Utopia

Utterly brilliant.

One of my favorite shows.

The US version looks ridiculous.

Let me just say this right from the start; Utopia is a masterpiece! Not only is this one of the most intense and twisted shows I've ever seen, it's also absolutely beautiful! The cinematography alone left me in awe and don't even get me started on the soundtrack! This is not your typical TV show. In fact it's a whole lot more than just a TV show. It's an artwork that is being unfolded in front of your very eyes.

The cast and their on screen dynamic is especially what makes this series so incredibly good. You have a lovely mismatch of so many different and perhaps a little odd but great characters, that just fit perfectly together. There's also plenty of humour, swearing and loads of "what the hell did I just watch?" moments, that just makes this even more enjoyable.

This show is dark. Really dark in fact, and the amount of WTF moments and plot twists are enough to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire series.

There's only one major problem with this show: It got cancelled! After just 2 seasons, Channel 4 unfortunately had to pull the plug on this gem of a series, which is such a shame, and while it might remain one of the most underrated TV shows in newer time, you will certainly never find a show quite like this again.

So, once and for all; do yourself a favour, and watch this masterpiece!

UTOPIA.

Thrilling. Suspenseful. Unsettling. Tense.

Probably the best show ever made (and I've watched lots of great tv shows such as Sopranos, Breaking Bad, The Wire etc.) Not only is it stunning visually, but thought provoking too. It's extremely dark, violent, but has some comedic moments as well. The sountrack is so weird yet amazing and fits perfectly with the show. It's been over a year since I've watched Utopia but there's not a day that goes by when I don't think about it. It hurts me knowing that people have not experienced this masterpiece.

The show lasted only 2 seasons after being cancelled and although it ended on a cliffhanger, most of the show's story and character arcs were wrapped up which is fine. With only 6 episodes in each season, there's no filler and the plot always keeps moving forward.

If I could recommend one show, it would be UTOPIA.

It's hard to know where to begin with this show.

A rag-tag gang of comic fans are drawn into a deadly game with shadowy operatives and the Malthusian elite. "There's no such thing as 'sides,' just people who help you and people who don't." There are visual and verbal references to MK-ULTRA, the all-seeing eye, the Masonic compass, weaponized vaccines, and much more. Even for those who aren't interested in the conspiracy angle, Utopia still has much to offer.

Never have I seen such a unique and well-crafted presentation on a network series. The saturated visuals, the framing, the BRILLIANT and unsettling soundtrack, the writing and the acting - everything fits together perfectly and creates an experience for the viewer unlike any other.

As an American, I didn't recognize most of the cast, which made their roles even more believable. Everyone is good but Neil Maskell, Paul Ready and Fiona O'Shaughnessy give standout performances. The character arcs do not disappoint, either. Even though Utopia is a deeply cynical and brutal show, every character feels authentic and human. Unlike many other shows, their motivations actually make sense.

When I say Utopia is a brutal show, I mean it. Game of Thrones, a series notorious for it's shocking violence and surprise deaths, seems cheap and gimmicky in comparison to many moments in this show.

My chief criticism towards Utopia is that S2 is slightly weaker than S1, and it also ends on a generally unsatisfying note. (Utopia was intended to have 3 seasons.) Still, all 12 episodes are well worth watching - many times over. I could probably write 10,000 more words about how great this show is, but I urge you to just watch it (the whole series can be found free on youtube) and make up your own mind.

I got interested in 'Utopia' when I read that David Fincher was going to direct an American version of this British show for HBO. While that apparently didn't come together, I actually doubt even a master like Fincher could have improved upon the original: it's absolutely perfect.

The visual style of the show, the amazing, crazy soundtrack (which fits the crazy conspiracy story so well), the fantastic characters and the wonderful cast and the pitch-black humor - I could go on and on. It all comes together to create one of the most unique and most original TV shows I've seen in a long time.

The only thing I know that would be kind of comparable among the current shows is 'Orphan Black' - but 'Utopia' is even crazier (and a LOT more violent), has much weirder characters and makes for a more cinematic experience due to its stylish, Technicolor drenched photography.

The only downside to this show is that the finale of the second season sets the stage for a third season, which, sadly never happened (for reasons I do not comprehend, the show got cancelled). But nearly all the loose ends are tied up, and the two existing seasons of 'Utopia' make for a fantastic watch. Highly recommended: 9 stars out of 10.