Lucky Hank

William Henry "Hank" Devereaux Jr. (Bob Odenkirk) is a miserable middle-aged professor in the middling Railton College in Pennsylvania. He calls it "Mediocrity's Capitol" in a viral rant and some people want him fired. He has work issues. He has family issues. He has writing issues. Most of all, he has a giant daddy issue.

This is a great AMC show based on a novel. More than anything, this is a great Bob Odenkirk show. The man is on a terrific roll. I love his depressing work life. I love his problematic family life. It got canceled after only one season. It's not enough. I want more. It has more to say.

This is well acted. Dialog and interactions are well written. But overall it is merely mundane.

There's no excitement, no intriguing story, no point of interest. No compelling factor to engage a viewer.

The characters are interesting, the problem is the story is nothing more than "a day in the life of an English professor." Seriously, that's all it is.

I assumed by the third episode some factor or plot point would come about making the series more interesting and intriguing. But honestly, at 3 episodes I don't feel compelled to watch more. It's missing the "what will happen" factor a great deal. The only "open" plot points are, well, rather mundane... the reconnecting with an absent father.. the writer's block... the wife wanting to spread her wings a bit.. it's just all so dreadfully ordinary.

So, perhaps by episode 6? Nope.. Still the same dreadfully ordinary storyline. There are brief moments where it appears more may be coming.. but it never does.

Perhaps a season cliffhanger?? Nope. Season one ends as horribly mundane as it started. Viewers take away NOTHING from this series. It's entirely forgettable.

It's as if they wrote a tv series based upon your neighbor John.. with a wife, and an adult daughter, and a job.. nothing out of the norm... nothing overly exciting.. nothing really that interesting except to John himself.

There's no purpose in this show and no payoff for anyone who watches it.

To be honest, I'm surprised this show was even made.

In a couple of months when the full season is out I may come across as a fool and this may be an outstanding piece of comedy television, but based off the first 2 episodes, I am not optimistic. I am confused as to what the hook is to this show, it appears to simply be exaggerated and yet uninteresting events occurring around a beleaguered Odenkirk and his shockingly unmemorable cast of side "characters". Odenkirk does chew through the large majority of lines with a believable animosity towards the world and tempered rage as a man suffering a mid life crisis, but even his good, if not outstanding, performance is not enough to save an essentially premise-less series.

I have not read the source material. I don't know if it has the depth to sustain a series or if this series (so far) is just a weak adaptation. Either way, it needs to improve rapidly and find some grounding in some form of a plot, as so far I have been felt unsatisfied by the episodes that have been released.

I really enjoyed the first episode. I think it's witty and shows a lot of promise. The acting is great, and Odenkirk shines as always, yet the rest of the cast doesn't get left behind as they are great too!

Hank is hilarious and it seems the show will be packed with comedy but never leaving the drama behind. Can't wait to see the next episode. The only problem is the fact that it's on AMC, because the streaming platform has A LOT of working to be done, but other than that, I have my hopes and expectations up, and I feel like it'll be a fun and interesting ride. If you like 50/50 drama and comedy shows, I feel this is the perfect balance and a really good choice.

This could become another iconic character for Odenkirk. Give it a try. I found the the first episode far too close to the reality of university life. The intensity of the battles for which the stakes are so low (to paraphrase an old Pat Moynihan quote). The self-absorbed faculty whose fragile egos are satisfied only when belittling their colleagues' efforts. Administrators powerless - or afraid - to make real change.

You must read the A CINE TV REVIEW listed under "Critic's Reviews." It's hilarious; clearly the writer never saw the pilot and doesn't know that it's a series - not a film. Click bait publishing.