The River

After reading other reviews, I see that "The River" is a love it or hate it kind of show. My conclusion, if you were a Lost fan, you'll be a fan of this show. I personally like this show. It's different than other shows on TV. The purpose of the show is to keep you on the edge of your seat, and it definitely does that for me.If you're usually critical of shows then you'll find things to be critical of in The River, but for the most part, the acting is believable enough, the plot is simple, the filming adds to the suspense, and it keeps me guessing. I was a Lost fan, and this show really fills the void Lost left behind. . .

I am glad to see a good on-the-edge of your seat new series that doesn't have to do with promiscuous women or a crime guaranteed to be solved EVERY episode. I love the feeling of having to wait a week! I miss it. The new style of horror genre take on this series is refreshing and new! New content, pushed boundaries and fresh actors(esses). It is great and I cannot wait for more!! The best part is that ABC is doing it. Fox is getting predictable and I think to have the talent behind this series will ensure that it is not boring after a short while. Plus if you get tired of it, I think J.J. is making another series soon!

Most reviews of this show is from around 2012, and people compare it to Lost. I must say, after watching the complete first (and only season) that it's a fitting comparison, but also for all the wrong reasons. It pops up on multiple "underrated horror show" lists, so I figured I should review it (trying to keep it spoiler free). The beginning is rather rushed, but sets an interesting tone and introduce a promising consept. After a while the characters develops. This is also when it starts getting interesting. Then the story falls flat on it's face, with a twist that completely ruins it for me. The eerie and claustrophobic atmosphere dissapear. The "found footage" angle is stretched too far (using "found footage" that has only a vague connection to the TV-show theeme). One might argue that the show even switches genre, sacrifising the exploration and superatural for something completely different. Uptil that point it's a flawed, but promising show. I recommend it for the solid middle episodes, and some might even like the direction it takes. But personally I can't say that I'm dissapointed that it ended when it did.

WOW! This show is amazing so far. I absolutely love it. I love the authenticity of it, the legends they are using so far are interesting.

To all the people Who keep complaining about the characters speaking Spanish... for one, its supposed to be in Peru, not Brazil. For 2 the father and daughter are supposed to be people who were part of Emmett's crew, they worked as part of an American show, therefore they are perfectly in the accuracy to be speaking Spanish. The rest of the cast... are American. Maybe you should pay better attention to something before you start criticizing.

Now the camera work, the show isn't supposed to be lost footage, or documentary footage. The premise of the show is these people are making a documentary, behind the scenes type show, while searching for the missing Emmett. Therefore many of the things being shown are not supposed to be the "documentary's" footage, its supposed to be both. some parts we see is whats happening while they are filming this documentary of the search for Emmett. If you can't tell the difference between the cameras then you're not paying attention. Anytime they show someone on the documentary cameras they have a caption to it, naming the person in the shot. When no one is in the shot the documentary footage is shown more grainy.

Amid a torrent of reality nonsense and cookie cutter TV The River brings something fresh and suspenseful.

There is a "Lost-ish" quality about it, in that the characters are slowly developed and of course the premise of a group of people in the middle of nowhere with some seriously freaky stuff going on.

The River however has a faster pace and a clearer cut goal, that of finding Emmet Cole, a missing naturist/TV host and his filming crew. This makes for a simpler show, one that anyone can get on board with without needing to watch it from the beginning.

The "found footage" bit, well, whatever. I don't necessarily see the point, but I don't find it distracting as some might.

The actors aren't delivering any Emmy-winning performances...yet. If ABC gives this show a chance beyond season 1, I only see The River getting better.