Mildred Pierce: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: March 27, 2011

Summary: The adaptation of James M. Cain's novel focuses more on Mildred's (Kate Winslet) daughter Veda (Evan Rachel Wood) than the 1945 movie with Joan Crawford did.

Genre(s): Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E5. Part 5
Air Date: April 10, 2011
tbd
S1:E4. Part 4
Air Date: April 10, 2011
tbd
S1:E3. Part 3
Air Date: April 3, 2011

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Tom Gliatto

Mar 28, 2011

This is an epic portrait of a woman who's monumentally single-minded yet uncomprehending, and watching her rise and fall inspires a sick awe. [4 Apr 2011, p.50]

Mary McNamara

Mar 24, 2011

Haynes has created not only a rich and nuanced vehicle for his A-list cast--among them Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood and Guy Pearce--he has given us a rare and valuable gift: an American melodrama about class. Read full review

Cynthia Fuchs

Mar 25, 2011

In HBO's miniseries Mildred Pierce, beginning on 27 March, she embodies the sort of ambition and resilience that might seem ideal during a depression-or even a great recession. That is, she's a function of her time (the one first imagined for her by James M. Cain) as well as ours. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Mar 24, 2011

Not everyone is going to respond to its purposeful languor and subliminal intent. Winslet is at once wonderful and yet enigmatically blank--very much as written in Haynes's and Jon Raymond's screenplay. Read full review

Rob Owen

Mar 25, 2011

The miniseries feels a little pokey in its early chapters, although it does an excellent job of establishing the primary characters, and then races too quickly toward its conclusion (wait, who is Mildred married to now?). Read full review

Matt Roush

Mar 25, 2011

This nearly six-hour adaptation is an over-indulgently languid showcase for Winslet to shine as the iconic and ultimate Mother Martyr. Read full review

Nancy DeWolf Smith

Mar 25, 2011

Over five-plus hours, the miniseries would have had time to explore every nuance. But there are so few that rise above artifice, and so little dramatic action driving the plot, that even an actor as talented as Ms. Winslet can hardly fill the dead spaces. Read full review

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User Reviews

Tony

Apr 10, 2011

Kate Winslet gives a tour-de-force performance in a beautiful miniseries from Todd Haynes. My only complant is solely the presence of Evan Rachel Wood. She is grating and insufferable, and I often find myself confused where the character ends and she begins.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

EvanS

Mar 28, 2011

The most gorgeous Todd Haynes movie yet. Mildred Pierce is on fire most of Parts I and II and all of the scenes feel lived in and authentically rendered with stunning costumes, sets (unlike Boardwalk Empire that feels like a Disneyworld-style replica). The weak spot so far is the unfoldingThe most gorgeous Todd Haynes movie yet. Mildred Pierce is on fire most of Parts I and II and all of the scenes feel lived in and authentically rendered with stunning costumes, sets (unlike Boardwalk Empire that feels like a Disneyworld-style replica). The weak spot so far is the unfolding dynamic between Mildred and Veda. It chokes the flow of the story and kind of puts Mildred Pierce in a Time Out. Veda annoys and I understand this is the point, but could it have been done a little less broadly?… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Dumitru

Oct 3, 2012

I watched the series after Kate Winslet won an Emmy for her performance. I have to say, it was worth it. It's true that the series could've been better, especially with the script. Overall, I enjoy it !

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

beewranglerPat

Mar 28, 2011

PLEASE, Mildred!!! you are just too wimpy. Mildred is too sappy and unbelievable. Her husband walks in and just hands her the car keys? sorry, I can;t buy that. What was the sex with Wally about? It has nothing to do with the story. It just dragged on and on. the looking for workPLEASE, Mildred!!! you are just too wimpy. Mildred is too sappy and unbelievable. Her husband walks in and just hands her the car keys? sorry, I can;t buy that. What was the sex with Wally about? It has nothing to do with the story. It just dragged on and on. the looking for work episode, too long, too boring. The death sequence strung out for 15 minutes. This could have been pared down to 1 hour, TOPS. It didn't start getting interesting until Monty showed up but I was disappointed that they jumped in bed right away. I would think Mildred had more class then that. Best thing about this was the period stuff, costumes, cars, houses. The second best thing was the previews. This is not good material for a mini series especially when you are competing with Joan Crawford, the ultimate survivor.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

marky4

Mar 28, 2011

Show doesn't capture the spirit of the woman, or the times. Trying too hard to be Emmy/Globe material; Kate sleepwalks through the role, bakes a few pies and then--Presto!--opens a spiffy new restaurant in the midst of The Great Depression. She sleeps with Wally The Pig without batting anShow doesn't capture the spirit of the woman, or the times. Trying too hard to be Emmy/Globe material; Kate sleepwalks through the role, bakes a few pies and then--Presto!--opens a spiffy new restaurant in the midst of The Great Depression. She sleeps with Wally The Pig without batting an eyelash but can't bring herself to work as common waitress--all the while maintaining a very comfortable middle-class home without benefit of alimony. This screenplay lacks the snap of the thirties, when everyone had to hustle at top speed to stay alive. For a more honest and satisfying depiction of the real early '30s, I suggest you watch a few classic episodes of "Our Gang" featuring Chubby, Stymie, Jackie Cooper and "Miss Crabtree." You'll get all the authentic costumes you desire, but more importantly, authentic period soul.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

WillfromSF

Aug 20, 2011

I am submitting this simply to correct the score that showed up on my review. I meant to give it a 2 which was generous. Default was a 10 and I forgot to change it.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Seasons & Episodes

69

Series Overview
Season 1

69
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 27, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E5. Part 5
  Air Date: April 10, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E4. Part 4
  Air Date: April 10, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E3. Part 3
  Air Date: April 3, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E2. Part 2
  Air Date: March 27, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E1. Part 1
  Air Date: March 27, 2011