X
- Apple TV+
- Oct 14, 2022
- Apple TV+
- Oct 14, 2022
- Apple TV+
- Oct 14, 2022
- Apple TV+
- Oct 14, 2022
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
64
47% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
53% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
64
47% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
53% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Take Shantaram slowly, episode by episode and scene by scene, so you can fully experience the brilliant message of the story. Of course, the messengers are brilliant as well. Hunnam has never been better. ... Bharat Nalluri, whose directing work on the show is electric, composing scenes of intense tension and extreme tenderness perfectly. The music, the cinematography, are all good — but the real star of the show is Bombay.
At twelve hour-long episodes (for its first season alone), it’s a lot to get through, and more than a little bloated as a result. But in adapting Gregory David Roberts’ acclaimed 2003 novel to the screen, showrunner Steve Lightfoot (“Hannibal,” “The Punisher”) has crafted a show that captures the spirit of its source material, albeit in a slightly stretched-out package. ... It’s easy to get lost in the sprawl of Bombay and its vibrant international cast of characters, and wonder just what roads his salvation may take him down in future seasons.
Hunnam is a strong choice of a lead, and the supporting cast is similarly strong. ... It’s hard to discern an organizing principle. And even when you’re swept along in the narrative, that underlying question mark remains, and somewhat diminishes the strong acting and the wonderful cinematography (Bombay, in all its messy grandeur, is a star here).
Shantaram doesn’t really dig too deep into the issues facing India in the 1980s, or how an expat like Hunnam’s character fits in given those issues. It’s a slow-moving thriller that we hope picks up some momentum as the series goes along.
The first three episodes, released this Friday, are by no means bad TV. For the most part, the characters are complex, the story is interesting and, if you haven’t read the book, sometimes unexpected. But there are plenty more nuanced, modern takes on adventure stories based in India — the BBC’s A Suitable Boy is a good place to start.
Hunnam is charming and riveting, bringing depth and expressiveness to Lin, and Saraf is a treat. But they can’t overcome below-average performances from the rest of the ensemble, who often feature cartoonish accents.
It knows how to put together a gripping scene and the prison escape is suitably tense. But barely any of the characters feel authentic. They all seem to exist simply for Dale’s enrichment. It starts to seem ungenerous and demanding. In the end, it loses confidence with even its own voice.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 User Ratings
7.2
76% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
6% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
18% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 User Ratings
7.2
76% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
6% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
18% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
