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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed shows.

Hidden Palms

EMAILPRINTSERIES: CW, Wednesday 8:00p (60 minutes)

Hidden Palms
45
9.2 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 25 votes
Read user comments
Rate this show >

Show Info

Genre(s): Drama, Soap Opera

Created By: Kevin Williamson

First Air Date: May 30, 2007

Summary

Starring Taylor Handley, Gail O'Grady, D.W. Moffett, Michael Cassidy, Sharon Lawrence, and Amber Heard

Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson returns with a darker soap that follows troubled teens (and their troubled parents) living in Palm Springs.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88

New York PostLinda Stasi

Despite the fact that it revolves around standard-issue teens with troubled, rich parents, it pushes the formula a few steps . . . make that several steps farther.

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70

NewsdayDiane Werts

Don't believe the critics who tell you "Hidden Palms" stinks after they watched only the first episode.... This is a seriously involving serious show. A show about something.

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70

Miami HeraldGlenn Garvin

A soapy delight of hard bodies and dirty doings.

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60

Los Angeles TimesRobert Lloyd

While much of it is silly, corny or clichéd and relies more on easy effects — the power ballad, the overwrought sex scene — than on the subtle explorations of people and place that the pilot seems to promise, the series is, on the whole, highly digestible summer fun.

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60

Orlando SentinelHal Boedeker

Hidden Palms goes where other series have gone before and suffers in the comparisons. Veronica Mars has told mysteries with more finesse. Twin Peaks was odder with its eerie atmosphere. Dawson's Creek supplied sophisticated teen dialogue with more verve.

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60

The New York TimesGinia Bellafante

Remove the sex, sociopathology and possible filicide, and you will still be left with a quite inspiring home design show.

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50

Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen

A perfectly serviceable teen drama.

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50

Chicago Sun-TimesDoug Elfman

"Hidden Palms" isn't totally odious. After the bad acting in the initial daddy suicide, the show calms down and holds mild interest for its bikini hotness, cool blue pools and unapologetic stupidity.

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50

Detroit Free PressMike Duffy

There's nothing remotely hip or ahead of the trendy zeitgeist curve about "Hidden Palms." But there are some of those agreeable guilty pleasures to be found, like cliffhanger twists at the close of each episode that keep the mystery bubbling.

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50

Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen Gray

In January or February, I might not have found room in my own schedule for a combination murder mystery and teen soap. I certainly would have wondered more about setting a show about adolescents among the ancients of Palm Springs. Now I'm just inclined to appreciate the little things.

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50

Philadelphia InquirerJonathan Storm

The big mysteries behind the trees in Hidden Palms are also way more fun than the mud in the murky waters of Dawson's Creek. That's not a lot, but pondering the extent of evil in the bad boy, and the cause of the craziness in the gorgeous girl, not to mention why the dead kid died, is considerably more stimulating than it was years ago to put the TV on mute and gawk when Katie Holmes came on the screen.

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42

Entertainment WeeklyGillian Flynn

Even the dialogue is mediocre, a surprise coming from Williamson.

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40

Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan

“Hidden Palms” will never be mistaken for classic-era “O.C.,” not yet, anyway.

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40

VarietyBrian Lowry

To the producers' credit, this storyline advances fairly rapidly; it's just not that engaging or surprising.

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40

Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert

"Hidden Palms" would be more engaging and addictive if the acting were more distinctive.

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40

Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron

Mostly silly, pretentious, soap opera-style TV with an escapist mentality and the subtlety of an avalanche.

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38

New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley

It may be harsh to suggest his "Creek" has run dry, but as a followup exploration of teen anxiety, "Hidden Palms" offers little but scenic and human scenery.

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37

USA TodayRobert Bianco

Unfortunately, the smarter-than-thou riffs that may have seemed amusing and fresh back on Dawson's Creek now simply feel dated and rehashed.

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30

TV GuideMatt Roush

Overwritten and underacted (by the kids anyway), it strings out its weekly climactic shockers — some of them truly unnerving — with artery-hardening blobs of moldy adolescent whining.

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10

Seattle Post-IntelligencerMelanie McFarland

"Hidden Palms"... starts out feeling like it could be a guilty pleasure but ends up being something you want to hold face down in a full kiddie pool.

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10

San Jose Mercury NewsCharlie McCollum

The show is overly ripe in its writing and spends far too much time exploring the whiny angst of the teens.

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0

Washington PostTom Shales

You're likely to find more fascinating figures and intriguing dramatis personae in the latest catalogue from J. Peterman, and somehow Peterman comes off as more emotionally authentic.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this show is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Cody W. gave it a10:
What the hell is the CW doing, I don't watch shows like this ever, never have, but this show is pure Gold! You can't give me gold and then just take it away from me, it's just not right! I demand another season atleast, the cliffhangers are killing me!

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
The cast and the scenery is wonderful. I never watch soaps, but this is very enjoyable.

AJ G. gave it a10:
I normally don't watch shows like this...aimed at teens. I didn't and don't watch the OC or Laguna Beach. I saw the preview for this show and said "what the heck". I love it! The characters are so well made and played. You feel for them, you want to hurt them, you want to hug them...so many emotions swirling around. It's thought provoking and intense. Exactly what I was looking for. A+ to the basis, the plot and the acting. Superb!

Beibei L. gave it a10:
I love the series so much. I hope Cw don;t cut it.

meera d. gave it a10:
omg i love that show it sucks that they are ending it!

Ashley D. gave it a10:
It was slow at first.. but now I'm hooked! It's turned out to be an awesome show. I can't wait until the next episode!

Jaimee H. gave it a10:
She show has a detailed plot and the show grabs your attention with good characters and great actors. The music in the show is outstanding and fits perfect into the events. The show should most defenitly venture on towards a second season. Ive gotten all my friends and family into the show. We all look forward to Wednesday. Amazing Show!

Read more user comments >

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