MovieChat Forums > Aquarius (2015) Discussion > Tough show for me to get into....

Tough show for me to get into....

posted 9 years ago by imonlymyself51
24 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone have a hard time getting into this show or was it just me??? What was your reason(s) for either getting into it Or not getting into the show??

Hardest thing for me was the whole Charles Manson thing. Like i thought the show was more about them bringing down Manson but it didnt end up being that way. I mean, read the summation of it and that's what i got from it. Knowing what happens for Charles Manson in later years this show just struck me hard to get into. Even when i noticed its not exactly what i thought it was going to be i still found it hard to get into.

[–] baileythedog 9 years ago

Hardest thing for me was the whole Charles Manson thing. Like i thought the show was more about them bringing down Manson but it didnt end up being that way. I mean, read the summation of it and that's what i got from it. Knowing what happens for Charles Manson in later years this show just struck me hard to get into. Even when i noticed its not exactly what i thought it was going to be i still found it hard to get into.

People have varied on their ability to get into the show. I personally found something to watch for from the beginning episode. (Admitted DD fan here, so that helped.) But also, it's helpful to know that the show isn't trying to radically change the Manson history here. The cops won't be bringing him down for anything. (As of yet, there isn't much he's done that's illegal that the cops would have grounds to arrest him for. He didn't kidnap Emma and he isn't holding here there against her will. Possibly conspiracy for larceny, but beyond that...)

The show became even more interesting for me though as an exploration of old guy/young guy cop in late 60's LA where obviously there are culture and social clashes a plenty. These are the stories that begin to incorporate more of the show so when you get to episode 3 (Episodes 1 and 2 together are essentially the pilot) then you start to see the larger picture.

If I have complaints about the show, it's that I don't think the hair/wardrobe people have done the best job making the cast look authentically 60s--their haircuts and nicely trimmed beards look too modern to me.

[–] monstermayhem32 9 years ago

I think the show has potential but weak.

[–] walking_bread 9 years ago

Regarding possible reasons to arrest Manson ... in the 3rd episode (I think), Emma steels from a shop owner, then Manson either kills or beats up the shop owner. Was there ever any blowback from this incident ??

[–] catbookss 9 years ago

I found the first two episodes rather slow, but engaging enough for me to keep watching.

Like you, I thought the focus of the show was going to be about the head cop/detective tracking down and following Manson, and eventually capturing him. At first it annoyed me that this wasn't the focus, and then within a few more episodes I began to enjoy the rest of the parts of the show more than those that were about Manson and his followers.

[–] imonlymyself51 9 years ago

i thank you guys for sharing ur thoughts. I think i will watch season 2 if it comes out. Maybe i can get into it more. I did find parts of the later episodes better and more entertaining, but i just couldnt fully engage into it.

[–] breinfout 9 years ago

Yeah I know what you mean. I'm currently at episode 9 and although I enjoy watching it, I don't think it's really that good but that's probably my issue with Duchovny in this series.

I thought he was most excellent in The X-files and Cali, but I find his acting pretty flat. Although I started watching this show primarily because of him, I'm not that big of a fan of his portrayal of his character. Sometimes it feels as if you see a condensed version of 'Hank' in a different context, which I think isn't great at all.

Overall, I like the build up but I really hope the writers will give the show a bit more liveliness.

[–] Sandoz 9 years ago

I'm having a very hard time accepting the liberties this show takes with real life persons, events, and timelines just to suit their own plot mechanics. I know creators of fiction have the right to bend these components however they see fit, but for some reason it's difficult for me to be able to watch this and not find myself being annoyed by the historical falsehoods the story presents.

People believe what they want to believe. One term for this is Faith. Another is Delusion.

[–] Pippy-4 9 years ago

I was a teen at that time but i guess i don't remember enough to even know if they didn't get things right. That said, i don't give a damn it's enjoyable to watch.

[–] ad-08353 9 years ago

I agree with you about "having a very hard time accepting the liberties this show takes ... being annoyed by the historical falsehoods the story presents."

It is frustrating when the networks etc advertise a show as being one thing but the show is nothing like what it is being promoted as. Two cases in point: in this case they used the famous/infamous name Charles Manson to merely bring in an audience and thyen went on their own merry way with their version of history. The other case is Scorpion which is a show saying it is based on Walter O'Brien who has the fourth highest IQ ever recorded. In reality, O'Brien's IQ has never ever been recorded and there is no way at all that he even has a very high IQ, let alone the 4th highest. We have allowed enough leeway in the industry that it has become an industry full of dishonesty and deceit.

[–] Pippy-4 9 years ago

I watch TV to be entertained and both Scorpion and Aquarius do that for me. I don't care if its not factual.

[–] ad-08353 9 years ago

I am the same as you - I don't care whether a show is factual or not. But that isn't the point I was making. The point I was making is that shows should be marketed, promoted, etc truthfully. I don't consider it acceptable that networks deliberately deceive audiences in their marketing and promos etc about a series/movie.

[–] Pippy-4 9 years ago

I am the same as you - I don't care whether a show is factual or not. But that isn't the point I was making. The point I was making is that shows should be marketed, promoted, etc truthfully. I don't consider it acceptable that networks deliberately deceive audiences in their marketing and promos etc about a series/movie.

Oh, OK:)

[–] GraceFromSoCal 9 years ago

I really didn't have any preconceived notions about the show. I started watching with nothing more than the expectation that it somehow had something to do with Manson--but understanding that it's a fictional show. Also, I'm a Baby Boomer, a child at the time the Manson killings happened, and I think I wanted to revisit that time in my life.

--

http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com

[–] TerrorDementia 9 years ago

I'm in the same boat. A few episodes in, and it's.... I don't know.... boring? I want to love the show, but it's hard to watch another episode, to see if I will eventuall get into it.

[–] Pippy-4 9 years ago

As I've said before I found the show to get better and better as it goes along.

[–] CrenshawPete 9 years ago

I think it's hard to get into because it fails to capture the era on so many levels. Mad Men, although not perfect in this regards, does a much, much better job with the styles, culture, etc. of the period. Aquarius, on the other hand, looks like something Ashton Kutcher might slap together. They barely even made an effort to get the clothes, hair, furniture etc. to look like the 60s. In fact, it looks more like 1997 than 1967. Completely sloppy and uninspiring. It's like no one bothered to grow their hair out from the current 21st century styles because they never expected the series to get picked up. "Ah, just throw in a bunch of overused, cliche 60s hits. The millennials will never know the difference!"

I loved Californication, except for the seventh season, which I'd like to forget ever existed... don't even get me started. It was kind of unique... a bit of low-brow adult fun. Aquarius has no raison d'être. I mean why rewrite history when the real events are sensational enough? Last summer I read "Mason: The life and times of Charles Manson", and was that ever a page-turner! There's more than enough interesting material to make a TV series out of.

I wouldn't say I hate this series, but I could barely get through the pilot. It's too bad, because the concept (i.e. real events) have potential. A perfect example is the movie "Zodiac". If only the producers of Aquarius had created something of that quality.

[–] baileythedog 9 years ago

I wouldn't say I hate this series, but I could barely get through the pilot. It's too bad, because the concept (i.e. real events) have potential. A perfect example is the movie "Zodiac". If only the producers of Aquarius had created something of that quality.

I'm a little more positive on the series than you are, but admit that it definitely has some production problems. I do think they've created enough side stories, though, to keep the series interesting overall. The fact that the Manson story is but a mere part of the show is to its advantage, I think.

Curious if you made it past the pilot to finish the season? I agree that the of all the episodes, the pilot was perhaps the most uninspiring, but it did get considerably better from there.

[–] CrenshawPete 9 years ago

No, I admit I haven't made it past the pilot yet. I'll give it another go and see if I can warm up to it.

[–] cmb_uk 9 years ago

...have to say I very much agree with your assessment about Aquarius ( & Zodiac too incidentally ! ) so don't have an awful lot to add - the only thing I'll mention is that unfortunately the casting of Manson is a major stumbling block for me aswell - not that I've got anything against the young actor but he just isn't Manson for me - not weird or intense or hyper enough imo ....

...oh and I wish Sadie wasn't a red head - Squeaky was, Sadie had dark hair...trivial details ? very possibly but gives you some idea of where I'm coming from..

..on the other hand there are 2 versions of Helter Skelter out there + at least another couple of feature films on the whole Mansonoid phenomenon so there's always that... :-)

[–] pmbeatlefan 8 years ago

I wasn't crazy about the casting choice for Manson either. Didn't have that creepiness, that devil stare. But as the series progresses, he seems to decline and become more sinister, which I'm enjoying. So in retrospect, I'm glad he didn't start off full tilt.