House of Lies: Season 1
  • Network: Showtime
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 8, 2012
  • Season #: 1 , 2
Metascore
63 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 25
  3. Negative: 4 out of 25
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  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Jan 4, 2012
    100
    The series is so pervasively cynical--and, by the way, brilliantly funny--it has the potential of making any viewer feel his or her life isn't so bad after all.
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Jan 6, 2012
    88
    There is much to admire here, from the snap in the dialogue to the show's willingness to tackle issues of race in the workplace--but there might be even more if creator Matthew Carnahan (Dirt) could learn when to stop pushing.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.2 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 33
  3. Negative: 20 out of 33
  1. IKnowTVComedy
    3
    Like many, I expected this Showtime "comedy" to be a drama. It wasn't a drama, but it also wasn't a comedy. In this day and age where marketing and economics is such a rich topic to explore, this show comes and decimates it. One of the worst pilots. Giving it a 3 for Don and Kristen and Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Rec.… Full Review »
  2. thatsme
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I only wanted to watch this for Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell. When the pilot leaked online I jumped on it. The first thing you see is Don Cheadle's ass. Then you meet his extremely flamboyant son. Hundreds of jokes about gays follow. Cheadle's character breaks the fourth wall a lot, and it's annoying. Then there's a scene in a restaurant where a hooker talks about having sex with women. Seriously? This show is terrible, the critics are wrong.… Full Review »
  3. NoahCoward
    1
    This show is shockingly bad. I'm giving it a 1 because I suppose someone someday might create something even worse but it's hard to imagine.

    The plot makes no sense. The entanglements are preposterous and the abundance of sex and nudity which I generally welcome are so gratuitous that it feels like pandering.

    It's obvious that they are trying emulate Entourage in terms of being irreverent, witty, and cynical but let's remember that even Entourage turned flat when it simply tried to imitate itself without any real creative content. There is no real creative content in this lame satire. Here's a tip to the writers - comedy is supposed to be funny.    … Full Review »
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