Pistol: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	Your Score
6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Ratings

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Pistol: Vulva Revolution

Now Playing: Pistol: Vulva Revolution

Season Details & Credits

HULU | Season Premiere Date: May 31, 2022

Summary: The limited series from Danny Boyle about the beginnings of The Sex Pistols is based on the memoir of its guitarist, Steve Jones (Toby Wallace).

Genre(s): Drama, Music

Season 1 Episodes

No episode information is currently available for this season

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Collider Nate Richard

May 31, 2022

While some former band members may be unhappy with Pistol, it is likely for the better. The style and flair is still there, but there is a hidden honesty to the series that makes it worthy of viewing and one that even non-fans of the Sex Pistols could enjoy. Read full review

Rob Owen

May 27, 2022

There’s loads of great music on the soundtrack that’s representative of the era (not just by The Sex Pistols) that’s matched by Boyle’s shooting style that embraces the period in an off-kilter, slightly chaotic manner. Read full review

Shane Ryan

May 31, 2022

It was so engaging, at times, that my own critical brain was left behind in the excitement. If the visceral thrill wears off a little too quickly, and leaves you pondering the question of “what’s missing here?”, that doesn’t quite take away the initial achievement, the performances, and the sense that on some level, this show does justice to the bizarre, thrilling ascent of a band whose influence outstripped its talent by country miles. Read full review

The Independent Amanda Whiting

May 31, 2022

The show’s portrayal of punk rock itself – filtered through the lens of Malcolm’s machinations and even, at times, the vanity of the kids in the band – feels more like an image than a spirit, an escape rather than a way of life. Pistol, unlike the music that inspired it, never grabs you by the throat. Read full review

Joy Press

May 31, 2022

Watchable right to the end, thanks to its visual brio and some fine performances, Pistol ultimately feels like a retold tale of filth and fury, signifying next to nothing. Read full review

Verne Gay

May 27, 2022

"Pistol's" most watchable episode is the last, covering the band's first and (effectively) only U.S. tour which crashed and burned after the 1978 concert at San Francisco's Winterland. But what comes before is the humdrum — a whole listless swath that spreads over scenes, characters, and episodes. Hardly anyone catches fire, including Johnny Rotten, although his spiked red hair does do a good impression of shooting flames. Read full review

The Telegraph Neil McCormick

May 11, 2022

Constantly hard-cutting between judiciously chosen documentary news footage with snatches of Seventies pop-culture musical and film references and a punchily scripted melodrama presented with a luridly overloaded sense of production period detail, Boyle somehow achieves the opposite of authenticity, winding up with something comically ludicrous that keeps drawing attention to its own artifice. Read full review

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User Reviews

otpws

Jun 2, 2022

So unique and raw. Great performances also, highlighting Anson Boon and Louis Partridge. Brilliant piece.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

MarcDoyle

Jun 6, 2022

The music is actually pretty good - love the guy who plays Johnny Rotten, and the "love" story between Steve Jones and Hynde is amazing. Props also to Talulah Riley, who is pretty fantastic in a smaller role.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FelicityFenwick

Jun 6, 2022

Easily the best part of this show is Sydney Chandler as Chrissie Hynde. She's a fantastic actress, and she brings some empathy and integrity to the proceedings. The rest of the program dips far into the **** of addiction that so many rock docs do. I could give a crap about Syd and Nancy'sEasily the best part of this show is Sydney Chandler as Chrissie Hynde. She's a fantastic actress, and she brings some empathy and integrity to the proceedings. The rest of the program dips far into the **** of addiction that so many rock docs do. I could give a crap about Syd and Nancy's nonsense. We now need a second series focusing on the Pretenders starring Sydney Chandler as Chrissy Hynde.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mauro_Lanari

Apr 20, 2023

(Mauro Lanari)
Forget the grotesque irony of "Trainspotting" (1996) and its sequel (2017). Although Lydon appears for the first time on set with the "I Hate Pink Floyd" t-shirt (true fact), Boyle probes the dark side of the moon, of music, of existence, yet another generational, epochal,(Mauro Lanari)
Forget the grotesque irony of "Trainspotting" (1996) and its sequel (2017). Although Lydon appears for the first time on set with the "I Hate Pink Floyd" t-shirt (true fact), Boyle probes the dark side of the moon, of music, of existence, yet another generational, epochal, historical catastrophe. Lydon himself has harshly criticized the miniseries, but sooner or later reality comes out: "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle". By losing the lawsuit against his former bandmates, the director was able to make use of their songs thus shooting the most similar thing to Stone's "The Doors" ('91). The biopic suffers from the narrative lengths of an episodic fiction and could have lasted 1/3, perhaps Chrissie Hynde is right when she tells of having had a single sexual relationship with Steve Jones, perhaps Siouxsie Sioux and Billy Idol were there or not: details. It matters that there is the irrepressible power of a group of guys who, precisely because they are unable to play and sing, have recorded only one album with which rock has been reset by bringing it back to its primitive and primordial chords and its lyrics as battle slogans. Stunning to hear the compositional quality they reached, impossible to calculate how many bands were born thanks to their influence, and unthinkable that they could be an exception to "Kill Your Idols".… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

geewah

May 21, 2023

Entertaining enough but it does play it rather safe, unlike the band and it's music.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

UncleWillard

Jun 1, 2022

First episode was a mixed bag, and my first thought was that you can tell who provided the source material. I'd imagine if Johnny Rotten had written the book it was based on, we'd be hearing about how everything was his idea. Still, for dramatized rockumentary, it does have some visualFirst episode was a mixed bag, and my first thought was that you can tell who provided the source material. I'd imagine if Johnny Rotten had written the book it was based on, we'd be hearing about how everything was his idea. Still, for dramatized rockumentary, it does have some visual pizazz, and you can't beat the soundtrack. After episode 1, though, I'm left wanting to see the new Bowie doc more than hear more about a band who was really a flash in the pan, and received credit for something they really didn't create. Performances are okay. I'll update when I finish if anyone reads these, lol.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Seasons & Episodes

60

Series Overview
Season 1

60
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: May 31, 2022
- No episode information is currently available for this season