Downsized: Season 1
Downsized Image
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critics What's this?

User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 2 more ratings

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  • Summary: Laura and Todd Bruce are struggling to pay the bills for their nine-member family after Todd's contracting business folded when the housing market collapsed.
  • Genre(s): Reality, Game Show

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Alessandra Stanley
    Dec 10, 2010
    80
    It's impossible not to root for the Bruce family. But it's just as hard not to dread the series's success.
  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Dec 10, 2010
    80
    Very often, reality-show participants stop seeming like real people, as if being on TV makes them abstract characters. [Daughter] Bailey's bad moment here makes Downsized feel painfully real.
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    Dec 10, 2010
    80
    There's a tender and no-nonsense tenor to it, which is a welcome switch from most of reality TV's junky tropes.
  4. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Dec 10, 2010
    58
    Many of the scenes with the teens seem staged, especially tonight's climax. Still, the Bruces aren't anything like the delusional couples who populate Bravo's "Housewives" shows. This is a functioning family trying to survive a dysfunctional time.

See all 6 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. cancer7987
    4
    I have nothing bad to say about the Bruce family, they are like any other family who is struggling with debt right now in today's society. However, I think television needs to come out with a reality TV show with a under-middle class family, usual average day Joe's who are struggling much worse than the Bruce's are. There are other people in this world who have it much worse than the Bruce's do. I believe the Bruce's are where they are at now is possibly because of bad choices they made financially when they did have money. Of course your going to be in debt if you don't spend your money wisely and debt happens when you have a big family. But all in all, I am sure they'll make it through.… Expand
  2. lena
    2
    Horrible show. The parents are not likeable, the kids are lazy and the whole premise of the show is overly staged. A typically fake reality show with people I don't care about.… Expand

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