I liked Amazon's Utopia enough to finish season one. I mean, being that 99.9% of American television wanders between IQ diminishing & total brain rot this series is at least watchable. But then I decided to watch the original version of Utopia that aired in the UK back in 2013. And after just 2 episodes I realized that it already put Amazon's 2020 Utopia to shame. It seems to me by americanizing Utopia Amazon turned a gem into a pacifier for the masses. By removing parts of an already great script and replacing them with America's PC ideology, Amazon made their own version become stale and a bit bland. If you like this Utopia then be sure to check out the original; which happens to be streaming on Amazon video for no cost to subscribers.
626 Reviews
I haven't seen the original
teutonfirst25 September 2020
SO my review is not subjective. Maybe I will watch the British after. So far, I enjoyed it. It's shocking, brutal, mystic and took me by surprise. I guess for those who saw the original they feel entitled to gave it one star, but the show is far better than one star for a tv serie and far better for those who didn't see the original.
Hyde and Seek
southdavid18 December 2020
I am another devotee of the original version of "Utopia" which always comes up as an underseen gem, whenever such lists are made. I quite enjoyed this retelling, though I'm not sure the increase in scale and scope was necessary and it may go down as literally the worst timed release to a series of all time.
Five enthusiastic fans of a cult graphic novel come to a convention with a plan to purchase an unpublished sequel. Becky (Ashleigh LaThrop), Ian (Dan Byrd), Wilson (Desmin Borges), Samantha (Jessica Rothe) and Grant (Javon Walton) are unsuccessful in buying the comic, but are fortunate to escape when all the other interested parties are murdered by a pair on unconventional hitmen, Arby (Christopher Denham) and Rod (Michael B Woods). The graphic novel contains hidden symbolic messages that may be related to a pandemic that is sweeping the nation and for which noted scientist and industrialist Dr Kevin Christie (John Cusack) is being blamed.
Whilst I don't think this version of "Utopia" is as good as the original it certainly wasn't bad, and in terms of quality certainly doesn't deserve the relatively poor audience it must have received for Amazon to decide to cancel it so quickly. The unfortunate situation that occurred since filming, that 2020 would be swallowed by a real global pandemic, and with the series having horribly prescient parallels to Covid, couldn't have been foreseen - but does, I suspect, mean that the potential audience was looking for escapism that the show doesn't provide.
It's hard to not compare this to its predecessor. On its own terms it's a dark, darkly comedic, drama with good performances from the cast and a decent story that reaches a conclusion, if clearly not the end of the story. The increase in scale that came with this remake I don't think works in its favour. Both the scale and power of "The Network" increasing exponentially makes them less a shadowy cabal and more every other multinational company.
But generally I enjoyed it and I'm sad to see that a second series isn't going to be forthcoming.
Five enthusiastic fans of a cult graphic novel come to a convention with a plan to purchase an unpublished sequel. Becky (Ashleigh LaThrop), Ian (Dan Byrd), Wilson (Desmin Borges), Samantha (Jessica Rothe) and Grant (Javon Walton) are unsuccessful in buying the comic, but are fortunate to escape when all the other interested parties are murdered by a pair on unconventional hitmen, Arby (Christopher Denham) and Rod (Michael B Woods). The graphic novel contains hidden symbolic messages that may be related to a pandemic that is sweeping the nation and for which noted scientist and industrialist Dr Kevin Christie (John Cusack) is being blamed.
Whilst I don't think this version of "Utopia" is as good as the original it certainly wasn't bad, and in terms of quality certainly doesn't deserve the relatively poor audience it must have received for Amazon to decide to cancel it so quickly. The unfortunate situation that occurred since filming, that 2020 would be swallowed by a real global pandemic, and with the series having horribly prescient parallels to Covid, couldn't have been foreseen - but does, I suspect, mean that the potential audience was looking for escapism that the show doesn't provide.
It's hard to not compare this to its predecessor. On its own terms it's a dark, darkly comedic, drama with good performances from the cast and a decent story that reaches a conclusion, if clearly not the end of the story. The increase in scale that came with this remake I don't think works in its favour. Both the scale and power of "The Network" increasing exponentially makes them less a shadowy cabal and more every other multinational company.
But generally I enjoyed it and I'm sad to see that a second series isn't going to be forthcoming.
Watched this, gave it a "9", then watched the UK version...
rsvp32118 February 2021
...and changed it to a generous "2". Hollywood has proven themselves as obsolete and talentless.
If anyone that watched this and enjoyed it, it's been canceled.
The UK original is two seasons, and ends with everything explained and closure.
If anyone that watched this and enjoyed it, it's been canceled.
The UK original is two seasons, and ends with everything explained and closure.
I don't understand all the bad reviews
aj00527 September 2020
Let me address this in different sections so it's easier for the people who hate this show to skip to the reason they hate it
1. Lovers of the original
Ok I've never seen the original, and I can't seem to find it anywhere, so I'm not likely to be able to watch it anytime soon, but from the perspective of someone who's never seen the original this show is amazing, I love the casting, the plot, the writing, and the book art. The whole thing to new eyes is incredible. I do understand what you all are saying though and I'd likely feel the same way if the uk did a breaking bad remake. I would likely think it was garbage, but this clearly isn't garbage.
2. This series shouldn't be released in 2020
2020 is the perfect time for this to be released, it makes it so much more relatable and relevant to the moment, and if that makes it too scary for you then don't watch suspense thrillers, it's literally the entire point of a suspense thrillers. If what you really want is an intense drama go watch "away" on netflix instead of hating on a great show.
3. People who find it somehow insulting or offensive.
It's art! Every creation isn't for every person. Do a better job of picking things that aren't offensive to you. Good hint is if a show starts with a warning paragraph about how some viewers may find the show offensive, you might wanna skip it. For instance if animated kids with bad mouths who get in crazy situations bothers you, then you should steer clear of south park, it's not rocket science just pick things that are up your alley, and if you start watching a show and it's not up your alley simply stop watching and move on to something else no one who is actually interested in this wants to read your bs
1. Lovers of the original
Ok I've never seen the original, and I can't seem to find it anywhere, so I'm not likely to be able to watch it anytime soon, but from the perspective of someone who's never seen the original this show is amazing, I love the casting, the plot, the writing, and the book art. The whole thing to new eyes is incredible. I do understand what you all are saying though and I'd likely feel the same way if the uk did a breaking bad remake. I would likely think it was garbage, but this clearly isn't garbage.
2. This series shouldn't be released in 2020
2020 is the perfect time for this to be released, it makes it so much more relatable and relevant to the moment, and if that makes it too scary for you then don't watch suspense thrillers, it's literally the entire point of a suspense thrillers. If what you really want is an intense drama go watch "away" on netflix instead of hating on a great show.
3. People who find it somehow insulting or offensive.
It's art! Every creation isn't for every person. Do a better job of picking things that aren't offensive to you. Good hint is if a show starts with a warning paragraph about how some viewers may find the show offensive, you might wanna skip it. For instance if animated kids with bad mouths who get in crazy situations bothers you, then you should steer clear of south park, it's not rocket science just pick things that are up your alley, and if you start watching a show and it's not up your alley simply stop watching and move on to something else no one who is actually interested in this wants to read your bs
Actors are the show
Unintended_Consequences25 September 2020
Yes, I get it, direction, writing, shooting locations they all bring something to the formula that makes a great tv show. However, when adapting cult classics like utopia you have to ensure the actors are truly up to snuff, why? Because this show gets to the very heart of the matter that is the human experience, and so far, I'm just not sure the cast have that esoteric element required. From the very first moment, the actors in the British version were astounding the viewer with how serious this violently comedic drama was taking itself before metaphysically slamming you against the wall and slapping your astonished face around a bit. Look, it's early days and I do so hope the show entertains because the U.K. version was cruelly cut short after season two and there are plenty of fans out there who wanted to see where utopia was leading us to...
The original was brilliant, this works too
TheFarscapeProject74725 September 2020
Ok so don't listen to the people who were determined to hate this show for the simple fact that the US had the gall to remake a show from the UK. For months I've seen "why does the US remake all of UK shows? Can't they come up with their own?" To that I say come on you know that the majority of US shows they make are their own and original. Anyway after having seen said original and loving it I was skeptical by the horribly made trailer but as it turns out the show is actually really good. Yes it's the same story with a different spin but still good. I'm not sure why theres hate for the actors being better looking like really that's what you focus on? And to the one person who said that this show claims it's original and gives credit only to Gillian Flynn than they chose to overlook the fact that original creator Dennis Kelly is an EP and is mentioned in the opening credits. So go into this as if it's an adaptation from a book and judge it on it's own merits.
It's ok but it's NOT the UK version.
jamiekressinger25 September 2020
A good binge
nickyeskens25 September 2020
First off I want to mention, I did not watch the original. But I enjoyed this version more than I thought, it was an easy show to binge with some great acting. The vfx and shots where subpar to say least but the story was compelling enough.
Is it the besh show ever? Nah. Does it keep you entertained? Yah. Jessica was a super annoying character imo, but she gets a little better later on.
Is it the besh show ever? Nah. Does it keep you entertained? Yah. Jessica was a super annoying character imo, but she gets a little better later on.
The mistake I made was to watch the British version first.
d-alston30 September 2020
I decided to watch the British version through before taking a look at this, which was probably a mistake.
Instead of being gritty and interesting, the fugitives in the new version have a frothy high-school vibe, Jessica Hyde has lost the classy demeanour and the neurotic self-possession to become a thuggish brat, the personality of the child, Carl, has been watered down so that none of the powder-keg anger and rebellion springing from a childhood of neglect remains and the psychopathic assassins are nothing like as sinister, demented and quirky as the originals.
The British version demanded patience and intelligence from its viewers, while the American version dumbs-down the plot and serves up heavy exposition from the word go.
Even the bizarre and cryptic artwork from the original series, in which clues were buried, has now been transformed into a literal comic strip.
Instead of the moody and atmospheric soundscape of the first version, we now have pop music underscoring some of the transitional scenes.
This new version is glitzy and superficial where the original was stylish and deep.
Although the original version didn't conclude at the end of its final (second) season - and this one might eventually extend further to wind up the story - I'm not sure I can watch the rest of this, knowing how significantly inferior it is; I probably wouldn't have had as much of a problem if I'd only ever seen this predictably-Americanised remake.
If you only ever watch one of them, ditch this one in favour of the first.
I'm not understanding the hate
tommymoses-8211025 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
As someone who also loved the british original, I understand why people would expect this to be up to par. But everyone should just adjust their expectations, this show is good in it's own way. I hate how everyone expects it to be just as good if not better than the original. Name many adaptations that are better than the original, I'll wait. This offers another version and I for one am intrigued regardless
Marvel fans won't like this...
soulfx-131 October 2020
The UK version is better in every way, but Utopia is a show that seems to be far too dark & edgy for American audiences. Like the UK version, it doesn't shy away from violence to women or children, and characters morally dubious.
There is some Americanized changes to the show, like overexplaining the story and having to explain everything out of fear the audience won't understand what happened. Ultimately I don't expect this show to survive because it doesn't wrap up everything in a happy, sugary ending like typical comic book/Marvel movies.
Generally, American audiences don't like it when evil prevails or if there isn't a clear good and bad guy. The good guy always has to win at the end of an American story-arc (even if it takes a triology to reach that conclusion).
There is some Americanized changes to the show, like overexplaining the story and having to explain everything out of fear the audience won't understand what happened. Ultimately I don't expect this show to survive because it doesn't wrap up everything in a happy, sugary ending like typical comic book/Marvel movies.
Generally, American audiences don't like it when evil prevails or if there isn't a clear good and bad guy. The good guy always has to win at the end of an American story-arc (even if it takes a triology to reach that conclusion).
Why remake a masterpiece?
allyuffy29 September 2020
I tried..... I watched 5 episodes..... and I gave up.
The bristish version was amazing - the characters... the look and feel..the story line. Everything was so good. Couldn't turn it off.
The U.S version ... Seriously?!? What was that?!?
The only good thing is Rainn Wilson (how can you not love this dude) . Everything else is a waste of valuable time. Stick with the UK version if I were you!
The bristish version was amazing - the characters... the look and feel..the story line. Everything was so good. Couldn't turn it off.
The U.S version ... Seriously?!? What was that?!?
The only good thing is Rainn Wilson (how can you not love this dude) . Everything else is a waste of valuable time. Stick with the UK version if I were you!
A load of trash
butcherbob25 September 2020
The original Utopia was mysterious with interesting characters.
This show is complete rubbish. The violence is stupid and seems to be purely for shock value. Except it's not shocking when it's so predictable. It simply comes across a trying too hard.
And Jessica Hyde is incredibly unlikeable. Part of it is the character and part of it is the actress (who seems to have a permanent ugly smirk on her face all the time).
This show is complete rubbish. The violence is stupid and seems to be purely for shock value. Except it's not shocking when it's so predictable. It simply comes across a trying too hard.
And Jessica Hyde is incredibly unlikeable. Part of it is the character and part of it is the actress (who seems to have a permanent ugly smirk on her face all the time).
Jessica rothe!!
myasinalfajry-282681 October 2020
I have high expectations on this and try to watch this because i see jessica rothe on the list of the actor
But after episodes 2? What the hell?
Suddenly my expectations goes down really-really down to the bottom.
After that happen(on eps2) nothing make me excited more
Suck
If it doesn't get a 2nd season because of og fanboys and Karens I'll lose my faith in humanity
belsonbur26 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Don't trust reviews from people that didn't finish the show. If you're debating on whether to watch the show or not, give it a chance! What do you have to lose? There's a lot of violence and you have to suspend your disbelief but if you can do that it's a lot of fun. This is the most important part of the review so you don't have to read on unless you're interested.
This show really keeps you on your toes. There are a lot of flipped expectations. Some are very on the nose but were still shocking. For me at least, it was a very fun and wild ride, so much so I watched the whole thing in one sitting. It's not exactly a character driven show. I mean, I like the characters and some are super interesting but the mysteries and motivations in the show are what's really intriguing and I'm genuinely interested in knowing what happens next. It all feels much bigger than the characters and I like that aspect of it. Just like in life where there's shadowy uncontrollable people and plots that run our society. We don't get to choose what happens on an individual basis, we're just along for the ride.
I work in film and television and I think many viewers have become hypercritical and hardened. We're so used to getting high quality entertainment on streaming sites now, people expect every show to be a masterpiece. This is not a perfect show but it might not get a chance to get better if people that watched less than 2 episodes keep bombing it. Helpful criticism is good but saying stuff like it's not as good as the original or it's too violent isn't helpful. This show is not the original, it's something else and even though it's a ripoff they're trying to do something different with it. Also yes, it does have a lot of violence but so do many other shows people like, The Boys and Game of Thrones. That's right, I'm talking to you AMY. I agree that the violence is gratuitous and definitely uncomfortable but it does serve a purpose, it's not completely meaningless.
DECAF SPOILERS: The eye thing is to show you the true nature of the show. It's dark and gritty and shocking. It tells the viewer the show you are watching isn't actually what you thought you were watching. When Jessica shoots that unexpected character it was confusing and made me question my attachment to Jessica and that's BRILLIANT. The character that died was what the audience thought the main character for the show should be like. Smart, compassionate, beautiful, the ideal leader and they destroy that. Jessica is very hardened and has to have a large character arc to become likable. Also I really love the villain in this show. All the other violence and death is to show you the lengths the villain will go to to serve his purpose. It's also confusing because he claims to value life but his treatment of people as being easily disposable constantly refutes this. He may not be super well portrayed by Cusack but his persona and motivations are so interesting. The scariest type of villain is one you realize makes a lot of sense. This is a very underrated aspect of the show. Also the story has you constantly questioning the truth and I really like that.
It's understandable if you genuinely don't like the show but so much hard work and time goes into making entertainment like this. People that love their jobs and work really hard. Sorry, it's just kind of sad for me to see people tear it apart so easily. No one profits from 2 sentence 1 star reviews. There are so many amazing shows that got cancelled before their time and we, the viewers, are the ones missing out because of this. Please watch it for yourself and make up your own mind about the show. It really would be a shame if it doesn't get a season 2.
If you want to know about the British vs the US version keep reading. I watched the original right after I watched this one and thought it was also very good. This is just an opinion, but I liked the pacing of the American version more. This does not make or break a show but the set dressing and costume design also felt right for the story they were trying to tell. The shots, colors, and compositions feel more ambitious in the American version but the soundtrack for the original fits very well with the story. Some story beats are the same but the characters, general plot, and other important details are very different. The American version is certainly more extravagant but I think it's part of the charm. Another underrated aspect is the comic art. It was gorgeous in the American version. I could see why people would be interested in the symbolism and collection of the comic. The writing in the British version was very smart and the American version less so but it has the potential to get better. The character Jessica Hyde is generally more likable in the British version but I think it's okay to not have a likable main character. She's learning to be likable and will be I think, if she's allowed to continue her character arc. Arby in the American version is my favorite character. He has a great arc and I love his soft voice and childlike nature. It was quite chilling but ultimately appealing. Personally, I like the American version more but I'm not going to say the British version wasn't good. I like the british office and the us office but they're like oil and water. It's the same with this show. Take it all with a grain of salt these are just opinions and if I sound like a fanboy, it's because I am, just like the fanboys of the original. What I don't understand is people feeling the need to tear down something that they barely watched for not being like the show it's based on. It is a different show. The original premiered in 2013, it'd be very difficult for them to create another season. They are trying to go in a different direction and that doesn't automatically make it unwatchable. It'll be a shame if it doesn't get picked up for another season. I think people will have missed out, just like with Dirk Gently and Man Seeking Woman.
This show really keeps you on your toes. There are a lot of flipped expectations. Some are very on the nose but were still shocking. For me at least, it was a very fun and wild ride, so much so I watched the whole thing in one sitting. It's not exactly a character driven show. I mean, I like the characters and some are super interesting but the mysteries and motivations in the show are what's really intriguing and I'm genuinely interested in knowing what happens next. It all feels much bigger than the characters and I like that aspect of it. Just like in life where there's shadowy uncontrollable people and plots that run our society. We don't get to choose what happens on an individual basis, we're just along for the ride.
I work in film and television and I think many viewers have become hypercritical and hardened. We're so used to getting high quality entertainment on streaming sites now, people expect every show to be a masterpiece. This is not a perfect show but it might not get a chance to get better if people that watched less than 2 episodes keep bombing it. Helpful criticism is good but saying stuff like it's not as good as the original or it's too violent isn't helpful. This show is not the original, it's something else and even though it's a ripoff they're trying to do something different with it. Also yes, it does have a lot of violence but so do many other shows people like, The Boys and Game of Thrones. That's right, I'm talking to you AMY. I agree that the violence is gratuitous and definitely uncomfortable but it does serve a purpose, it's not completely meaningless.
DECAF SPOILERS: The eye thing is to show you the true nature of the show. It's dark and gritty and shocking. It tells the viewer the show you are watching isn't actually what you thought you were watching. When Jessica shoots that unexpected character it was confusing and made me question my attachment to Jessica and that's BRILLIANT. The character that died was what the audience thought the main character for the show should be like. Smart, compassionate, beautiful, the ideal leader and they destroy that. Jessica is very hardened and has to have a large character arc to become likable. Also I really love the villain in this show. All the other violence and death is to show you the lengths the villain will go to to serve his purpose. It's also confusing because he claims to value life but his treatment of people as being easily disposable constantly refutes this. He may not be super well portrayed by Cusack but his persona and motivations are so interesting. The scariest type of villain is one you realize makes a lot of sense. This is a very underrated aspect of the show. Also the story has you constantly questioning the truth and I really like that.
It's understandable if you genuinely don't like the show but so much hard work and time goes into making entertainment like this. People that love their jobs and work really hard. Sorry, it's just kind of sad for me to see people tear it apart so easily. No one profits from 2 sentence 1 star reviews. There are so many amazing shows that got cancelled before their time and we, the viewers, are the ones missing out because of this. Please watch it for yourself and make up your own mind about the show. It really would be a shame if it doesn't get a season 2.
If you want to know about the British vs the US version keep reading. I watched the original right after I watched this one and thought it was also very good. This is just an opinion, but I liked the pacing of the American version more. This does not make or break a show but the set dressing and costume design also felt right for the story they were trying to tell. The shots, colors, and compositions feel more ambitious in the American version but the soundtrack for the original fits very well with the story. Some story beats are the same but the characters, general plot, and other important details are very different. The American version is certainly more extravagant but I think it's part of the charm. Another underrated aspect is the comic art. It was gorgeous in the American version. I could see why people would be interested in the symbolism and collection of the comic. The writing in the British version was very smart and the American version less so but it has the potential to get better. The character Jessica Hyde is generally more likable in the British version but I think it's okay to not have a likable main character. She's learning to be likable and will be I think, if she's allowed to continue her character arc. Arby in the American version is my favorite character. He has a great arc and I love his soft voice and childlike nature. It was quite chilling but ultimately appealing. Personally, I like the American version more but I'm not going to say the British version wasn't good. I like the british office and the us office but they're like oil and water. It's the same with this show. Take it all with a grain of salt these are just opinions and if I sound like a fanboy, it's because I am, just like the fanboys of the original. What I don't understand is people feeling the need to tear down something that they barely watched for not being like the show it's based on. It is a different show. The original premiered in 2013, it'd be very difficult for them to create another season. They are trying to go in a different direction and that doesn't automatically make it unwatchable. It'll be a shame if it doesn't get picked up for another season. I think people will have missed out, just like with Dirk Gently and Man Seeking Woman.
remake
SnoopyStyle18 May 2022
A couple finds a comic book called Utopia while cleaning out their newly purchased home. It's the follow-up to Dystopia, a cult comic book depicting an imprisoned rabbit scientist forced to create apocalyptic viruses. The couple is meeting various fans at a comic book convention to sell the original manuscript. Most are just fans. A few believe that this is more than fiction. It is and there are those who are willing to kill.
I like the UK original, especially the first series. I like its visual style. I like its surrealism. I like its mystery story and I like its brutal violence. For this American version, I knew coming in that it had already been cancelled after its first season. I wanted to check it out anyways. Obviously, the mystery is gone since I've seen the UK version. The style feels less unique. The show is keeping the weirdness but the visual is not as cool. The pilot episode needs to start with some brutal violence like the UK version. There is no need to save any of that. The bloody violence is a big part of the show. I would have liked to keep Rothe. She's the best comedic actor in the group along with Dan Byrd. Maybe she could have been a good Jessica Hyde. I love Sasha Lane but Rothe has more comedic chops. Sasha delivers more instability but that also makes it questionable why the group stays with her. This one needs to exploit more of its comedy.
The unnamed elephant in the room is Covid. The story is uncomfortably close and uses a conspiracy theory that touches upon the reality outside our windows. It's too close and too soon. It's uncomfortable in many different ways. It's also too convoluted. Of course, it's contrived but it feels contrived. There are too many things that are too unreal. The evil scheme has some unrealistic holes and is overly complicated. The conspiracy is too big to keep secret. In the end, it wraps a short eight episode first season and gets cancelled before moving on to a second.
I like the UK original, especially the first series. I like its visual style. I like its surrealism. I like its mystery story and I like its brutal violence. For this American version, I knew coming in that it had already been cancelled after its first season. I wanted to check it out anyways. Obviously, the mystery is gone since I've seen the UK version. The style feels less unique. The show is keeping the weirdness but the visual is not as cool. The pilot episode needs to start with some brutal violence like the UK version. There is no need to save any of that. The bloody violence is a big part of the show. I would have liked to keep Rothe. She's the best comedic actor in the group along with Dan Byrd. Maybe she could have been a good Jessica Hyde. I love Sasha Lane but Rothe has more comedic chops. Sasha delivers more instability but that also makes it questionable why the group stays with her. This one needs to exploit more of its comedy.
The unnamed elephant in the room is Covid. The story is uncomfortably close and uses a conspiracy theory that touches upon the reality outside our windows. It's too close and too soon. It's uncomfortable in many different ways. It's also too convoluted. Of course, it's contrived but it feels contrived. There are too many things that are too unreal. The evil scheme has some unrealistic holes and is overly complicated. The conspiracy is too big to keep secret. In the end, it wraps a short eight episode first season and gets cancelled before moving on to a second.
Crazy, Funny, Engaging Pandemic Drama you need to watch.
ritesh65728 September 2020
HOSTAGES S02 (2020) REVIEW
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Plot :
A group of young adults, who meet online, get a hold of a cult underground graphic novel, which not only pins them as a target of a shadowy deep state organization, but also burdens them with the dangerous task of saving the world.
Review :
Utopia is not just another America saves the world show, but don't we still watch Marvel movies which has the same repetative theme , YES we do. Utopia is based on a cult graphic comic of which the real life manifestation is parallelly happening simultaneously. A group of friends after able to figure out the hidden meaning in the comics are subjected to killers of a deep state organization and how they unravel the mystery of the comics is all the show about. The show has everything you can ask for Action , Drama, Comedy, Sci Fi, Thrills and is filled with unravelling of mysteries and truths. The Show has a great production value backed by great performances by everyone involved. A band of people trying to save the world seems too mainstream but along with this it has propaganda stories, talks about conspiracies and much more. S01 is just 8 Episodes and I binged it all without breaks.
Talking about performances my favourite is Arby, he is soft spoken , humble but at the same time a ruthless killer and the character arc shifts drastically towards the end. The band Wilson is a genius but easily manipulative, Becky is the emotional one, Ian is the dedicated , Grant is the smartest kid and Alice is the cutest one. John Cusack is outstanding as Kevin Christie.
The fact that Utopia is a remake of British Series of the same name it has been compared to it and thus the less IMDb ratings but I assure that if you haven't seen The British version you gonna love the American Utopia. With all Episodes meticulously filled with twists and fun elements, Utopia for me is one of the best shows I have seen this year.
✅ Verdict : Overall, Utopia is a bingeworthy pandemic drama you should be watching for its interesting premise, bold and strong performances, edge of the seat screenplay and the regular doses of mysteries. Recommended to watch (Watch it Now 👍)
Review :
Utopia is not just another America saves the world show, but don't we still watch Marvel movies which has the same repetative theme , YES we do. Utopia is based on a cult graphic comic of which the real life manifestation is parallelly happening simultaneously. A group of friends after able to figure out the hidden meaning in the comics are subjected to killers of a deep state organization and how they unravel the mystery of the comics is all the show about. The show has everything you can ask for Action , Drama, Comedy, Sci Fi, Thrills and is filled with unravelling of mysteries and truths. The Show has a great production value backed by great performances by everyone involved. A band of people trying to save the world seems too mainstream but along with this it has propaganda stories, talks about conspiracies and much more. S01 is just 8 Episodes and I binged it all without breaks.
Talking about performances my favourite is Arby, he is soft spoken , humble but at the same time a ruthless killer and the character arc shifts drastically towards the end. The band Wilson is a genius but easily manipulative, Becky is the emotional one, Ian is the dedicated , Grant is the smartest kid and Alice is the cutest one. John Cusack is outstanding as Kevin Christie.
The fact that Utopia is a remake of British Series of the same name it has been compared to it and thus the less IMDb ratings but I assure that if you haven't seen The British version you gonna love the American Utopia. With all Episodes meticulously filled with twists and fun elements, Utopia for me is one of the best shows I have seen this year.
✅ Verdict : Overall, Utopia is a bingeworthy pandemic drama you should be watching for its interesting premise, bold and strong performances, edge of the seat screenplay and the regular doses of mysteries. Recommended to watch (Watch it Now 👍)
A version of a very real possibility in these times we live in.
frankblack-7996129 September 2020
Honestly the charachters are crap. You wont really like to many of them. The core story is something you should really pay attention to. Each episode has a disclaimer at the beginning telling us that these events are not something to worry about. Has not truth and is a work of fiction. That may be. But what is does show us is a very realistic goal of a lot of elites in the world. Just look up the Georgia Guidestones and read what is transcribed on them. This film depicts one of the creeds envisioned for us by rich and powerful people for decades and decades. Even if you think the characters are evil, bad soundtrack, bad remake of the British show ect. Just give it a watch and know that this scenario in some shape or form, will be and maybe has been attempted.
Cringe worthy.
DrProfessor1 October 2020
This show was made for a younger demographic than the original. Having high hopes for this, I was terribly disappointed when after just a few minutes, I realized that this is more like, 'Bride of Chucky', than it was like, 'Saw'.
If I had to pick the one thing that irks me most it would be using the original intellectual material, yet changing it to create a new project. All this does is create a completely derivative product. An example of this would be Wilson Wilson's character. He's almost exactly the same as the original. The original Jessica Hyde is sexy and likeable although clearly a sociopath in her mid to late 30s. This new Jessica looks like a homeless person with gross dreadlocks in her early 20s ready to go to an Ani DiFranco concert. She utterly unlikable. But worst of all is what they did with the Arby character, and the character origin stories.
The violence in the show didn't drive home the intensity of it's purpose. It seemed prattish and gummy. More like, 'Harley Quinn', than, 'Jason Bourne'.
If I hadn't seen the original I would have never finished this show. But to be fair I did. Clearly it was a disappointment to me after having high hopes. I am losing faith in Amazon's ability to produce high quality shows like Hulu, HBO or Netflix. The one show I really enjoy started off on SyFy and is Jeff Bezos favorite show.
I would be shocked if this gets a second season once people seek out the original and realize just how bamboozled they've been. I can guarantee you won't find it on Amazon.
If I had to pick the one thing that irks me most it would be using the original intellectual material, yet changing it to create a new project. All this does is create a completely derivative product. An example of this would be Wilson Wilson's character. He's almost exactly the same as the original. The original Jessica Hyde is sexy and likeable although clearly a sociopath in her mid to late 30s. This new Jessica looks like a homeless person with gross dreadlocks in her early 20s ready to go to an Ani DiFranco concert. She utterly unlikable. But worst of all is what they did with the Arby character, and the character origin stories.
The violence in the show didn't drive home the intensity of it's purpose. It seemed prattish and gummy. More like, 'Harley Quinn', than, 'Jason Bourne'.
If I hadn't seen the original I would have never finished this show. But to be fair I did. Clearly it was a disappointment to me after having high hopes. I am losing faith in Amazon's ability to produce high quality shows like Hulu, HBO or Netflix. The one show I really enjoy started off on SyFy and is Jeff Bezos favorite show.
I would be shocked if this gets a second season once people seek out the original and realize just how bamboozled they've been. I can guarantee you won't find it on Amazon.
Compelling. Shocking. Just great TV.
lexielou72825 September 2020
To the fans of the British series: quit the immature review bombing, ok? The existence of this show does not negatively affect the Channel 4 show AT ALL. In fact, some viewers will want to watch the source material after watching this, potentially increasing it's fan base worldwide. This is a fresh, unique take on the show and the actors, as well as Gillian Flynn, are brilliant. Don't believe the reviews and watch it for yourself.
Watch This One First
EyeSeesMovies14 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
So I enjoyed the Prime version, came here to read reviews, so the angry comments and low scores, then found the British original. The British original is definitely a must watch, but After you've this one. This is it's own beast, starting off in a comic book world (so to speak) and stays way. I appreciated Jessica, buuuut not so much Becky. Who yells out be nice to the person who's trying to stop two people from being murdered????!! And the little girl, she turned beast too easily. Yes, I know her "mum" was murdered but seriously!?
Watch the UK version instead, this is like a parody of that one
thebricks7 February 2021
Anyone remember when someone satirized the proposed American Akira remake? This show pretty much is just like that. I saw Utopia premiere on Amazon Prime some months ago. I watched that first, the US version, had absolutely no idea what was going on and turned off. Hated the show. I saw the UK versions also on Prime but figured if the US one was so bad, the UK one could only be worse.
So my brother actually turns it on and tells me it's good. I was intrigued. Usually, his taste is awful, but I decided to give it a chance after work. I mean, from the first five minutes, it hooks you. It was incredible. Absolutely underrated. It's incredibly tragic that the show was not allowed to continue and finish at least a couple more seasons.
Long story short, Amazon saw promise in the show but instead of continuing on with a third season, decided to reboot it for the American audience. Man, was this bad. I think they decided to cross Big Bang Theory with Utopia and see if it would work. It was a terrible idea. I actually liked this version of Jessica Hyde, she was more believable than the British version.
However, long story short, the vapid, shallow party and bar scenes that are tropes of American comedies and dramas combined with an incredibly bizarre decision a character makes at the end of the second episode ruined the show for me. Whoever the writer was made such an insane decision that it made the rest of the show from there on unbelievable, if it takes the path you expect it to take. It basically makes the character just another villain that can't be trusted. I truly believe that it was that scene that ultimately got the show cancelled. It's a shame. It should have been rewritten.
Absolutely do not recommend. One of the worst I've ever seen. Stick to the UK version and demand it get concluded somehow.
So my brother actually turns it on and tells me it's good. I was intrigued. Usually, his taste is awful, but I decided to give it a chance after work. I mean, from the first five minutes, it hooks you. It was incredible. Absolutely underrated. It's incredibly tragic that the show was not allowed to continue and finish at least a couple more seasons.
Long story short, Amazon saw promise in the show but instead of continuing on with a third season, decided to reboot it for the American audience. Man, was this bad. I think they decided to cross Big Bang Theory with Utopia and see if it would work. It was a terrible idea. I actually liked this version of Jessica Hyde, she was more believable than the British version.
However, long story short, the vapid, shallow party and bar scenes that are tropes of American comedies and dramas combined with an incredibly bizarre decision a character makes at the end of the second episode ruined the show for me. Whoever the writer was made such an insane decision that it made the rest of the show from there on unbelievable, if it takes the path you expect it to take. It basically makes the character just another villain that can't be trusted. I truly believe that it was that scene that ultimately got the show cancelled. It's a shame. It should have been rewritten.
Absolutely do not recommend. One of the worst I've ever seen. Stick to the UK version and demand it get concluded somehow.
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