything.
It will have you on the edge of your couch.
Watch it and make up your own mind. Like Johnny did.
A lot of violence at the beginning and a lot of talking and thinking at the end. People doesn't like to think. That's all.
Has a lot of great acting, great directing and cinematography.
I loved a lot of things and some don't, but to say "what happen with the action?" is childish. Not everyshow is about "ONE" thing.
It evolves!
Entire season is about inner and physical violence, regrets, lost of people you love, and moral limits. There's a lot to think about and reflect. Somethings on the script were too much obvious but others don't and it's a good balance of everything.
It will have you on the edge of your couch.
Watch it and make up your own mind. Like Johnny did.
a masterclass in wasting talent and goodwill
RetroRick24 July 2022
Such a pompous show about nothing. In reality this whole drama would barely register. Nobody would care about these events, let alone what this story turns out to be al about.
Jeff Bridges has a great screen presence, but for the second half of the season nothing very much to do. As for John Lithgow, this towering thespian talent is reduced to hand-wringing endlessly about an unconvincing paternal relationship with the daughter-substitute of an agent he took under his wing. I have never seen Lithgow so humiliated by a rubbish script
The revelations all amount to nothing, but it takes forever to get there. The writing is pompous, overblown, drawn out for as long as it possibly takes and each word and cliche savoured as though it were Shakespeare.
This really is a masterclass on how to completey waste a great begining and an even greater cast.
Jeff Bridges has a great screen presence, but for the second half of the season nothing very much to do. As for John Lithgow, this towering thespian talent is reduced to hand-wringing endlessly about an unconvincing paternal relationship with the daughter-substitute of an agent he took under his wing. I have never seen Lithgow so humiliated by a rubbish script
The revelations all amount to nothing, but it takes forever to get there. The writing is pompous, overblown, drawn out for as long as it possibly takes and each word and cliche savoured as though it were Shakespeare.
This really is a masterclass on how to completey waste a great begining and an even greater cast.
Hamzad this and Hamzad that...WHO CARES???
dharmacrown-8368423 July 2022
The last episode of the season was it's worse. While the first episode was so promising and action packed with a lot of Jeff Bridges kicking ass the rest of the series took a gradual nosedive with boring flashbacks, long tedious dialogues and sidekick characters getting more screen time than Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow combined.
The last episode was the nail in the coffin, I think half of the episode was Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow driving a car and talking very slowly about Hamzad this and Hamzad that...who cares??? I wanted the show to focus more on Jeff Bridges being a fugitive like the first 3 episodes, not on his daughter and her boring background story.
Terrible.
The last episode was the nail in the coffin, I think half of the episode was Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow driving a car and talking very slowly about Hamzad this and Hamzad that...who cares??? I wanted the show to focus more on Jeff Bridges being a fugitive like the first 3 episodes, not on his daughter and her boring background story.
Terrible.
Flat and unsatisfying
atchinsonk22 July 2022
The season ended with a whimper, limping off into the sunset with characters left hanging in limbo and no satisfactory resolution, just a plot twist that felt wholly contrived. Maybe another season, if it happens, can redeem the story. Maybe.
Gets worse and worse
schulmange22 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Apparently the budget did not include lighting. Too many scenes set in the dark fr no discernible reason.
We all have an elderly uncle who has a yarn to spin, but it takes forever. That's this show. We now have the spoiler that Hamzad may be Angela's father. I say may, as we might find that the baby who escaped later died. Or moved to a different planet. And the idea that Hamzad is her Father is straight out of Star Wars. Seven hours in and I'm rooting for Hamzad.
We all have an elderly uncle who has a yarn to spin, but it takes forever. That's this show. We now have the spoiler that Hamzad may be Angela's father. I say may, as we might find that the baby who escaped later died. Or moved to a different planet. And the idea that Hamzad is her Father is straight out of Star Wars. Seven hours in and I'm rooting for Hamzad.
Goes nowhere and takes its time getting there
travinorbit-7273415 August 2022
You would have no idea this was the finale of the season. There wasn't enough build up or tension to really give you a sense this could even qualify as anticlimactic. It's just one long flatline.
As someone else pointed out, the acting is great. Even so, I'm not entertained by a 20-minute car conversation.
As someone else pointed out, the acting is great. Even so, I'm not entertained by a 20-minute car conversation.
What a let down
dianedonnelly-0166622 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This series started off so well but quickly lost its edge. I always knew the dogs were my favourite part of the show. It was difficult to watch and care about it after Zoe joined him. The ending was predictable- of course she's his daughter. Second season? Who cares? Maybe if the dogs are back.
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