Family Tree

This is the most boring and silly series I have ever tried to watch. It goes nowhere fast. The dialog is somewhat (or maybe totally) improvised. It's not at all funny. I stuck through a couple of episodes, gritting my teeth and using the fast forward feature as often as I could (very often), and still could not be bothered to finish it....not even to go straight to the end. It is a totally lifeless series with poor acting and too much bad humor and silliness.

As a fan of mockumentaries, Chris O'Dowd, British humor, and genealogy, this show was the perfect cup of tea! Every episode had me chuckling at one part or another, thanks to one of the elements above. It definitely targets a very specific niche, which is perhaps why it missed the mark with some viewers. What some find too absurd and silly others live for in a series, myself included. Each episode ended with some quirky twist, coaxing me to continue on to the next one-I ended up watching four in a row! It is lighthearted, witty, and spontaneous. You truly feel like you're a part of Tom Chadwicke's heartwarming journey. I could have gone without some of the more coarse content/dialogue, but it also makes the show what it is. Very sad that this unique series wasn't renewed for a second season!!

Just finished watching this on Amazon and thought it was great! Very funny dry humor and exceedingly watchable acting from loads of familiar faces from the Christopher Guest pool of talent. In particular ventriloquist/actor Nina Conti is impressively hilarious.

The show has a nice quietude to it which is akin to the vibe in other Guest productions but also never loses it's comedic steam. It's got a lot of mockumentary style cringe-humor through word-play, cross-cultural fire and general quirkiness. And there is even a fairly compelling romance which takes a back seat to the main character's genealogical quest but is still a warm element of the show.

Here's hoping that HBO gets off their fat arses and makes Season 2!

The subtle use of language and play on life's uncertainties make this show one of HBO's greatest. Chris O'Dowd and Nina Conti are superb throughout the eight episodes, illustrating a sense of humour that is both nuanced and delightfully absurd. This show is a pleasure based both in London and Los Angeles, with vivid eccentrics who transcend cultural contexts. If ever there were a show that deserves a second season, it is this one.

As a family genealogist and lover of British humor, I love this show. I actually found out about it from our local genealogy library's newsletter. It is truly a mockumentary of the popular genealogy shows. It doesn't need the foul language or sex, but it isn't that bad considering this is Hollywood.

Some of the funniest parts relate to DNA testing, immigration from the New World to the Old World, Civil War soldiers and re-enactments, ancestor occupations, the fact that the current cousins have the same disagreements as the ancestors, fear of cats. As this is a series, it keeps you wondering what is coming next in the journey to know one's relative