Oz: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 81 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 81 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: July 12, 1997

Starring: Sean Whitesell, Scott William Winters, Ernie Hudson

Summary: Oz is the name on the street for the Oswald State Penitentiary. Our wheelchair-bound narrator Augustus Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr.) takes us through the wacky world of Emerald City, the experimental unit started by Tim McManus (Terry Kinney). There's shankin' and lovin' and cussin' and fightin' but in the end, HBO makes a damn fine prisonOz is the name on the street for the Oswald State Penitentiary. Our wheelchair-bound narrator Augustus Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr.) takes us through the wacky world of Emerald City, the experimental unit started by Tim McManus (Terry Kinney). There's shankin' and lovin' and cussin' and fightin' but in the end, HBO makes a damn fine prison drama. It's gritty. And there you have it.… Expand

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. A Game of Checkers
Air Date: August 25, 1997
tbd
S1:E7. Plan B
Air Date: August 18, 1997
tbd
S1:E6. To Your Health
Air Date: August 11, 1997

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Lee Winfrey

May 15, 2013

The first new drama series ever produced by Home Box Office, Oz, is a powerhouse. It will probably push the quality standards for television drama as far as HBO's masterful Larry Sanders Show has expanded the parameters of TV comedy series. [9 July 1997, p.C01]

100

Matt Zoller Seitz

May 15, 2013

For the most part, Oz is an awesome achievement - an alternately crude and elegant attempt to expand the boundaries of the one-hour drama. If it can avoid an over reliance on prison movie clichs, stay focused on the redemption theme and give its powerhouse cast more room to breathe, it could be one of the most important works ever aired on American television. [12 July 1997, p.29]

Terry Kelleher

Jun 26, 2013

You won't escape easily from this drama's grip. Read full review

Manuel Mendoza

May 15, 2013

Beyond the cursing, nudity and brutish behavior, Mr. Fontana makes the most of his opportunity by pushing TV's visual and storytelling limits.[12 July 1997, p.1C]

Matt Roush

May 15, 2013

If Fontana's goal is stark realism, it's undercut by the overly theatrical device of a funky narrator, an inmate who uses a wheelchair (Harold Perrineau) and who barks his thoughts into the camera. A sample commentary: "People kill to stay alive. That's as true in prison as out. But I'm wondering why in here we fight so hard to stay alive." [11 July 1997, p.3D]

Howard Rosenberg

May 15, 2013

Its uniqueness and arresting style don't earn it an unqualified endorsement here, for its first two Fontana-written episodes are absolute downers--there's no light at the end of a tunnel, nor even a tunnel--that offer no central characters to like or pull for...Be forewarned, too, that Oz is flat-out the most violent and graphically sexual series on TV. By contrast, it makes ABC's "NYPD Blue" look and sound like dancing Barney. [12 July 1997, p.F2]

Frederic M. Biddle

May 15, 2013

A pretentious exercise in cheap thrills, by great talents who've been allowed to run amok. [11 July 1997, p.D1]

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User Score

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7.8

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Mixed:

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User Reviews

ForReals13

Feb 11, 2020

The Routine A. Visits Conjugals And Otherwise A-.
God's Chillin A-. Capital P A-. Straight Life A-.
To Your Health A. Plan B A. A Game Of Checkers A.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

uwaga

Nov 21, 2015

Best show I watched ever!! Amazing story and wonderful acting!! So pure description of prisoner's life in captivity! Nobody could repeat it at the TV!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

skyebrntt

Nov 7, 2010

The best prison show of all time.Has a great cast with amazing actors and a very well put together story line.the only reason I didn't give a 10 is because my computer is acting funny.If you haven't checked out this show yet, you should.Great drama and you will get hooked the firstThe best prison show of all time.Has a great cast with amazing actors and a very well put together story line.the only reason I didn't give a 10 is because my computer is acting funny.If you haven't checked out this show yet, you should.Great drama and you will get hooked the first episode.One of the most under appretiated television shows of all time.Oz and The Wire at the two most under appretiated series of all time.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

lrush31

Nov 26, 2012

Oz is the show that started HBO, and it was a great preface to the television that would come. From the amazing opening theme to the ending credits, I guarantee that Oz will entertain you like no other TV show has. The tension of Breaking Bad, the scope and amazing characters of The Wire,Oz is the show that started HBO, and it was a great preface to the television that would come. From the amazing opening theme to the ending credits, I guarantee that Oz will entertain you like no other TV show has. The tension of Breaking Bad, the scope and amazing characters of The Wire, and the smart writing of The Sopranos; and all years before any of those shows were being produced. While the show's influence is difficult to find in modern TV, it is definitely there. Here in the first season, we are introduced to some of the most realistic and best acted characters in TV history. Adebisi, Said, Beecher, Schillinger, Wheelchair Boy; all of these characters have their own outlooks on life, prison, and life in prison. They come together to make an interesting and thought provoking take on prison life and outside life in general. Who are the real criminals: the convicts or the guards? What about the death penalty? Do convicts deserve basic human rights? These are all questions that Oz poses through characters and events both just and unjust, and every minute of it is entertaining. Not to mention the camaraderie and humor among the prisoners and guards. Oz is a show that will leave you thinking and laughing at the same time, all while beating out the funky theme song on your favorite chair, breaking your remote in the process. On to Season 2 for me.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ChancePants47

Jul 11, 2012

Oz shows every angle of prison, everything from when a new prisoner walks in, to the children of those prisoners. It also has what might be the best first episode of a TV series, The Wire is possibly the greatest but honestly takes a few episodes to get into, but with Oz, the very firstOz shows every angle of prison, everything from when a new prisoner walks in, to the children of those prisoners. It also has what might be the best first episode of a TV series, The Wire is possibly the greatest but honestly takes a few episodes to get into, but with Oz, the very first episode puts one into such an awe that they have to watch the following episode. This is known to be HBO's first ever 1 hour dramatic series along with also being "Anything Goes," attitude and surely it doesn't disappoint. If the story isn't enough for one to get into the cast should DEFINITELY get one into the show. A combination of plenty of guys from "The Wire" (before it aired obviously) and others really put together an incredibly series. The reason it doesn't get a 10 is because although personally i loved this series and every bit of it, some people may not have the stomach for this show. Oz shows the real story behind prison: gangs, murders, rapes, and corruption, so there aren't many moments of accomplishments on this series; what i mean is, you won't be saying "YAY!" too often, and when you do it'll be quiet and often that "YAY" becomes a "DAMN" later. But nonetheless, this series is a roller coaster and only a fool couldn't get into it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

russiangamer

Jan 5, 2017

Довольно интересно.
По сути нету главного героя, кто-то больше присутствует на экране, кто-то меньше, но вообщем все равны. Следить за персонажами и их трансформацией в других людей интересно.
Большая часть актёров очень понравилась. Играют замечательно. Отлично,посмотрим, что дальше.Довольно интересно.
По сути нету главного героя, кто-то больше присутствует на экране, кто-то меньше, но вообщем все равны. Следить за персонажами и их трансформацией в других людей интересно.
Большая часть актёров очень понравилась. Играют замечательно.
Отлично,посмотрим, что дальше.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

shavenwookie

Feb 23, 2015

Oz really does not hold up well at all, from its incredibly unrealistic take on prison to it mediocre acting in the first season. The acting feels like a low budget off Broadway play, even though there are some great actors on the show. The plot in the majority of these episodes is moreOz really does not hold up well at all, from its incredibly unrealistic take on prison to it mediocre acting in the first season. The acting feels like a low budget off Broadway play, even though there are some great actors on the show. The plot in the majority of these episodes is more absurd then Days of Our Lives from ghost priests to the lottery this show is just silly. I will say however this show paved the way for some great tv that followed.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

SEE ALL 11 REVIEWS

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Seasons & Episodes

73

Series Overview
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: January 5, 2003
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: January 6, 2002
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: July 12, 2000
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: July 14, 1999
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: July 11, 1998
Season 1

70
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 12, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E8. A Game of Checkers
  Air Date: August 25, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E7. Plan B
  Air Date: August 18, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E6. To Your Health
  Air Date: August 11, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E5. Straight Life
  Air Date: August 4, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E4. Capital P
  Air Date: July 28, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E3. God's Chillin'
  Air Date: July 21, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E2. Visits, Conjugal and Otherwise
  Air Date: July 14, 1997
- tbd
  S1:E1. The Routine
  Air Date: July 12, 1997