Enlightened: Season 2

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 107 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 107 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: January 13, 2013

Starring: Mike White, Diane Ladd, Timm Sharp

Summary: Amy and Tyler seek to take down the corporation. Molly Shannon as the executive assistant to the CEO of Abaddonn Industries and Dermot Mulroney as an investigative reporter join the cast.

Creator: Mike White and Laura Dern

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Health & Lifestyle

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Season 2 Episodes

tbd
S2:E8. Agent of Change
Air Date: March 3, 2013
tbd
S2:E7. No Doubt
Air Date: February 24, 2013
tbd
S2:E6. All I Ever Wanted
Air Date: February 17, 2013

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Daniel Goldberg

Jan 8, 2013

That Enlightened's propagandist and activist message is tinged with irony only makes it more perfectly tooled to our times. Read full review

100

Tom Gliatto

Jan 17, 2013

The show is an absolute original. [28 Jan 2013, p.44]

100

David Wiegand

Jan 10, 2013

Self-delusion can grow fairly tiresome, in life and on TV, but what makes Amy sympathetic is that even though she almost convinces us at times that her personal fairy tale actually makes sense, we are always aware of her basic decency and, more important, her vulnerability. Read full review

100

Ken Tucker

Jan 11, 2013

Laura Dern and Mike White continue their bold, hilarious, tremendously moving exploration of Amy Jellicoe's ongoing attempt to give meaning to her life. [18 Jan 2013, p.74]

100

Maureen Ryan

Jan 17, 2013

The show's must-see second season is one of the best stories I've experienced in a long time. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Jan 11, 2013

Enlightened comes through with a triumphant eight-episode arc that broadens its characters, quickens the pace and finishes strong. Read full review

Matt Zoller Seitz

Jan 7, 2013

Contemporary TV is suddenly filled with shows starring charismatic yet ostentatiously flawed heroines: Homeland, The Mindy Project, Girls, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. Enlightened stands out because its vision is so much wider. Read full review

User Score

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7.6

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

User Reviews

mikepariscritic

Feb 10, 2013

HBO's enlightened is simply an outstanding show: the writing is subtle, clever and funny. I had not seen such a sophisticated and genuine show since In Treatment.

7 of 8 users found this helpful71

solace228

Mar 4, 2013

I adore this show! It is hilarious, sad, thought-provoking and quite touching. The writing is brilliant. Dern constantly surprises at first she seems to be a kooky and unstable woman who is trying to recover from a serious mental breakdown; she seems unable to tolerate unpleasantI adore this show! It is hilarious, sad, thought-provoking and quite touching. The writing is brilliant. Dern constantly surprises at first she seems to be a kooky and unstable woman who is trying to recover from a serious mental breakdown; she seems unable to tolerate unpleasant emotions and rejection without becoming unglued. However, she slowly becomes a three dimensional human who reminds the viewer that we all should be more distraught when we are disrespected and treated poorly. Moreover, corporate greed and the overall state of humanity is deranged. Possibly, we should all become more unhinged now and then! Laura Dern's character helps me get in touch with an existential part of myself; her character holds the tension of hope and hopelessness, freedom and feeling utterly trapped. By the end of each season I am convinced that I want to be a better person.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BaxterX7

May 18, 2013

9/10 but I'm giving it a ten to help cancel out Oinker and boredbychoice's semi-idiotic votes. As a man with basic needs I watch shows like The Office (10/10), Breaking Bad (10), Game of Thrones (10), Family Guy(9), Walking Dead (9), Elementary (8.5), The Americans (9) etc. I feel the need9/10 but I'm giving it a ten to help cancel out Oinker and boredbychoice's semi-idiotic votes. As a man with basic needs I watch shows like The Office (10/10), Breaking Bad (10), Game of Thrones (10), Family Guy(9), Walking Dead (9), Elementary (8.5), The Americans (9) etc. I feel the need to write reviews only when a show is being discarded at first glance by men with extreme fear of the return of shows like Sex in the City, Desperate Housewives, Dharma and Greg etc. (all not really that bad). Shows that were forced on us by women. Mike white and Laura Dern have made a new piece of golden age television with Enlightened. This is a show for deep thinkers and twist lovers. Be prepared to second guess every turn and piece the enlightening puzzle together as the tale comes to light. Characters act according to a very specific timeline while the standard building process unfolds. Trust the season 2 metascore and understand this is a fast-paced and intriguing show for any viewer. Mike White and Luke Wilson keep you steady while Laura Dern goes off the rails in this epic narrative of the trials and tribulations of corporate, first-world America.

Don't you dare write a review after seeing half an episode.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

LucasCorso

Mar 4, 2013

Enlightened is the best show on TV right now, in my opinion. I find it a tribute to the show that most negative reviews center around the notion that "Amy isn't likeable/Amy lacks self-awareness/Amy isn't as heroic as she wants to believe she is." That's the whole point of Amy, folks. IfEnlightened is the best show on TV right now, in my opinion. I find it a tribute to the show that most negative reviews center around the notion that "Amy isn't likeable/Amy lacks self-awareness/Amy isn't as heroic as she wants to believe she is." That's the whole point of Amy, folks. If the show fails for you because it hits its bullseye, you need to watch less sophisticated programming. There are plenty of shows that don't offer fully realized, complicated characters like Amy.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

vern

Feb 11, 2013

What a nice surprise this show was. Each individual character's perspective is seamlessly interwoven into the central character's (Dern) main journey. Dern's character effectively represents the idea of hope in times of hardship. This central message is a really nice change of pace whenWhat a nice surprise this show was. Each individual character's perspective is seamlessly interwoven into the central character's (Dern) main journey. Dern's character effectively represents the idea of hope in times of hardship. This central message is a really nice change of pace when compared to most current shows. Directing, acting, and writing are all top-notch. An excellent show. Plain and simple.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

theahsanhaseeb

Jan 15, 2013

Laura Dern is the only reason I watch this series and she is the only reason I like it. Of course, there are other characters as well and the premise of the show is likable but this is only because Dern makes it so. Her performance and the plot that revolves around her including her effortsLaura Dern is the only reason I watch this series and she is the only reason I like it. Of course, there are other characters as well and the premise of the show is likable but this is only because Dern makes it so. Her performance and the plot that revolves around her including her efforts to be positive and better herself and everything around her is entertaining. The best part of the show is that she can turn those unfunny situations into funny ones and save the show from falling apart.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TrueSpongeFan

Jun 8, 2013

I will never understand how this got this high in critic scores. I just saw it really likable at first, then it just became annoying. HBO, you did a great job at first, then it just disappeared. I just don't know what to say right now.

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

SEE ALL 24 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

79

Series Overview
Season 2

95
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 13, 2013
- tbd
  S2:E8. Agent of Change
  Air Date: March 3, 2013
- tbd
  S2:E7. No Doubt
  Air Date: February 24, 2013
- tbd
  S2:E6. All I Ever Wanted
  Air Date: February 17, 2013
- tbd
  S2:E5. The Ghost is Seen
  Air Date: February 10, 2013
- tbd
  S2:E4. Follow Me
  Air Date: February 3, 2013
- tbd
  S2:E3. Higher Power
  Air Date: January 27, 2013
- tbd
  S2:E2. Revenge Play
  Air Date: January 20, 2013
- tbd
  S2:E1. The Key
  Air Date: January 13, 2013
Season 1

74
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: October 10, 2011