Monarch

I hoped for a show that could top some of the flaws of the show Nashville. And as an Austin resident and kniwing that was the setting, how could this thing miss? In the first five minutes they take a guy ice fishing. To a glacier. On a helicopter. From Austin, TX. Airwolf was more realistic. I am shocked that a writer is too lazy or dumb to know anything about geography, but I guess I shouldn't be. Feels like it was written by a teenager with no real education that was told "you can do anything!" Aside from having value as a teaching item in the "here is what NOT to do as a writer" or maybe "Cliches 101", thus is truly worthless tv that probably will be cancelled after two episodes.

Attempted "This Is Us" ripoff with timeline bouncing, three siblings (heck, let's make one overweight), mix character development based on researching "Dallas" reruns,a healthy dose of contrived attempts at stereotypical accents and "big hair for everyone!"...the season with a few saccharine songs, and salinated ballots sung well...and you end up with this.

This is crap.

While there are actors whose films I avoid because of their outspokenness, it's not really their politics that dictate my reaction...it's that they're idiots. While I disagree with much of Susan Sarandon's viewpoints, she seems to be contemplative and sincere. I like her as an actress.

However she couldn't save this crap with a roadmap, a flashlight, a shotgun and a safe word.

After a big build up, this program turned out to be a complete disappointment. Ridiculous premise, horrible acting. I could hardly get past the first episode. I am a country music fan and found this to be a boring parody with unconvincing scenes and characters that fail to draw you in. If you don't believe me, watch the first episode for yourself! My question is how did such big name entertainers like Susan Sarandon and Trace Adkins get roped into this project? They try to create drama by bringing in some side stories but these fail to take off or bring any depth to the story. Maybe it picks up after the next episode, but I doubt I'll be turning in.

If you take Dynasty (new) and Nashville, mash it up and leave the good parts out, I imagine this is what you'd be left with.

It's just incredibly unbelievably cliche. I'm only 10mins in and I'm bored. This isn't typical. Do I keep watching or cut my losses and see if they prove me wrong? Jk, this show won't make it to another season, assuming it doesn't get cancelled mid-season.

It's bad guys. (And that kills me-I love 90s country through and through.)

Maybe DW Moffett will bring some life in? I love that guy! But seriously, not everyone in country music has an accent-in fact, most don't. There's good music played in the background, so that's a plus. Shania Twain, Martina McBride, Tanya Tucker, and Little Big Town make appearances, so there's that.

The MONARCH premiere was exactly what I had expected it to be - mediocre and forgettable. Despite the star power of veteran Susan Sarandon, country star Trace Adkins, and the always likable and impressively talented Brits Anna Friel (Pushing Diasies) and Joshua Sasse (Galavant), the only glimmer of substance this pilot episode had was a well-done duet of the 1997 hit ballad, "How Do I Live." The introduction of its plots, subplots, and backstories, I could've easily lived without. This question remains: Do I want to continue watching a blasé series far too similar to other fleeting series like PROMISED LAND and FILTHY RICH simply because I like actors Sarandon, Friel, and Sasse -- despite the blatant fact that none of them could carry a Texas accent worth a darn? Moreover, do we really need another NASHVILLE? Hasn't this been done and done over dozens of times? "How do I live" without this series? My apologies to the fine cast, but the answer is...just fine!