Enlightened (2011)

Mike White's strange little HBO vehicle plays like an indie film, with an offbeat sense of humor and a willingness to explore emotions beyond comedy in a half-hour format. It is a complex, emotionally resonant series that benefits from HBO's willingness to air unconventional programming.

The critic finds the series stands out among shows with flawed heroines for its broader vision of how difficult it is to effect change and its empathetic treatment of all characters, even unlikable ones. Amy is portrayed as deeply damaged and irritating yet ultimately right in her outrage, with the show avoiding moral superiority in favor of a nuanced 'both-and' perspective.

The HBO series created by Laura Dern and Mike White follows a stressed office manager who has a public meltdown, goes on a spiritual retreat, and returns determined to spread her new awareness. Whether viewers enjoy it depends on their reaction to the protagonist's self-help platitudes, but Dern is fabulous and the writing is often acutely observed.

The pilot introduces a deliberately paced character study of Amy, a woman recovering from a breakdown and attempting personal and corporate change through New Age methods, with strong performances especially from Laura Dern. While the slow pace and low stakes may challenge viewers, the show's focus on existential crises and workplace satire shows promise as a patient rumination on transformation.

The offbeat HBO series is an unusual showcase for Laura Dern as a woman seeking self-discovery after a meltdown, but after four episodes its intentions remain unclear and its narrow appeal is evident even by pay-TV standards.

The critic finds the series tonally inconsistent and its protagonist deeply unlikeable in both her corporate and enlightened personas, making it hard to engage with. The supporting characters are singled out as pitch-perfect and the strongest element.

The critic calls Enlightened one of the greatest TV series ever, praising its complex and often unlikeable female lead along with its tonal shifts between tragedy, comedy, and satire. They single out its groundbreaking portrayal of flawed human characters and social commentary on capitalism and justice.

The critic describes Enlightened as one of HBO's most underrated series, praising Laura Dern's fearless performance and Mike White's writing for capturing the chaos of starting over and workplace satire. They single out the poetic voiceovers and ensemble performances that blend humor with heartbreak.