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It seems to me that one of Louis CK's strengths is the authentic nature of the dialogue. Given the quality of the actors in this thing, it makes for some captivating viewing.

I found the bar-discussion about politics, etc, to be very entertaining and well-paced. It was almost a little Aaron- Sorkinesque and I loved it. Also amazing to see how up-to-date it is?! Talk about fresh material. I thought the accountant-bit was funny.

The main plot about the family was engaging and managed to pull me in. It was depressing and dark, but still somehow not exhausting to watch. I am not actually a big fan of Louie's darker episodes, I don't have the patience or the inclination to spend my time being challenged and depressed. I want it to be funny and entertaining. But even so, I watch and value the darker Louie episodes, and I watched and enjoyed this. As I said, there is this theater-like presentation and at the same time feels so authentic! When Buscemi says "and you give our whiskey to this stranger" (or something), I get the feeling that the characters have had their own thoughts and feelings while our attention was diverted.

It's fun to see Louis use these very typical, almost cliché transitions (walking down the stairs to change scenes, etc) and making it work? It's very well made. I loved the diegetic music, watching Alda establish his presence by reacting to it.

There is no laughter-track or audience referencing at all. You are totally left to your own devices as a viewer, to laugh or dislike at your own discretion. It's kind of artistic, in that it challenges you to like it or shove off?

While I wasn't enjoying watching it, as it was sad and not my typical kind of thing, I am glad that I did. It's great watching something this well made.

Horace and Pete is an outstanding art experiment. And - as cheap as it may sound - it stands out just because the main goal here is to portray life.

Let me explain. We are all so used to the genre-tagging way productions are put together, that few producers are bold enough to question this absurd system. Usually there will be a "comic relief" to a drama, or a dramatic turn in a comedy. So we can relate more to the story. It's just not enough.

"What is it? A comedy? Musical? Drama?". On the way Louie leads this project, the question "what is it?" shouldn't be automatically answered with a tag. Are you looking for a comedy? Don't watch it. But if you're looking for a drama, don't watch it either! In real life, mood is Gaussian. Most of the time it will be neutral: there will be that core gratefulness and anxiety mixed together. That's routine. Sadness and happiness will eventually alternate. Funniness doesn't come up like in a writers room. There's no 24/7 quote-boom-punchline-quote-boom-punchline. Also, no musical background will come up unless someone's actually playing it or hitting a button.

Obviously there's more into it, otherwise there would be no point on watching this; you could just kick back on a bar and see what happens. Here we have the guarantee we'll watch very interesting characters dealing with their daily struggle, exposing absurd features of social conventions and human behavior.

Louis C.K. is masterfully writing, directing and performing in this. We also have great performances from Alan Alda, Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco and others. That should be enough to just go and give it a try.

This is not our usual hacky Fordist sitcom. This is pure handcrafted art (and worths every penny).

I have watched a lot of Louis CK's stand up comedy and it seemed to me that his amazing humour came from him extracting the absurdity of life and him talking about it on stage in a way that was both very funny, honest, and engaging, which is not easy feat I think (the feat being presenting the absurdity and confusing nature of life in way that both the presenter and audience can laugh together at it, as opposed to be terrified/confused/annoyed by the confusing universe). Even though the episodes of Horace and Pete feel formatted more in the way of a play, to me it is still fantastic in the same way. Family and life can be infuriating because as we grow up we see that the more we know about family/life/universe the more we realize that we don't know (that whole Socrates thing), but that doesn't mean we give up hope ... instead we can find it absurdly funny and laugh in the face of absurdity, and try and learn from it, and move forward in a better way, especially when there is a master funny man like Louis CK to extract amazing funny thought lines from the absurdity. In this way it is an honest reaction to the confusing nature of life instead of simply trying to create a sanitized narrative to our lives that might make us feel less fear, but doesn't really address the reality. Anyways, that is more my emotional mumbo jumbo response to why I think this is a really good show, but in more specific terms I find the dialogue really great, the acting great, and the jokes great, and therefore I find it ... very great! Thanks Louis CK!

Why oh why do you have to wait so long before someone figures out that someone might just want to watch a quality dramatic production?

Thanks to Pig Newton (presumably Louis) for putting their butts on the line to do something like this.

It's a fine production. With the exception of some small glitches in sound (occasional ambient echo, one surprising mic tap) production succeeds in mainlining the product straight into the vein. Lots of long takes, dialog that's so direct and lively and full-on it's like latching on to a freight train. An absolute delight to see fine acting talent, new and old, invited to participate in the spectacle, and all take their direction well and otherwise rise to the occasion. Sets and props are great, lighting is balanced and nice on the eyes.

It's funny because normally the first sign of good production is that you don't notice the production. But, trust me, my reflections on production (beside the minor sound issues) are an afterthought.

The important thing is that we get a story. And what a story! That's all I need to say; no need to spoil anything. Duck in and hang on tight.

One odd remonstrance: Let's face it: Louis can't stretch. But he can be forgiven in this case. His standard issue character is on-target, and you sometimes sort of bask, in a backgrounded way, in the realization that this is his labor of love.

Check it out.

I love what Louis is trying to do here. And I think this is one of the few instances when that sentence can still be taken as a huge compliment. Because once out of Louis' hands and into the content devouring public, it really is up to the individual what they take from this. Whether you watch it with an open heart or mind or dismiss it as slow moving nonsense. I believe his aim with this is truly altruistic and comes from the same place as his comedy, a place of compassion, disbelief at the clucked up nature of humanity and the world, and an almost hopeless sense of wanting to change this and make a difference. I notice this same thing in Hicks and Carlin, I guess Louis doesn't get quite as angry.

I think it's beautiful, autobiographical in parts and thought provoking with the thought going towards reconciliation in most cases. Characters in there that we'd all recognize from our own lives, how to deal with them is ultimately up to us I guess?

Thank you Louis. Genuinely. I love this, appreciate you making it (you didn't have to after all) and agree whole heartily that it is a work of art. (and that's not pretentious because it £$%&ing well is)

*Edited to add - If you enjoyed the show check out his conversion recently on Marc Marons podcast. So interesting to get an insight to how it all happened. Heartwarming and the stories from the show and the characters are incredible.

What an incredible piece of art by Louis CK. There are very few movies or shows that have managed to captivate me the way this series has. It does an excellent job of presenting different perspectives on beliefs, morals and ideals and really bringing to conscious thought the internal struggles we all deal with but often fail to realize everyone else is dealing with in different ways as well. This is definitely not a comedy although it can be funny at times. The still camera shot style of filming makes it feel like a theatrical drama and it is very raw.

I think opinions will be rather polarizing, with artfully minded, highly empathetic personality types really appreciating the show and everyone else being bored by it. There is so much subtle, as well as not so subtle brilliance present but the subtleties really make the show and I think they might be missed by a lot of Louis CK's general audience. The show is slow paced, utilizes lots of long shots of dialogue and could only be pulled off with top notch scripting, casting and acting, and it absolutely nails it in all these departments.

Each episode is produced and released in the same week, which is pretty incredible. This means that episodes can adapt to and discuss very current events which often makes the topics of discussion much more interesting. The downside is that such a short production cycle sometimes results in somewhat raw editing, but I find that sometimes adds to the charm. I think producing this particular show in this way was a brilliant call by Louis CK and the pros far outweigh the cons.

If you watch the first episode and don't like it, don't expect it to get any better. If you watch the first episode and like it, they keep getting better and draw you in more and more as you learn more details of the characters lives and back-stories. This really is a masterpiece showcase of Louie CK's talents. It may just go down as one of the most underrates shows ever but I hope it gains the recognition it deserves.

Starts out kind of slow and awkward in the first episode. Strange facial expressions and very little action or dialogue. By fifteen minutes in, many interesting characters have entered into the bar and it starts to become interesting. At a half hour I was becoming charmed by the stimulating dialogue and very impressed by the casting which includes many stand up comedy greats doing some serious drama. By 45 minutes I became completely sold and hooked after Steve Buscemi's pivotal performance that just blew me away. Louis CK has done some impressive writing here and it goes a long way to compensate for his acting ability which can be a bit uneven. However unlike his show "Louie," here he is only one member of a very impressive ensemble. I was expecting a comedy but what I got was something I've never seen before on a TV show. This reminded me of "the Iceman Cometh." For a pilot, this was really intriguing. I have high hopes that it continues to develop and doesn't let me down.

Wow. So grim, but I cannot stop watching. Every episode is stomach- churning (the moment in episode two, where Marsha-- Jessica Lange's beau-- tells her his wife is waiting at home....and then that pause before Jessica Lange lets out a brittle chuckle...shiver me timbers!!). It's like I'm flipping over rocks to see the gross, sticky but roiling, thriving stuff underneath.

The cast is outstanding, as is the writing-- I cannot stop thinking of writers like Carson McCullers and Flannery O'Connor. So here I sit, uneasily waiting for...I know not what. One of the darkest and most interesting things I've watched in a long time, with no pat resolution or happy ending in sight.

I hope that eventually its beauty will break my heart; right now I'm still white-knuckling it. But every angel is terrifying, right?

With the feel of a stage play and the authenticity of day-to-day real life, Horace and Pete (2016) is an entirely unique take on television. It's the kind of dramatic production that hits every note perfectly; the casting (and acting) is beyond amazing, the writing is nuanced and true to life and the storytelling is just flawless. It's evident how much Louis C.K. is inspired by Woody Allen with so many scenes striking that perfect balance of pathos and witty humor. Anyone who can appreciate TV as an art form needn't look further than this absolute gem.

Hats off to Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco and Alan Alda for showcasing some of the best acting I've ever seen as well as the entire supporting cast for knocking out of the park whatever time they had on screen and creating such enduring, memorable characters. And of course to Louis C.K. who, as a previous IMDb reviewer put it, has proven himself to be a modern day Tennessee Williams. Such an incredible show that I'm so fortunate to have seen.

There are great moments in the first couple of episodes of Horace and Pete. The first episode begins slow, but the interplay of the characters as it progresses is fascinating, and Alan Alda is terrific. The second episode had a fascinating conversation about the nature of fantasy.

H&P takes it's time, because it has so much of it. It is filmed and written like a play, but it goes on for hours and hours. This allows writer Louis C.K. to really delve into the characters and gives him plenty of time for interesting discussions on a variety of topics, but that freedom also allows for something that feels rambling and disjointed.

H&P is like when a musician puts out a double album and you think, wow, this would be the best album ever if half the songs were cut. It's as though he wanted to express everything he ever thought about anything in one piece. I think if C.K. were forced to turn this into a three-hour play it would probably be really good, but without that discipline, it's too unfocused to keep me watching.

After 2 episodes, this, for me, a Louie series fan, is great. Those who love the awkward, uncomfortable comedy, will find it abundant here. I hadn't expected anything specific before watching this because this is Louis C.K., he does it his own unique way. I think Louis himself sums it up perfectly:

"Warning: this show is not a "comedy". I dunno what it is. It can be funny. And also not. Both. I believe that "funny" works best in its natural habitat. Right in the jungle along with "awful", "sad", "confusing" and "nothing". I just think it's fair this one time to warn you since you have every right to expect a comedy from a comedian."

So, if you've enjoyed anything that Louis had done, definitely check this out, if not – I sincerely recommend you to. What you can expect is great dialogue, untouched by political correctness. This is very refreshing.

I've been kinda umming and ahhing about Louis CK's new internet show Horace and Pete because it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be - it's very stagey (as in theatrical) and light on jokes, sort of a re-imagining of Cheers without the constant one-liners and 'live studio audience'. But I've just watched the third episode and it's kind of tipped me over into recommending it, if for nothing more than I can't imagine any other TV show of any kind today doing the same thing.

Like later seasons of Louie, H&P is not entirely satisfying - not funny enough, not dramatic enough, not deep enough and at time amateurish and self-indulgent the way any student film would be, but with, as he put it himself, a 'hall of fame cast' and music by Paul Simon.

It's really the first genuine full-length TV show ever made entirely independently, completely outside of the TV networks, written, produced, financed and distributed by CK alone. If you want to know what TV made without advertisers and other financial considerations taken into consideration would look like, well here it is.

By episode three I decided not to rubber neck this train wreck of a show. But I try and be a fair guy, so I watched a few more episodes. It didn't help, in fact, I disliked it even more. While I admire Louis's decision not to score the show and style it in the old playhouse fashion, the show is depressing as hell. The total lack of any likable characters makes it dreary to the point of being disheartening. The bleak lives of the characters crushes you like a slow moving steamroller. The storyline and dialogue are so gloomy you can feel the weight of it. The acting, at times, is substantial and will lure you in. Still, however well acted certain scenes are, they only serve to ramp up the engines of despair that run throughout the show. On top of all that, Louis heaps up a generous amount of social preaching. Which tries to deliver up "All In The Family" type lessons, but falls far short. One has the sense that the awkward and forced messages are just added in to make the characters even more depressing than they already are. In my opinion, there is little reason to waste your time and emotions on this accident scene.

I expected Horace & Pete to be like Louis CK Part II – short, crisp, mostly hilarious episodes about some middle-aged guys. So, in the beginning I was slightly disappointed to see that the first episodes of H&P turned out to be like full feature movies, however, without, almost any action, fast-forwards or exciting flashbacks, unexpected twists etc. The episodes sometimes seemed to be long, protracted and in some moments – honestly, a bit boring, and even more often so – painfully embarrassing, even sad. Yet, somehow, I kept watching... Because, as I understand now, it made me truly believe that these people are real, like me or most of the people I know, and I actually felt for them. Take Steve Buscemi, for example, – you know, it's Steve Buscemi, the guy from Fargo, Tarantino movies, you name it. But in H&P you believe – that is Pete, and you kind of root for him. The same goes for Louis CK - although you can still see it's Louis CK, and he is very much the same guy he was in the Louis series (well, without the excessive masturbatory habits anyway...), you can't help but empathize with him. I guess there lies the brilliance of H&P – what it depicts is the closest thing to a normal, regular, average life, with all the lowly daily drudgery, failures, and the brief glimpses of tenderness that come when you least expect them and tear your battered, cold heart open. Like today, I was watching S01E09 in the background while putting on my makeup, and, out of the blue, Tom, the old guy with the beret, said this random thing, a few lines about love and I completely lost it – it turned me into a sobbing mess in the middle of the day, just like that. I guess that's the beauty of H&P – you can actually believe that the characters are like you, like real, average people, who have been through the same embarrassing, tender, painful and for some fleeting moments - happy experiences that life throws at you. So, to wind it up - this is definitely a show for grown-ups, preferably - slightly weathered ones. So, take your time and take it slowly.

Like many of his other shows, it is the manner of distribution that attracted me to this show. CK has a low-cost, direct model for his stuff and I am happy to pay to support that idea, and his work. With Horace & Pete there was another reason to do so – because it was supporting the idea that the television model does not need to be restricted to the network one. It does seem that for many viewers, that this is 'different' is enough to make it brilliant – I admit part of my attraction to it was this quality, but it being a cut away from the normal television show doesn't inherently mean it is a great one.

Essentially it is a stage play, albeit one delivered for television cameras and with no live audience. The plot follows the titular characters through personal narratives small and large. Dialogue driven, the show does have plenty to like; it gives its characters and cast room to be themselves, and material to work with. There are many scenes where the cast working with one another is what makes it engaging, while the natural tone helps it feel convincing. I liked that intimacy that one does get with theatre, and liked that it came through in the screen. Technically it is scrappy at times – particularly in the early episodes.

It is slow though, that much is undeniable. It does also have the feeling that mostly it is trying a bit too hard; okay it has those natural elements, but a lot of the cast do really feel like they are 'acting'. It still engages as a piece, and the novelty factor is there, but the material is not as good as many suggest. The performances are variable; mostly they are good, and a few of the leads in particular are very strong, but it is not without fault. The heavy (and underused) presence of famous faces (particularly the last episode) doesn't really work as it feels a bit self- congratulatory in a way. The weakest performance is from CK himself – he has a limited dramatic range, and surrounding himself with stronger actors only highlights that.

Horace & Pete is an interesting personal project. It has enough to recommend it for, even if it isn't as good as many clearly wanted it to be.

Now streaming (as of this writing) on Hulu, this 2016 limited series deserves an appreciating audience. Louis CK transcends comedy and drama and creates a unique, poetic portrait of characters. Writing for adults, CK desires to populate his frame with honest insights into the depths of humanity. Invoking the spirits of Clifford Odets, Eugene O'Neill, Clifford Odets, Tom Waits as well as the terse rythyms of David Mamet, Horace and Pete unfolds more like a series of plays than a TV series or movie. The dramatic events bounce up against the dark comic moments which ground themselves in specific explorations of identity, family, place, and mental health. This is not an experience for the faint of heart. It fills itself with equal parts of tragedy, and heart-breaking honesty. Its truths will not always sit comfortably, but this is an easy and accessible price to pay. The cast is loaded with heavy hitters. Steve Buscemi, Alan Alda, Jessica Lange,Laurie Metcalfe, and the great Edie Falco all deliver brilliant, three-dimensional performances. Other amazing cast members appear throughout the solid ensemble. The cast alone deserves savoring. The second episode even contains a gentle song from Paul Simon. Louis CK's direction, writing, and performance also stands alongside the best dramatic work of the decade. Please give this work of art your attention. While often unpolished and unvarnished, it provides many gems and treasures.

This is something special. Feels like a stage play, with long shots and slow pacing. The performances from Steve Buscemi and Louis CK are truly outstanding. Awkward, achingly difficult to watch, but really outstanding. No trite feel-good resolution here, just a voyeuristic study of the darkness that oozes from the heart of man.

This is not Louie, no matter how much you want it to be like Louie, it's not. CK managed to put together a great ensemble of actors for an interesting project.

I liked pretty much everything about the show, except for maybe the commentary on the then current election. Totally unnecessary in my opinion.

Also, when one is learning about the service industry, a bartender should actually avoid 3 subjects as a rule: politics, religion and race. In real life, mostly in bars like Horace & Pete's, these topics are what people want to talk about most of the time.

Interesting guest actors. Hannah Dunne was impressive. As was Laurie Metcalfe. Some episodes move you more than others. I think the best way to describe this is like *sad* Cheers. Even though it's obviously taped at a theatre-stage like studio, this show is much more authentic than most. 7.4/10

It does not happen often in a my short life span that I hate and love a show the way I do with this one. The dark realistic humour and despair you only can find in bars like this one. A bold move in creating this show because it is so not like other series, also you might think so when buying the first episode. Cheaper than a beer, but yet so much more in value. A must see for all people in their quarter and mid life crisis period. This show is why I like Louis CK even more than I did before.

I don't know how he pulled it off, but during each episode he and the actors made me laugh and cry at the same time.

Before I wrote this review I searched for a bar that looked similar to it, and then I came to the conclusion this show shows us why we created places like it in the first place. We need them to think, or maybe because of a drink

Imagine "Cheers" only instead of being light-hearted, episodes would focus on the fact that Sam is a sexual predator, Norm is an alcoholic in a terrible marriage and Cliff is wanted for Federal crimes. Also, Jessica Lange hangs out there.

It's shot like a play, there are few to no takes and no audience. The writing and story are really raw and at times it can feel really uncomfortable. You get see Alan Alda give several angry monologues that will make you laugh, but are not funny. Louis CK and Steve Buscemi are in it doing what they usually do, but it's much darker than you would think. And like I said; Jessica Lange is there. Being Jessica Lange.

This series isn't comedy or isn't comedy in a way like Seinfeld is comedy. This is depressing drama with dysfunctional characters where comedy comes to you as feeling sorry for characters being molested psychically by other characters in a "wtf did you expect from him/her?" way. So if you like to watch dysfunctional family and find their arguments and insecurities funny, you will be amused. But for me that's no comedy, not even in same universe as comedy. And about reviews here, like in most situations in 'merica today, those are fake in a way that people giving high scores to his series are those who will admire texture, presentation and feeling of eating the dish rather the ones who admire tastefulness and portion of the dish. And 8,9/10? C mon, more like 4/10 for drama.