Bored to Death

Note from the author: this review has been written after watching two seasons. Bored to death is a TV show whose charm relies heavily in its three leads Jason Schwartzman, Zack Galifianakis and Ted Danson. The main problem that I found is that during the first season Schwartzman's character is given the most weight out of the three leaving Danson and Galifianakis as secondary characters that have mini-subplots around the main cases - as the story revolves around a writer drawn to be a detective to solve it's financial difficulties -. Thankfully this has been solved in the second season with an even repartition of plot for the three and consequently has improved the stories, the cast and the overall dynamic of the show. Throughout the two seasons I felt that the show gradually turns from a solve-the-case of the week show to a hang-out-with-us show while the story flows...and boy what a blast it is to hang out with this cast. Danson's hedonistic charm is suave, subtle -and even slightly touching in some episodes with a cancer subplot- with the best laughs when his facade of elegance is down due to his drug use. Galifianakis is perhaps the geek hero (but not a geek himself) as the comic-book writer in a dysfunctional relationship with his girlfriend played by Heather Burns - who's first in the list of recurring character's of the show, also including Oliver Platt and Kristen Wiig-. Finally Schwartzman's character is a struggling writer with relationship problem's and a tendency for solving weird-cases in a very unprofessional way - high point for me is the first episode in season 2 when he has to go into a fetish dungeon-. To sum things up. Bored to death was a slow burner for me, by the end of season 1 I was ready to give up but, with season 2, it pulls out a "The Office" and gets much better. Each season has eight episodes which leads to very cohesive stories and arcs but then again the charm relies on the cast which are great if you like these type of characters. Thanks for reading.

Really cute series and Danson is entertaining in it. I don't understand why no one has made a movie about Keith Moon just so Jason Schwartzman could star in it. That would have been so great.

I truly think that this is very much a good representative of the term "all things to all people".

This has the hoity pretension of the Wes Anderson (et al) movies, endearing observation of 90s (popular) stand-up, and a delivery that is just straight up charming. Plus an accessibility that even an Airplane fan like me would be able to click in to (if that were the only style I were in to).

Whilst it could very easily veer in to the pretentious crowd (and with Schwartzman that's sometimes difficult to tell, because of his on-screen manner), it always stays on song. It's very accessible, and hilarious. It's not just the clever jokes, the in jokes and the observations (woven in to the characters) there's also a health dose of (very) old school slapstick I think. Hell, it even manages to catch the stoner crowd.

It could be thought of as being too male centric, well, apart from that being slightly the point it's never testosterone city, and it might feel token if a female point of view were added. But if it were, what a view it might be.

I've only seen 4 episodes, but think the show is excellent. The subtle and not-so-subtle lines are hysterical. I love the humor in "Flight of the Concords" but think that this show will be more accessible to a larger audience.

All of the actors, Ted Danson in particular, give depth and nuance to the characters they play. The entire cast use their bodies, from face to feet, to express their over-the-top characters. The script is intelligent, farcical and just plain fun and all of it is enhanced by the camera work and direction.

I am rationing the remaining episodes or I'll devour them in one day and have to wait for HBO's interminable next season!

The story is very straight forward from the beginning, and has elements of a "fish out of water" character trying to be something he is not.

It would be close to impossible not to love the cast, and they do a great job with what they are given. By that, I mean that the jokes that fall flat are not due to poor acting, they were lazy, stereotypical jokes to begin with.

Still, I enjoyed this, and re-watch it every few years for a chuckle. I'd recommend it if you like the Woody Allen, fumbling, New York kind of comedy, so it's not for everyone.