The Returned

My partner & I loved this series. We eagerly waited for each weekly episode release on Netflix.

We got several of our friends hooked on this show too. After seeing every episode an wanting more, we obtained the french older version once shown on channel 4 which although was OK we preferred this version an really wished they has carried on with more seasons of this show. As this version is very watchable an better than a lot of stuff on TV. The acting is superb, Drama is gripping People cast in the roles are well suited to their characters. Not too much violence or swearing just good acting with a good plot and good scenes an sets.

Although the need for an American version may be unnecessary to many people it's obvious that the average American, whoever they are, does not like sub-titles. Or anything that's foreign come to think of it. Sofie Gråbøl echo'd this point when she said that she couldn't see the need for the US version of The KiIlling, Forbrydelsen in the original Danish TV series, and could only assume that Americans didn't like sub-titles. This is another example of a great foreign TV series being transform into an American one. I have watched a couple of episodes and it isn't too bad. Well it's better than most of the rubbish that's made so I've got to give Netflix some kudos for at least bringing it to an American audience. Of course it should have been the French original that was sufficient but it would mean that more people in the US would have to start reading sub- titles and, come to think of it, it would also be a good idea to stop complaining about English accents when they originate outside the USA. In the USA it's a ratings game, more so than in the UK or other countries it seems, so for the American reviewers who have been negative it's your own country folk that are to blame for the "need" to create these cloned series. The Returned has only just started so at least give the show a chance.

I feel so inferior for not realizing that this show was as horrible as some other, wiser and more informed viewers, found it to be. Fool that I am, I loved it, and thought it one of the most imaginative and entertaining offerings I've ever seen. I watched all ten episodes over a three or four day period, forgetting all about my usual T.V. fare in the meantime. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of what it is that should be entertaining for me and in my ignorance, I didn't have the acumen necessary to realize that I was watching a very inferior product and was finding it as entertaining as the European offering upon which "The Returning" is based. Perhaps someday, I'll become as informed and aware of what entertains me as many of the wiser expert critics who have already condemned this series, and when I do, I'll stay away from offerings such as this. In the meantime, it looks like I'll continue floating blissfully along, unaware of how unentertained I am while hallucinating that I am actually being entertained.

I loved the first few episodes, the opener in particular, it was fantastic, absorbing, interesting, and it had you asking a load of questions, such as, 'were the returned back to punish?' 'What would you do if you came face to face with somebody you'd grieved for? and 'Why was that kid so creepy?

I must admit my interest did fall off a little towards the end, some things were dragged out a little too much, some of the characters became a little uninteresting.

It shouldn't have been cancelled, up until about part six you're treated to some compelling viewing, there was definitely more material in this show, Jeremy Sisto's character Peter was very interesting.

I'm sure fans feel short changed by its early finish, but honestly, half way through it ran out of steam after a hugely promising start. 6/10

Why do we as Americans feel it necessary to remake every good show or movie. The vast majority of movies made today are remakes, reboots or sequels. Many of today's popular American shows have been appropriated from foreign titles. Homeland, Real Humans, Mad Dogs, and now The Returned just to name a few recently remade titles. I fear we will soon see an American take on Orphan Black and Black Mirror. Do the studios really feel that their target demo is too dumb to enjoy foreign TV? Would it not suffice to simply purchase these shows in syndication and broadcast them stateside? It's not like we are bringing anything new to these shows. Some of them are literal remakes of the original scripts. Where have all the original story ideas gone? If this were truly a golden age of television, one would expect to see our studios teeming with top notch original content. Game of Thrones and Walking Dead are unquestionably high quality American productions, but they're adapted stories. Many of the foreign TV shows brought to America prove to be successful. I'm sure it's easier to break a show when half the work has been done for you. I like a lot of our American adaptations, but by and large I prefer the originals. The American adaptation often kills the original production. If we would bring them over here instead of remaking them, they would probably last longer. By remaking rather than importing these shows, we are stunting the growth of foreign television and dumbing down the average American TV viewer. I'm going to get off my soap box now and try to put my money where my mouth is. Thank you for reading this. /rant.