The Old Man

I was really looking forward to watching The Old Man ever since I saw the first trailer trailer. I'm a fan of spy thrillers and Jeff Bridges so I had high expectations going in. Well, it not only met those expectations but exceeded them in every way. The acting, writing, directing, etc. Are all as good as it gets, FX always puts out great content and this show is no different. The only bad thing about this show is we have to wait a week between episodes, I wish they released all them at once like they do on Netflix but since it's on Network tv I get it. Binge watching has ruined me because I just hate waiting a week between episodes now. I'm definitely looking forward to season two of this and just hope it continues to be as good as this season was.

Episode one had so much promise; Jeff Bridges, his Rottweilers and the taste of danger and drama to come. Enter John Lithgow as the perfect foil/nemesis and I thought we were really cooking. Add some intriguing flashbacks to spice up the recipe, but finally, the ridiculous Afghan-Russian conflict and the pseudo sensitive conversations that go nowhere... blah blah blah, yada yada yada. Great big let down; episodes two through six. Hopefully, they can save this one, but I wouldn't count on it.

I watched this miniseries because of Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow. They never disappoint, but the plot and script sure did. So much of the plot was full of holes, and the supporting cast often came off as wooden. A thriller like this should never leave an audience bored at times. Sadly, this did for me.

Had high hopes, but 65% is overdrawn dialogue and reaction shots. We get the point, they're scared/concerned/angry. No need for the oversell. Episode 1-2 showed promise, but it seems they didn't discard any edits to help string the series out.

They should play this to insomniacs that don't respond to standard medication.

Enjoyed the first Season. The pacing, story, and characters were in good form. Costumes, set design, and music are top notch in both seasons. Various elements have become diluted with the 2nd season. The actors still give committed performances, but most of the dialogue is ridiculously ponderous. Some of Lithgow's lines come off as so basic that it's nearly laughable. His character appears to have just been hired into the intelligence community. This is not the actor's fault, it's the script. Many scenes feel like a Parade of Preciousness. Ironically, this tactic diminishes the potential of mystery. The languorous script is in harmony with the camera pace: there are enough long shots to flood a swimming pool. I plan to finish this season (just one more episode to go), but I'm not too keen to watch Season 3, assuming there is one. Maybe this show would have worked better as a movie.