House of Lies: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 119 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	Your Score
5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 119 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

SHOWTIME | Season Premiere Date: January 8, 2012

Starring: Glynn Turman, Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell

Summary: Based on the book by Martin Kihn, the dark comedy series focuses on Marty Kaan (Don Cheadle), a management consultant, and his team, which includes Jeannie (Kristen Bell), Clyde (Ben Swartz), and Doug (Josh Lawson).

Creator: Matthew Carnahan

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E12. The Mayan Apocalypse
Air Date: April 1, 2012
tbd
S1:E11. Business
Air Date: March 25, 2012
tbd
S1:E10. Prologue and Aftermath
Air Date: March 18, 2012

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

David Wiegand

Jan 4, 2012

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. Read full review

Sarah Rodman

Jan 6, 2012

It helps that Cheadle is surrounded by characters, and actors, who seem like they will go interesting places. Read full review

Tom Gliatto

Jan 6, 2012

It takes a few half-hour episodes before the tone gels. [16 Jan 2012, p.39]

James Poniewozik

Jan 6, 2012

House of Lies is sharp, but not big on subtext. Read full review

David Hinckley

Jan 6, 2012

Like many of Showtime's most cherished series, House of Lies can be annoying and entertaining at the same time. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Jan 9, 2012

I didn't laugh much. I did, however, check my watch, still secure on my wrist, to determine when the show would be ending. Read full review

Luke De Smet

Jan 11, 2012

Because from its embellished execution to its uninspired writing and very conception, the smarmy House of Lies is like so many speculative financial bubbles that characters like Marty have had their hands in: There's just nothing there. Read full review

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User Score

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5.6

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User Reviews

dwforbes

Jan 10, 2012

I hold out hope for future episodes, however the writing of the first episode bordered on unbearable, with single-dimensional caricatures that were both predictable and groan inducing. The wife, the son, the prostitute, much less the bathroom scene..just horrendous stuff. The core idea ofI hold out hope for future episodes, however the writing of the first episode bordered on unbearable, with single-dimensional caricatures that were both predictable and groan inducing. The wife, the son, the prostitute, much less the bathroom scene..just horrendous stuff. The core idea of the show is novel and enjoyable, as is the Fight Club-esque techniques and narrative, however the execution has me expecting the axe to fall on it soon.… Expand

3 of 12 users found this helpful39

SweetLou

Mar 4, 2013

Saw a couple of Season 1 episodes on a flight, and they got me hooked. A very cynical, yet hilarious, take on the management consulting world, with psychological overtones in the exploration of the characters' relationships with one another. There's some misogynistic humor and someSaw a couple of Season 1 episodes on a flight, and they got me hooked. A very cynical, yet hilarious, take on the management consulting world, with psychological overtones in the exploration of the characters' relationships with one another. There's some misogynistic humor and some d**k-and-fart jokes, low hanging fruit as they are, but they don't detract too much from the overall experience. It's offset in part by the very human portrayal of Don Cheadle's character's son exploring gender identity issues. It's worth watching the first three or four episodes in order to build a more comprehensive view, as the show evolves over the course of the season. **USER SCORE CAVEAT** When reading the user reviews, you'll see a bunch of "0" scores. Note the date they were posted (before the pilot aired, or just after) and then click through and look at the other reviews the users have posted. Almost without fail, the users also gave Parks Rec Season 4 a "10." One of the actors from Parks Rec (Jean-Ralphio) is also in House of Lies, which I assume accounts for the collusion behind the "0" scores.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

heeldavid

May 6, 2014

House Of Lies is a great comedic-dramatic show with great charming performances by Don Cheadle as Marty and Kristen Bell. But it has its cons too, it's got to put more elements in itself

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Beau

Jan 8, 2012

Watched the pilot online, there is no logical reason for this series to be airing. The critics are under Showtime hypnosis. One of the most terribly written pilots in pilot history. Don Cheadle doesn't even save this show. Lots of improvement and growth needed. Too many homosexuality jokes.

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

hottscott

Feb 11, 2014

i used to really like the show. refreshing - as it was a new perspective on the business world i knew little about. don cheadle was the one that really drew me into the story, and the supporting characters worked well together. however - way too much high-school level bantering and jokingi used to really like the show. refreshing - as it was a new perspective on the business world i knew little about. don cheadle was the one that really drew me into the story, and the supporting characters worked well together. however - way too much high-school level bantering and joking between jeannie and the other two guys especially. it's become boring and utterly sickening. jeannie has also become become a marty mini-me. they're losing their individuality. in addition, they don't need to be so sarcastic ALL the time. develop the story and characters. that's the draw. now, what's up with the t.i. thing? i haven't watched any of those episodes, because i literally got sick of the overabundance of high-school humor and repetitious bull-sh*t that i stopped watching the show. i just happened to turn the tv by there last night and i'm like - what the hell is t.i. doing on here? that's what made me stop and check it out for a second - but it was the same old over-the top sarcasm, so i went back to watching star trek nemesis or some other movie i've seen ten to the google-plex time.
btw i thought the new episode of the walking dead sucked. lol. be a little more creative god-d*mmit. :)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tessler

Jan 11, 2012

Vomit inducing. Awful, awful, awful. Hopefully it gets cancelled before the world has to see any more. Why is Kristen Bell doing this? A waste of her talent.

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

stormD23

Jan 9, 2012

The Pilot episode was horribly constructed, i'm really surprised that Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell signed up for this train wreck. I'll give it a couple more episodes before i can it, only because It's on after Shameless, but its not looking good for House of Crap... i mean Lies.

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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Seasons & Episodes

63

Series Overview
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: January 11, 2015
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: January 12, 2014
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 13, 2013
Season 1

63
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 8, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E12. The Mayan Apocalypse
  Air Date: April 1, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E11. Business
  Air Date: March 25, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E10. Prologue and Aftermath
  Air Date: March 18, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E9. Ouroboros
  Air Date: March 11, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E8. Veritas
  Air Date: March 4, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E7. Bareback Town
  Air Date: February 19, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E6. Our Descent Into Los Angeles
  Air Date: February 12, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E5. Utah
  Air Date: February 5, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E4. Mini-Mogul
  Air Date: January 29, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E3. Microphallus
  Air Date: January 22, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E2. Amsterdam
  Air Date: January 15, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E1. Gods of Dangerous Financial Instruments
  Air Date: January 8, 2012