Pilot Review: Gypsy

Gypsy (Netflix)
Premiered June 30

As should be obvious to anyone following this blog on a regular or infrequent basis, I’m quite behind on my TV, and I’m even further behind on writing reviews of things I’ve already watched. I actually saw the first episode of this show just a few days after it initially premiered, meaning that I’m reviewing it more than two weeks after watching it, which can’t be a good thing. While I was in the middle of watching – I took a break and returned to it the next night – I read a headline that described this show as the hottest new show of 2007, meant as an insult since the kind of things that are showcased as edgy on this show are in fact well behind the times and dated compared to what counts for innovative and worthwhile these days. I’m not sure that I would agree, though I do think that this show lacks focus and clear direction. After sitting through an hour of it, I’m not sure where it’s meant to go and what its premise really is. Naomi Watts is a strong actress with multiple Oscar nominations who hasn’t done TV in twenty years, and therefore you’d think that a project that would pull her to a weekly series would have a lot to offer, especially considering her work with directors like David Lynch and Michael Haneke. Yet I still don’t comprehend where this show wants to be or what it wants to be, and while I’m mildly intrigued, it’s been two weeks and I just don’t care that much. With so many other shows to watch, this indistinguishable series about a therapist spending way too much time investing in and inserting herself into the lives of her patients just doesn’t rate.

How will it work as a series? That’s what anyone who gets past episode one is sure to find out, or maybe not if it continues to be all about delving deep into the tangential experiences of those she hears talking to her about their lives. Telling the difference between what’s real and what’s not is also crucial for a show to maintain interest from viewers, and I’m not sure this show can do that.
How long will it last? As usual, Netflix ratings don’t count for much even if they are released, though it’s worth noting that the streaming service has axed a few series recently, which it hadn’t done all that much in the past. Reviews have been pretty poor across the board, so I wouldn’t count on Netflix bringing this one back for more.

Pilot grade: C+