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.

I'm writing this only after the pilot episode. As it is the only one out this far, I really love Bob Odenkirk as I could watch him Rita phonebook. The character introduction episodes for most shows are always a snore fest and this was entertaining enough I was hoping for a little more drama or excitement or a cliffhanger perhaps but I'm hoping that type of emotion will come in the future episodes. I was really happy to see Diedrich Bayer come into screen, as I always wished he was in more things. He is a joy to watch. Finding out Susan Cryer would be a cast member on the show was quite a nice surprise as I really enjoyed her role in Silicon Valley. I will say that her personality and tone in the show is similar to her character in Silicon Valley. Shannon Devito stole the scenes that she was a part of and I feel like this will be her breakout role and I can't wait to see more. I really hope the show succeeds because it has all the potential for a stellar time.

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.

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.

Just watched the first episode of "Lucky Hank" and it's awesome! Bob Odenkirk is killing it in his role. I love the dry humor in this show. It's so different from all those other shows out there that just don't feel genuine. They all seem like they're trying too hard, but "Lucky Hank" just flows so naturally.

The conversations in this show are just amazing. It's like a breath of fresh air compared to what's on TV nowadays. I swear, it's like honey for my ears. I really hope they don't cancel it after only one season, but it wouldn't surprise me. People have super high expectations for Bob Odenkirk's third big show. I'd guess that for the first episode of "Lucky Hank" to be a hit, it might need some more action. But let's be real - this isn't the kind of show where in its first scene ever we'd see a man in his underwear in the middle of the desert, holding a pistol with a broken RV nearby. That's a whole different story and "Lucky Hank" stands on its own with its smart humor and relatable life reflections, making it a unique and enjoyable experience.

I also want to point out that "Lucky Hank" seems like it's geared more towards the 30+ audience. It has some random existential thoughts and the kind of reflections that usually come to people after they've reached a certain age. This adds another layer of depth to the show, making it even more exciting and relatable for those who have experienced similar thoughts. If you're in that age group and enjoy smart humor, "Lucky Hank" is definitely worth checking out!