True Lies

Seems this series is relying completely on name recognition.... without even understanding why the original film was popular.

1) The film worked because Harry was a spy who had to lie to his family constantly..... and Helen was a rather clumsy housewife who felt bored and wanted more out of life. The series "jumps the shark" and blows up and dismisses this imperative plot aspect 10 minutes into the first episode.

2) Ginger Gonzaga... while I think she's a very competent actor.. does bring with her the "kiss of death" for network series. She's appeared in MANY series.. and NEVER had one be successful past 1, maybe 2, seasons. When she appears as a "guest star" in an existing series.. that series has generally been canceled that same season. Again, Ms. Gonzaga is a competent actor.. I don't know why she brings the curse with her, but she does.

3) The "little old lady" next door is so clichéd I think I hurt myself rolling my eyes too much.

4) D'Angelo is ruining what reputation she has here.... simply becoming unwatchable. I suspect cast for the name.. not her (now) gravel voice and wooden acting.

5) The stories in the first 2 episodes are just hack work.. unrealistic technology that SUDDENLY makes the impossible possible.

6) Characters, including Harry and Helen, are completely shallow and without ANY depth.

7) Helen discovers the spy thing in episode 1... in episode 2 she's sent on her first "mission". That's some stunningly rapid, and moronic, job advancement.

...fun drinking game.. drink every time "Jimena" is said in episode 2.. just plan on passing out before the show ends.

Has this series been written by ChatGPT???? It's got as much warmth and originality as ChatGPT output.

"Write me an action spy thriller with Harry as the primary spy working with Helen, his wife, who has just become a novice spy."

It is one thing to be campy, it is another.to transcend the Adam West Batman style, and only lacking the on screen "wow" "pow" cartoon bubbles.

There is no tension in threats or danger faced by the characters and you know they are going to survive anything with some idle banter and cliches. The missions they supposedly go on are imminent threats with huge consequences yet are engaged with simple-minded alacrity. A little darkness, drama, the potential consequences of actions would lend believability to an otherwise shallow narrative.

Omega's spy systems flourish with fancy digital stuff that makes it seem even more comical.

It is a tall order to fill in the shoes of Arnold and Jamie Lynn and they tried, but they just didnt pull it off. I felt no chemistry between these two and that was the magic of True Lies the movie.

I found myself fast forwarding to a good part but just did not find any wow factor.

I really hope it gets better. It looks like it might prove entertaining but as i was watching it late, i switches to the new.

Why they brought in a boy to the family escapes me. Also, are they just going to mimic the movie or come up with something new and interesting to grab our attention. Oh, and suddenly a school teacher who does yoga is a deadly shot and knows how to fight? Not.

It started ok I guess, at least it hooked me in to give it a chance with a few more episodes, but now I'm done. The stories and dialogue are infantile, something I'd expect a fifth grade drama class to come up with. I'm a fan of most of the actors in the series, but they are all starting to get annoying, especially Ginger Gonzaga as the wife, who's character has become unbearably annoying and unconvincing to the point of cringe. Her acting feels fake and forced, and out of character for any wife in this type of situation, especially the idea of being recruited and put in the field as she was. It's just plain cheesy, unbelievable and unwatchable. The constant split-screen directing has become annoying, and most of the camera work is cheesy with the attempt to have fancy visuals. Even the action scenes are poorly choreographed and have an amateur-hour feel to them. Thus behold, another Paramount flop in the works. I'll be shocked if this makes it to a second season.

In the first episode we learn that the wife speak suitable languages that just happen to be spoken by some goons, she can fight those goons no problems, and she can knock out said goons with her legs. Not to mention she is not scared, not very surprised and adopt so quickly to all situations that she looks like the super-spy and not her husband.

And of course the wife, Mary, last name Sue, also comes up with the best plans, is able to think quicker and better than her husband.

I lost complete interest after that one.

The show (first episode) is also badly written with awful dialogue.

With those big negatives out of the way I also need to mention that this has some charm and the idea is not too bad. This could easily been pretty good, but the writers decided that they wanted a bad show so I am moving on.