The Slap

Honestly, I was horribly turned off by the hyped up advertising. The first episode was horrible. It seems to be the current trend to pump up and try to trigger reactions vs. produce quality art for first episodes and beginning and ending season episodes. I've learned to ignore what I call the Stupid Factor of Studio Pandering.

Why the 7? Because each progressive episodes is improving to a quality worth taking the time for. In particular, Uma Thurman's episode Anouk while predictable, IMO was satisfying; And I am enjoying the treatment and evolution of this mini-series. Not to mention I'm enjoying the highlighting of each of these major actors chops!

The two-dimensional treatment of the first episode is fraying into something more... But I don't know if it will be enough.

Come on a show based on a kid getting slapped, i mean really? What bright producer figured that would be a good idea to invest millions into? With a cast like that you can make a show called "the crap" and have a piece crap, the same piece of crap, smear on an actor, get on another characters shoe causing eventual havoc. With a cast that like they would make that show 6/10.

But come on out of all the premises for a show, a slap of a kid? It makes me mad and angry, not sure why, no other show has done this before, when i see that title and that over dramatic slap, who cares!! Just stop!

Sigh. You need something that everyone can relate to, I'm sure someone had their kid slapped and felt some passion for this show but how many people can relate? THEY NEED TO MAKE THE TV SHOW FOR "DARK CITY". End of story.

First and foremost I have to say that I am so relieved and thrilled to see a show thats not about the Police/Detectives and/or Doctors! Enough already; those types of shows are so boring... I like the idea of this show and I also like the controversy it brings. This type of subject is so personal and a hot-topic issue for so many people. I can see both sides. I don't have kids, I have dogs and I wouldn't let a anyone hit or kick them on the other hand if one of my dogs bit someone I would fully expect them to protect themselves. So thats the struggle and I think it will be fun to watch this cast navigate this and take sides. Both my husband and I enjoyed the first episode and will be watching the second episode tonight. I have high hopes for this show and again I can't stress enough...thank you writes/producers/actors for coming up with a fresh idea and one that is controversial.

The original Australian version of this series was brilliant. It worked in Australia, too, as most Aussies *would* slap that child---a horrid, spoiled, undisciplined little brat whose parents---most especially the idiot mother---needed a slap more than the child. But I'm not sure how America will react: will be interesting to watch, as the country were at the forefront of the "never slap a child" nonsense. The mixture of personalities and reactions in the series is good, but while initially you want to see particular characters dealt with harshly, as the stories unfold you see their more vulnerable sides and find yourself supporting them. Only exceptional direction and writing can do that, and this has both. The Aussie series had brilliant actors too, particularly the mother played by Melissa George in both the Aussie series and this one. She really did capture the self-righteous mother routine.

While the title (and premise) of the series do come off as comical, The Slap is daring to take Network TV viewers to a place where we question our choices and our way of thinking. One small decision can spiral into a massive event that drastically changes everyone's lives around us. We have no idea what personal issues another person may be dealing with, or how we may affect them.

What each episode of this compelling miniseries forces us to do is confront a different controversial issue in today's society, and decide what we believe is right. Some people may argue that these characters are cliché and melodramatic. But the truth is, we all know people exactly like them, and we are guaranteed to confront some of these issues within our own lives. When these events occur, there's no predicting how another person will behave. The Slap is a guidebook to show how we should react, when others don't know how. We need to set the example, to prevent the disasters which happen in this series.

Society still has a long way to go. But by watching this series, we may gain some insight into being better people and caring neighbors.

This series may not have been as compelling or dramatic as the original, but it did bring a fresh take on an event that brought very different outcomes.