This review is after watching 3 episodes, totaling six stories. None of the stories have the originality or gravitas of the original film. Some don't even compare to the more lackluster stories of the sequel. I had high hopes for this series, but I feel like the writers don't possess the talent of Stephen King or George Romero. All of the stories in the show appear to have the desire to pull off a great twist or shocking reveal, only to fall short or flat altogether. The one standout story which takes exception to most of my gripes was House of the Head. Likely due to Cailey Fleming's impeccable performance, the episode had a lot of what made the films good: A decent story, an otherworldly entity, and good old fashion fun. Other episodes were downright painful to watch, with Bad Wolf Down being a dreaded mashup of Dog Soldiers and a pathetic WWII student film, poorly acted and rushed through. The premiere story, featuring talent such as Giancarlo Esposito, Adrienne Barbeau and Jigsaw himself, deceitfully wrote a check the show couldn't cash. 5 stories later and the only remotely recognizable name in the credits was Kid Cudi. Most of the stories are played out by angsty teens with no acting experience. The Finger was a watchable episode, thanks in part to DJ Qualls oddball narration, a generous amount of gore, and an undeniably adorable little monster from hell. I'm willing to give this show a few more tries based on general merit and respect for Greg Nicotero, but I pray the series gets better.
