John from Cincinnati: Season 1

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 254 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 254 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: June 10, 2007

Starring: Luis Guzman, Luke Perry, Rebecca De Mornay

Summary: The lives of three generations of a dysfunctional surfing family residing near the California-Mexico border are impacted by the arrival of a mysterious (and ambiguously supernatural) stranger in the latest series from "Deadwood" creator David Milch.

Creator: David Milch and Kem Nunn and Kem Nunn

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. His Visit: Day Nine
Air Date: August 12, 2007
tbd
S1:E9. His Visit: Day Eight
Air Date: August 5, 2007
tbd
S1:E8. His Visit: Day Seven
Air Date: July 29, 2007

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Linda Stasi

As profane as "Deadwood" and as profound as "The Sopranos," the series strikes every right chord. Read full review

Robert Abele

Mesmerizing and entertainingly confounding. Read full review

Paul Brownfield

Sometimes "John From Cincinnati" is a muddle, at other times rich drama and divine comedy. And sometimes it's all of that at once. Read full review

Alan Sepinwall

It's an odd little show, often more David Lynch than David Milch, and after three episodes I'm still not sure I understand it all. Read full review

Brian Lowry

"John From Cincinnati" might be the strangest show ever produced for American television. Read full review

Melanie McFarland

The only thing a person can be certain of after watching "John From Cincinnati" is this: Any die-hard "Deadwood" fan interested in keeping the veins in his forehead intact should not bother with it. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

Watching HBO's surfing drama "John From Cincinnati" is like sitting through a bad play at a tiny experimental theater.... In short, if Gary Busey were a TV series, he would be "John From Cincinnati." Read full review

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User Score

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7.4

User Reviews

emilyb

Jul 22, 2007

Just keeps getting better and I still don't understand it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MikeC

Jul 22, 2007

Best show ever on HBO! For those who prefer to think instead of being spoon fed, this show is fantastic!. Amazing! July 23, 2007

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JennetP

Jan 25, 2012

No description of this series makes it sound at all appealing. In fact, despite my enthusiasm for surfing, Zen, and Garrett Dillahunt, I didn't watch it until last year, not just because of the bad reviews, but because even the good ones made "John from Cincinnati" sound about as alluringNo description of this series makes it sound at all appealing. In fact, despite my enthusiasm for surfing, Zen, and Garrett Dillahunt, I didn't watch it until last year, not just because of the bad reviews, but because even the good ones made "John from Cincinnati" sound about as alluring as listening to Cyndi Lauper read the Manhattan Phone Directory through a bullhorn while Dick Cheney cleaned my teeth with a hunting rifle. And I'm not the only viewer the series failed to attract. Recently, I read that less than a quarter of the audience who watched the finale of "The Sopranos" stuck around to check out "John." In other words, the show never had a chance. And that was a shame of the first order, because "John" turns out to be one of the most original, profound, and moving series I've ever seen. Not only is there nothing like it, there's nothing even close enough to allow a cautious, qualified comparison--a descriptive comparison, that is. Even a non-descriptive comparison is hard. I could think for hours and then finally stammer, "John from Cincinnati" is to "Deadwood" as "The Tempest" is to "1 Henry IV," but,despite struggling to find the most apt analogy possible, all I have done is tell you "It's really different" and "It's really good." So, though I normally condemn unsubstantiated value judgments, I think it's essential to make one here, because anything I could say is as likely to make you shun "John from Cincinnati" as to make you want to watch it. If you think I'm just being lazy, look at some of my other reviews; all I'm trying to avoid is turning another potential viewer OFF. I will qualify my approbation a bit, however. "John" is not a show for fools, nor for people who just want to power down their brains after work and settle into a stupor. I'm not saying that the series requires effort to watch--it doesn't--but it will stimulate brains that are not already dead, and the questions it will raise are exciting. So viewers who mind being stimulated, mentally, should probably choose another series. "John" is also not a show for rigid people. If, for you, rules and categories and formulae are ends in themselves (rather than means of achieving certain ends), you will not like this series, as it consistently breaks generic and other boundaries. If characters must adhere to familiar types; if, for you, mothers must be nurturing and children lovable and junkies loathsome and surfers moronic and avatars eloquent, then, no, you will not like this series. If, however, you have an open, active mind and your sympathies extend to people unlike yourself and you've occasionally asked a question or two about what it might mean to be human and, most importantly, you really enjoy seeing something you've never seen before, especially if it's beautiful, then check out "John from Cincinnati." I have a feeling that your great-great grandchildren will be proud to tell their friends that you were among the very few who realized way back in 2012 that this series was a classic.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BrianF.

Jul 11, 2007

grows on you as you watch each new episode

0 of 0 users found this helpful

jimj.

Jul 3, 2007

Thanks again HBO for giving us another quality show! very few networks..with he exception of Showtime, HBO and FX give us television that makes you think. The show has lots of different angles and characters to be developed.. I love the show and how Milch and his team can tear apart and Thanks again HBO for giving us another quality show! very few networks..with he exception of Showtime, HBO and FX give us television that makes you think. The show has lots of different angles and characters to be developed.. I love the show and how Milch and his team can tear apart and rebuild characters like few others...Keep up the Great work!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RichardK

Jun 25, 2007

This show is just plain bad. After barely being able to finish watching the 3rd show, I've concluded that I don't care about any of these people, especially John. After Deadwood, I thought David Milch would have come up with something really great. What a major dissapointment.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TylerS

Jun 9, 2007

I had the [dis]pleasure of vieing the first three episodes in advance. Trust me, 20 minutes in, this one will have you racing towards you telephone to cancel your post-Soprano HBO subscription. I am literally appalled that they dropped the masterpiece that was Deadwood for this steaming I had the [dis]pleasure of vieing the first three episodes in advance. Trust me, 20 minutes in, this one will have you racing towards you telephone to cancel your post-Soprano HBO subscription. I am literally appalled that they dropped the masterpiece that was Deadwood for this steaming piece of poo!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 202 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

50

Series Overview
Season 1

50
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: June 10, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E10. His Visit: Day Nine
  Air Date: August 12, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E9. His Visit: Day Eight
  Air Date: August 5, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E8. His Visit: Day Seven
  Air Date: July 29, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E7. His Visit: Day Six
  Air Date: July 22, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E6. His Visit: Day Five
  Air Date: July 15, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E5. His Visit: Day Four
  Air Date: July 8, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E4. His Visit: Day Three
  Air Date: July 1, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E3. His Visit: Day Two Continued
  Air Date: June 24, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E2. His Visit: Day Two
  Air Date: June 17, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E1. His Visit: Day One
  Air Date: June 10, 2007