Genius

I couldn't not write a review of this after I saw some of the negative 3/10, 1/10 reviews near the top. Thankfully scroll down a bit and you'll see nothing but 10/10, 9/10. This is a really fantastic, excellently crafted television series that delves into the discoveries and the life of Einstein and other notables around him.

Watching the warm and intense and completely unique love story deteriorate into the bitter breakdown in his marriage (not a spoiler, you know through the flash forward that his first marriage didn't work out) is tragic and immensely frustrating as you see this great mind struggle to grasp basic emotional empathy or understanding.

I've seen some reviews calling this 'hollywood trash'. It's not. It's deeply unfair in places, it's uplifting and exciting in others, there are no foregone, predictable conclusions, it's funny and the characters are multi layered and brilliantly written and acted. Johnny Flynn's brilliant! It's also wonderfully shot.

The only negatives I'd have would be that it can, at times seem a little expositional in the dialogue, but rarely, and that Geoffrey Rush takes over as the older Einstein a little too early - testament to Johnny Flynn that such a great actor as Geoffrey Rush has to work hard to follow.

They're making Picasso next and I hope by then this goes onto Netflix as no one seems to know about it. I had to buy it and it was money well spent.

After reading other reviews about this show I was hesitant to watch it. But there are e few points I'd like to make after seeing it up until now:

First of all: as anyone should know this is not a documentary. Don't expect a 100% accurate description of Einstein's life or complex explanations of his theories. It's a drama and you should know this while watching it. That being said: The first episode is actually a really bad introduction for the rest of the series: the drama aspect is way too high, they jump back and forward (which they don't in later episodes) and the focus of the episode is all over the place. In later episodes you get a much more structured way of looking at Einstein's life. There is a clear story line which you can understand and empathize with.

In conclusion: don't judge the entire series in the first 20 minutes of the first episode like seemingly a lot of others have done here.

This is a review on series 2 on Picasso. I just came back from Barcelona and after visiting the beautiful Picasso museum and discovering what incredible pictures he already painted as a young boy I felt the need to learn more about him. I found the series both educating and entertaining. The episodes are not in chronological order and jump from Picasso being a young man to him being older, with various stages of his life in between. WW1, Spain's civil war, WW2, it is all there. It is fascinating to get to meet all the artists, painters and poets Picasso befriended and all the women he loved and needed. The whole subject of his treatment of women can fill a whole book. But still, according to the series they all wanted him, regardless of his behavior.. What really bothered me is that most of the series takes place in France. Most actors were French but had to speak in English with a French accent! Why couldn't they speak French! It would have been so much better. Antonio Banderas was fabulous. I wish we could have heard him speak more in Spanish. The actor who played Picasso was excellent too. In fact the acting was very good. Altogether I really enjoyed this series and feel that I have learned a lot.

Season 1 does justice to the series' title. Portrays Albert Einstein in an interesting perspective and combines many elements of his scientific work along with his personal life. I rate season 1 as 9/10.

Season 2 portrays Pablo Picasso. I guess the idea was that the "genius" tag should not be solely reserved for STEM people, but artists should also be praised for their revolutionary contributions to their field. Although some same good actors from season 1 were included, this season significantly lacks the spark of the first season. On the other hand, Antonio Banderas adds significantly with his quality. 7/10.

Season 3 portrays Aretha Franklin and really makes you wonder if you have actually changed series without noticing. What an admittedly great voice has to do with "genius" still remains puzzling to me. On top of that, the season rather revolves around the US civil rights movement than actually presenting the character's virtues that stood them apart from the rest. Even the pace has changed and compared to the previous two seasons feels absolutely boring and at times even painful to watch. Dropped watching mid-season. 4/10 and only assuming that this was actually a different series. Nothing to do with the "genius" concept.

Unfortunately, it seems that the series has been a victim of the current trend of the film industry on its anti-racism campaign and promoting diversity which has resulted in it losing its identity. It has been also announced at the time of writing that a season 4 has been developed portraying Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Note here that Dr King was also briefly portrayed in Season 3 - thus the next season revolves around the same period, the same concepts, the same characters as season 3. Where the genius is on that, remains definitely elusive.

I was so hoping that this series would have continued on the same path as season 1 and showing the lives and achievements of distinguished scientists and how they revolutionized human understanding of nature. In that case I think I'd rate the series as one of my all time favorites. Instead, it is now in my list of the most disappointing ones...

I am amazed that so many people would dismiss the whole series as "all sex and no substance." It was based on a fantastic book (in my view) by Walter Isaacson who paints a portrait of a Jewish man, husband, father and scientist who lives through WWI as a convinced pacifist and "free thinker." He is a ground breaking scientist, respected by his peers who becomes an important element in convincing Roosevelt to begin the process of developing an atom bomb which helps end WWII. He is slow to warm to the idea of a State of Israel but he does help in fund raising for it, advises on the establishment of its first University and was considered for the presidency of this new country. Einstein the proud US citizen could not help but condemn Nazi treatment of Jews and American treatment of black US citizens.

I found the visualization and explanation of some of his insights very helpful.

I found him to be funny, thoughtful, collaborative, religious, political and definitely "an original."

My only criticism was that I found the "time switching" to be confusing at the start - child, student, newly married, teacher, world celebrity scientist and aging scholar at Princeton University.

Read the book if you are interested in "the whole story" of Einstein the man. Be frustrated with the movie if you are looking for a simplified explanation of his scientific studies. Stay away from it, if you see no need for any of the sex scenes or political involvement.

I disagree with 95% of all the reviews submitted.