I will give this a solid 5 because it's worth watching just to imbibe the period setting to seed the imagination. The actual show is not generally worth remembering, but it does at least convey the sense of helplessness that might have accompanied the lower rank of imperial colonist, more than a slave, but less than a citizen. I liked being given a provocation to contemplate the situation in which our country was stirred violently into existence. But, it's all downhill from there. What a great cast of actors--generally wasted. There was a lot of good acting, sort of like watching someone struggle valiantly in the noose before ultimately succumbing to inevitability. The writing was---well, reminiscent of the final seasons of GOT. Simply horrible. Not only was this fiction over history, the plot regularly just didn't make any sense at all. Many character were individually very compelling and enjoyable, so it was fun. To me, the greatest disaster is the lead character Sam Adams, who in this yarn might as well have been Homer Simpson in colonial dress. I am left wanting to know some tiny sense of who this man was, what his story was, how he might have been inspiring or a leader in the origins of this country. But we get none of that in this abysmal failure to define the headline character in the show. He was almost a potted plant with two eyes and a hat simply on screen all the time, saying nothing of consequence (except the one great speech at the end out of nowhere), doing nothing of consequence, at best being something of a clown that others inexplicably respect and follow. What a shame. Still, expect nothing, watch, and enjoy the period drama.
Review of Sons of Liberty
