Z: The Beginning of Everything

The Jazz Age Fitzgeralds were such lightning in a bottle, that to try and capture it is audacious: we know the champagne will pour and the fame will come, and the real pain will come with the hangovers and end in despair for the both of them.

But the controversial choice of Christina Ricci as Jazz Baby Number One instead of any other McAdams Barbie doll from the Hollywood shelf gives this pilot a bounce and possibility because she is such a hellcat. I'm already jonesin' for her wild gin-fed car scream rides and Paris fountain dances. And David Strathairn is such a delightfully stolid and formal southern judge for her to bounce off of.

Fitz is such a limp hankie next to her--which was probably true--that watching him ignite into brilliance from her bad girl spark and become the man who could write Gatsby and fall Icarus-like back to Earth in her skirts to face the Depression is very promising.

Most importantly, this is a sumptuous period piece from one of two most exciting decades of the last century. If Amazon orders more of "Z", I will be a devoted watcher. Thanks for letting us review.

I cannot believe the negative reviews for this series! I am extremely interested in the Jazz Age/Flapper/Prohibition era as well as the Fitzgeralds who were true embodiments of this time period.

I think it was beautifully filmed, and despite what some reviewers say, I believe Christina Ricci was an excellent choice to play the complicated Zelda Fitzgerald. I won't drone on and on but just need to say I am so disappointed this wasn't picked up for at least one more season.

One more thing: I am so tired of special effects/vulgarity/and fast-paced MTV generation short attention span dialogue that is found in most contemporary shows and films!

Starts very, very strong. And then it begins to meander. I feel it would have been better if it'd been created with the intention to be a limited mini-series rather than a TV series, because then the writing team could have crafted a compelling beginning, middle, and end. As it is, without a season 2 renewal, it just sort of... ends.

I looked forward to this show since its pilot in 2015. Mostly because I am interested in this famous couple. But I must confess that I was bored the first half of the first season. One episode has only half an hour and it still seemed to be unfulfilled. I almost stopped watching it but the other half somehow caught my attention.

The mise-en-scene balances showing glamorous era with realistic depiction. It is believable.

It is adaptation of a book focused on Zelda's story. It is Zelda's point of view. She is the heroine. But unfortunately character of F. S. Fitzgerald is depicted as a villain. For me it was not good choice to show F. Scott Fitzgerald as such a negative character. In society is big question about their relationship, who were they actually. So in the story I would appreciate more questionable representation instead of such black and white characters. At least based on season one. Maybe creators change their direction if season two takes place.

Christina Ricci is fairly good choice for this role. On the other hand, David Hofflin is just hardly believable. Maybe it is problem of casting in the first place. Supporting woman roles are delightful, little caricatures of people of that era.

For now, the show did not mean waste of time for me but neither a miracle.

That MUST be why this excellent series is gone(?)... I enjoyed the show and every friend that I know who watched it felt the same. Why is it that ANY intellectual program that doesn't appeal to the lowest common mindset has to wind up in the dumpster..? We are now reduced to picking and choosing from the mediocre menu that is served. How do we get any satisfaction when a gem isn't allowed to find it's legs? Anyone out there remember a small tv show named Star Trek..?