Critical Condition: The Son

The Son | Lightbox, from Saturday

➢ “A brash American epic filmed with cruel enervating tastefulness, The Son suggests a Faulkner novel adapted into a second-rate BBC drama. Adapted from Philipp Meyer’s 2013 book, AMC’s new series doesn’t lack ambition … I’m intrigued by The Son’s possibilities. The opening credits seem to promise an even more expansive vision of American history. And I admire the show’s democratic vision of Texas as a never-ending culture clash. The Son will rise — if it can live up to its ambitions.” — Entertainment Weekly.

➢ “The Son — co-created by Philipp Meyer, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-nominated novel that inspired this series, Brian McGreevy, and Lee Shipman, both of whom worked on the Netflix adaptation of McGreevy’s novel Hemlock Grove — is a handsomely shot, well-acted, and respectable piece of work. But it also isn’t surprising or deeply insightful enough about its characters to truly stand out in the current over-capacity venue that is television in 2017.” — New York.

➢ “If you’re looking for yet another show centered around a morally grey white man with a dark past, The Son might be right up your alley. Those who want something more original or fresh in the drama arena are likely to end up looking elsewhere. The Son follows in the footsteps of AMC’s previous antiheroes: Pierce Brosnan’s character, Eli McCullough, isn’t dissimilar from Don Draper (Mad Men), Walter White (Breaking Bad), and Joe MacMillan (Halt and Catch Fire). But McCullough is exasperatingly unlikable at every turn, and surrounded by countless characters that lack purpose or personality.” — Variety.

➢ “As I started The Son, I found myself less-than-engaged with the things that were supposed to be its calling cards, including the story and Pierce Brosnan. As I worked my way through 10 episodes, I found ideas to latch onto and a number of supporting performances to appreciate … Some viewers may eschew that kind of Stockholm Syndrome affection and just seek early escape to one of the dozens of other scripted shows.” — The Hollywood Reporter.

➢ “[Brosnan’s] awkward drawl is one of the most jarring mood-killers in The Son, and those twinkly eyes are often more playful than dangerous. Even though the journey may be a bit bumpy, The Son still offers an easy ride into the Old West.” — Los Angeles Times.