User Reviews

So I was recommended to me to watch this so I did. Now initially watching it I was like what the hell am I watching? after a few sketches I realized I was watching a documentary-style sketch comedy show with a satirical twist. Every episode takes that particular approach to cover some touchy topics from Black face, toxic masculinity, trans living, rape culture, body dysmorphia to good hair in the black community. The show also give clips revealing a black history that most wouldn't learn in school. The show displays strong cultural and political significance to the black society with a unique yet gripping approach. The narrative kept me intrigued enough to binge watch the entire season. The overall vibe gave me adult swim, chappelle show with some controversial but needed plots. I can see why it's on HBO at midnight but I'm glad I was recommended it.

Created, directed, and starring Terence Nance, RAoF is a variety series featuring stunning abstract visuals, jarring juxtapositions, and such raw and honest emotion. Being described as a "fluid, mind-melting stream-of-conscious response to the contemporary American mediascape", the series is of course very surreal, with the through-line plot being driven by a video game creator and artist Najja (Alicia Pilgrim) and her partner (Nance), as they explore each other in their relationship, the atrocities of their ancestral pasts, and the hidden truths of their realities. Entwined with heavy themes of spiritualism, music, dance, and poetry, the series flows more as a performative art statement piece than it does a network sketch comedy, and while I did gut laugh a few times over its two season run it is not a series I would describe as funny. Lots of commentary on politics and media itself, RAoF is beautiful in its style, the directing and composition is top notch, the acting is very good, and the score is just perfect. Not something which would be easy to binge, for me each episode needed a period of self reflection before moving onto the next, but as a piece of artistic experience if you enjoy abstractly transparent hard hitting truths, I would highly recommended. I'm so excited for whatever Nance works on next.

This show is amazing! The low rating is absolutely racially motivated. The show is eclectic, diverse in topics and showing Black folks in different hues, sex-positive / explorative, open-minded, Womanist, LGBT/Queer-friendly, vulnerable, honest, smart, intelligent, factual, witty, cerebral, and experimental. Usually, genres like this and those of the "weird /niche /experimental/ realism" are relegated to white actors for a white audience. This show represents that we too are appreciative of this style of documentation and we can tell great stories in this format. It's nice to have representation and exploration of our cultural identity, plight, and nuances in a nontraditional stereotypical way.

Anyone who has a problem with the content of this show is "the problem". This show should be encouraging discussion about race relations in America and the experience of Black America. If you said you feel like you're being "guilted" while watching this, you're telling us a lot about yourself.

I cannot imagine how this show wouldn't win a lot of big awards. If it doesn't, something is wrong. This is practically the only show I look forward to each week, and the format of the program is fantastic.

If you wanted to recommend this show to a friend who had never heard of it, I think saying "It's like what if 'This is America' was a TV show instead of a music video".

There's nothing like this currently on T.V. Terrance Nance and his creative team are really pushing the boundaries of television far with this output. It's also incredible seeing black issues take its rightful place in the vast space of entertainment.

And the folks talking about white guilt and reverse racism... take that somewhere else. Terrance Nance and black thought is here to stay!

This show is very dangerous. It cultivates racial hate speech based on presumptions which are not fully supported. It draws one faulty conclusion on another like 'Religious Science'. As an instrument to encourage dialogue between races of men? That would be a worthy goal. Yet, how do you address the 'Fifth' level of flimsy when it would take a month to explain why it doesn't even make sense. The show very cleverly uses advanced philosophical concepts yet cherry picks them for purposes of selling it's product. The product is indulging hatred among those who feel that they are a victim against their perceived oppressor. I don't mention 'Categories' because it is irrelevant. If you want to fight a disease, you have to attack it directly and not they symptoms. This show feeds the disease. The disease is Racism. This show profits from that. We need to stop judging and hating for everyone's sake.

This is one of the best shows on television. Rather than laying blame, it shows where people of color are & where we have been. It's a very creative dose of reality. It's one of those shows made for us by us. If you are a part of the "mainstream" of society or not, it gives you the choice to buy into what you're watching or not. 10/10 - I look Forward to Season 2.

Wanted to get a feel for this program to see if we should record it. Mixed racial family. Tired of the race division the media wants us all up in arms about, all bread and circuses. But it's too hard to get a read on anything since the reviews look like shills pushing more racism. Wonder why. There's not much to go on here, and more anger and division isn't what we need to see for hope in the future that we can stop doing their bidding and start thinking for ourselves.

Also - weird I couldn't submit short query about the show or wonder why the reviews look like bots promotion racial tension, because it was "too short" but I see a single line of inexplicable promotion in the reviews. So it looks all set up, and sad, because we going to pass now.

A fantastically layered show that provokes the viewer to think deeply about a multitude of topics including race, class, and gender. You'll need to watch more than once

I couldn't sit through any of the current episodes. Immediately changed the channel to a more uplifting show. I tried to watch an episode or two.I just didn't find black Victimhood to be funny.

What is this wayward deliciously delightful Ness? Last time I was this titilated was on the A train to no parts in particular shopping a full day in Manhattan, going to a street fair And walking home by the magical shop lights of the city of Gotham. All the while thinking that the world of possibilities lay verdant at my feet. Thank you. Thank you!

This show is an amazing portrayal of the black experience. It isn't for those who can't stomach the truth. If you find this show distasteful, chances are you aren't the type to think outside of your own race. You should probably check that privilege at the door and accept black people speaking out in artistic forms.

Had no idea I have been waiting for this my whole life. I most definitely appreciate the love!

Keep it coming, we need more tv like this! I really enjoyed this look at today's society. No holds barred, need to watch again to hear and see what I missed.

Multidimensional storytelling at its absolute best.

This show is incredible. Nothing else like it on TV. Big up HBO.

I've never seen tv this radical before. So powerful! Watch it

Came across this show online and decided to check it out and damn I got hooked right from the first scene. This show is good. Go watch it

Love this show, when is season 2 going to start, it's 2020

A great TV show that communicates the modern black experience to a T. Absolute genius. 10/10

Genius Genius Genius Genius Genius Genius Genius Genius

This show commentates on the african-american experience in a weird, confusing, but fun way. The amount of 1 star ratings is a reflection of the sheer amount of white people who only see black commentary on society as hatred toward them personally, when its really hatred towards the system that brings them down. Pointing out racism is not victimhood.

As a fan of surrealist art, this blows me away! So smart and creative!!! I started watching out of curiosity and I'm hooked. The production level is amazing. Weaving stories through dance, animation, poetry, and song is ovation worthy. I can't express how happy I am that someone has forged a show not for the masses but for viewers that are willing and wanting to go on the journey they offer. The acting, writing and production toggles my thoughts between loving its existence and questioning how it exists. Each episode starts with some theme and pushes that to a dream like conclusion. From fantasy to illusion to nightmares to the long breath upon waking and realizing the purpose of the dream, this show begs you to think about what you've just watched. Prepare to take the journey they offer you. Bravo!

I'm white. I'm from the Netherlands.

To show the violence that so many non-white people undergo every day, is, I think, necessary. Yes, it is awful, but, don't hide it away, keep on showing it. The sketch about the white virus was maybe a little bit exaggerated, but hey, it is also comedy. I nevertheless, I felt addressed. And that's okay.

I can see that there is stil a necessity to make a show like this. Maybe it is not my kind of humor, but that counts for many white shows too. I'll check back very now and then, and welcome the unpleasant feeling. The theme is unpleasant, but that is not the maker to blame.