Submitted by NicholasCajun t3_125ciak in television
#The Big Door Prize
Premise: A machine appears at a small town's store that promises to reveal a person's destiny in this comedy series from David West Read based on M.O. Walsh's novel of the same name.
Subreddit(s): | Platform: | Metacritic: | Genre(s) :--:|:--:|:--:|:--:|:--:| r/TheBigDoorPrize | Apple TV+ | [75/100] (score guide)| Comedy Links:
As someone turning 40 in a few weeks, this show hits home.
Watched the first three episodes. In my opinion it's quite good, and unsuspectingly multi-layered.
It enters a fictional world that doesn't exist, but mimics reality.
What's happening in the show can't really happen in reality, but yet it does.
I think the machine leaves much to be interpreted, but the user sees it as very single faceted.
The personal information required certainly raises some eyebrow.
Is it gathering person and physical information that's building a bigger machine to make more accurate predictions?
Or is there some ill intent by a third party?
I just want to tell Dusty that just because you "reached your potential", it doesn't mean you've realized your potential. If your card said "astronaut", it wouldn't be any greater. There is no hierarchy of jobs, or hobbies, or careers. It's a facade created by society. If your potential is a teacher/whistler, it means your practice as a teacher/whistler has a tremendous impact on those who you teach, or those who hear you whistle. It means that just hearing you whistle bring joy to so many peoples lives. And the trickle down affect of the students you teach is far more impactful than you realize.
Anyway, I think the show is pretty thought provoking, and also has its funny and playful moments.
I give it an 8.1 out of 10. (my Morpho card said "movie critic")
Enjoyed the first episode. Chris O'Dowd plays the everyman very well. The premise is quite thought provoking. I'm wondering how much this show is going to lean into the potential mystery sci/fi aspect, or if it's mostly just going to be comedy focused on the characters. Hoping for a nice balance between the two.
I liked the first one, not too high stakes but the characters seem interesting, I like Chris O'Dowd and it's weirdly refreshing to have an Apple show that isn't stuffed to the brims with big names.
However it seems like a pattern is starting to emerge from these half hour Apple shows. Main Guy is existentially sad, there's a trauma from before the show started that everyone's dealing with that slowly gets unfurled throughout the show and is making everybody like 20% weirder than they should be and making them act like they're in an early 2010 mumblecore indie movie.
I don't dislike it but there's at least three of them on right now (this, Shrinking and Ted Lasso, maybe Hello Tomorrow too) so it's a little odd. Like does that say more about where people are at in general that so many of this type of show gets greenlight or does it say something specifically about Tim Apple?
You’ve just described the classic single-camera dramedy formula for like the past 20 years.
It says Apple realises the only show folks watch on the platform is Ted Lasso so they are trying to replicate that with the other shows.
People watch more than Ted Lasso. Severance was a huge hit last year.
Severance main character also is dealing with the after effects of personal trauma lol
On Reddit, maybe. In reality it missed the Nielsen viewership charts just like every single Apple TV+ show not named Ted Lasso.
The teacher one Mr Corman, exactly the same too.
First episode was interesting but the second one lost me quite a bit.
I was expecting more black mirror, it may just be a slow burn but still.
Also what's with Apple and making every male lead a depressed middle aged man who hates his job?
Mr Corman, Ted Lasso, Trying, Shrinking (at the start anyway).
Lasso isn't depressed, he's dealing with anxiety. Jason isn't depressed, he's just dealing with a a lot of life shit. Jimmy is probably depressed with his wife dying, but to answer your question, mental health is very relevant to current societal trends. Something not talked about for so long is bubbling over to be talked about. It makes sense.
I don't mind it here and there but it's getting rather stale.
It's not like there's any variety in different types of mental health, like You're the Worst for example showed bi polar. Not just depression.... In a white man.....
... Ted loves his job though. And he's not depressed, just has mild anxiety.
He doesn't love his job, he literally left America to do an entirely new one.
And he 100% has depression.
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Relatable to majority of America (haha)
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Me too. I hope it will get a little thriller and suspense with the mysterious hi-tech machine later just like Serverance. I don't know anything about the novel.
Does anyone know the location of the Italian restaurant in the first episode? I really hope it's a real place!
I asked an extra. It’s just part of the set and the building is actually a karate studio lol.
Oh man! There goes my dreams of having dinner on an indoor gondola ride lol
Oh it's that guy from IT Crowd. Would give it a try.
The trailer (and title) did absolutely nothing for me but if the reviews are good I’ll check it out.
This one isn’t exactly glowing:
I really liked the first three episodes. Never saw a trailer, or knew of the book, but a few minutes into the first episode I knew it was something that I would enjoy. Great split between character building and the overall mystery and drama. I was laughing hysterically when Dusty got his purpose. Definitely looking forward to the fourth episode and seeing where the story leads from here.
2nd episode is better than the first. It's quite funny.
Since when did apple release stuff not on a Friday?
Not sure but at least with this season, Ted Lasso is also released Tuesday night/Wednesday.
Disney started doing it with Loki as well. Think there’s too much competition on Friday’s with all the streamers.
I watched the opening sequence. The quick cuts, over the top excitement, and stereotypical apathetic teenager made me turn it right off. Stranger Things was a good premise that became overly sentimental and cheesy. I won't be making the same mistake again.
You sound like a joy at parties
What an original and unique observation
I help other partygoers avoid wasting their free time.
kristin137 t1_je3ynm1 wrote
Only seen the first one so far and can already tell I'm gonna love it. It touches on the FOMO of life and worrying you're not enough which I...definitely get.