The Act: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Ratings

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The Act

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Season Details & Credits

HULU | Season Premiere Date: March 20, 2019

Summary: The anthology series features stranger-than-fiction true crime stories and its first season is based on the article "Dee Dee Wanted Her Daughter To Be Sick, Gypsy Wanted Her Mom To Be Murdered" by Michelle Dean.

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E6. A Whole New World
Air Date: April 17, 2019
tbd
S1:E4. Stay Inside
Air Date: April 3, 2019
tbd
S1:E2. Teeth
Air Date: March 20, 2019

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Kerensa Cadenas

Apr 29, 2019

Terrifying performances from Patricia Arquette and Joe King pair mommy issues with musical cues that fellow Hulu shows should take a note from. It's one hell of a Mommie Dearest ride. [3/10 May 2019, p.90]

Dan Fienberg

Mar 19, 2019

Even with some lags in pacing, each time I thought the story was running out of juice, it found a different gear and a different genre, all anchored by King and Arquette. Read full review

Sophie Gilbert

Mar 21, 2019

Given that so much in Dee Dee and Gypsy’s relationship is unsaid, both actors powerfully communicate the subtext of their dynamic. The imagery The Act employs to build tension isn’t remotely subtle (red paint dripping down a wall, Dee Dee restraining her daughter with ribbons whose blue satin matches her Cinderella dress), but it works, thanks mostly to the sharpness of the performances. Read full review

Katie Rife

Mar 20, 2019

The gratification of The Act is in the telling. And the show, spread out over 10 leisurely hours that greatly expand on Lifetime’s condensed treatment of the story in the recent TV movie Love You To Death, only gets more compelling with every new reveal. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Mar 14, 2019

The riveting and increasingly twisted scenario plays like What Ever Happened to Baby Gypsy? [18-31 Mar 2019, p.13]

Amy Amatangelo

Mar 20, 2019

Arquette and King turn in tour de force performances as the mother/ daughter pair in a hellish co-dependent relationship. ... Still, the series takes eight episodes (two premiere today, with one each week to follow) to tell a story that would have been better as a shorter mini-series or a made-for-TV movie. Read full review

Allison Keene

Mar 18, 2019

As engrossing as this story is, the Hulu series — which comes from Michelle Dean and Nick Antosca — starts to lag as it goes on. Read full review

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User Reviews

UncleWillard

Mar 27, 2019

I've been pleasantly surprised by this thus far. I watched the documentary, and was intrigued (but, hey, I love True Crime stuff). i don't usually go for the reenactments, but this has a great cast and fills in a lot of the gaps the documentary just couldn't. Patricia Arquette is reallyI've been pleasantly surprised by this thus far. I watched the documentary, and was intrigued (but, hey, I love True Crime stuff). i don't usually go for the reenactments, but this has a great cast and fills in a lot of the gaps the documentary just couldn't. Patricia Arquette is really knocking it out of the park this past year. She was phenomenal in Escape at Dannemora, and she doesn't let up here. Chloe Savigny is always a pleasure (but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a bit of prurient interest on my part. Don't get me wrong, she's amazingly talented, but I have a thing for her so I can't be trusted). The real surprise is Joey King. She does a great job as Gypsy. I had only seen her in passing in YA fare, but she's certainly holding her own in this Hulu original.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

frankrog29

May 2, 2019

The Act Season 1 is very well done. The acting, writing, direction, and cinematography are superb. The action of the show ranges from creepy to downright horrifying, with the actors' realistic portrayal of the characters making you even more uncomfortable. The show really drives home thatThe Act Season 1 is very well done. The acting, writing, direction, and cinematography are superb. The action of the show ranges from creepy to downright horrifying, with the actors' realistic portrayal of the characters making you even more uncomfortable. The show really drives home that reality is often far more terrifying than any slasher horror film. Patricia Arquette really makes you hate her character, and Joey King does a good job of conveying the complex nature of her character, for whom you feel sorry but with whom you become quite annoyed and frustrated. Ms. King is a very talented and promising newcomer. The only thing this show does not have going for it is that it's always going to live in the shadow of American Crime Story; as one of the best shows on TV (in my opinion), ACS is a very tough act to follow.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

OlivierPiel

Apr 4, 2019

Another example of a series that drags its feet (well in that case, wheelchair) and tries the patience of the viewer by revealing the end of the story (Death of the mom) right in the first episode and asking us to focus on the psychological development of the characters and, thereby, gainAnother example of a series that drags its feet (well in that case, wheelchair) and tries the patience of the viewer by revealing the end of the story (Death of the mom) right in the first episode and asking us to focus on the psychological development of the characters and, thereby, gain insights into the sado-masochistic mother/daughter relationship.
However, after about two episodes, this development stalls more or less. Then it follows the well-trodden path of the hundreds of similar average psycho-thrillers that have been the staple of middle-aged beach goers' literature and cinema over the last 60 years.
This show just helps kill time, just not very efficiently....
Plus point for the cinematography and the young actress though.… Expand

1 of 8 users found this helpful17

PurpleCrayon4U

Apr 10, 2019

Compelling True Story Drama That Changes Mood & Tempo Too Many Times

After viewing Mommy Dead and Dearest, the HBO documentary on the same subject, it appears The Act is nothing but a money grab in retelling the exact same story with only updates since 2017. The Act omits majorCompelling True Story Drama That Changes Mood & Tempo Too Many Times

After viewing Mommy Dead and Dearest, the HBO documentary on the same subject, it appears The Act is nothing but a money grab in retelling the exact same story with only updates since 2017. The Act omits major participants in the Gypsy Rose Blanchard story, omits character flaws of some participants and uses creativity to present people, places and things that are not fact. Therefore, look upon The Act as a TV-MA rated Lifetime dramatization.

You can always tell when a production has too many cooks stirring the pot, and The Act is no exception. The pace and intrigue are set early, leaving the viewer riveted to the story and waiting in anticipation-until we hit the halfway point of the story as both direction and rhythm completely change the feel of the story. The Act should garner another Emmy nomination for Patricia Arquette.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Seasons & Episodes

73

Series Overview
Season 1

73
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 20, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E6. A Whole New World
  Air Date: April 17, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E4. Stay Inside
  Air Date: April 3, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E2. Teeth
  Air Date: March 20, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E1. La Maison du Bon Reve
  Air Date: March 20, 2019