Maniac (TV Mini Series) The Chosen One! (2018) User Reviews

Give it time

[killiganvideocasts · 8/10 · 2 October 2018]

This episode is slow and boring, however, it's somewhat necessary in order to build up the audiences relationship with Owen (Jonah Hill), yes it could've been paced a lot better but I think the writers and Fukunaga are trying to accurately represent Owen's state of mind through this episode. The show DOES pick up and gets a lot more exciting with a unique and compelling emotional story, please stick with it - it's worth it

Please report to DM testing room 5

[ha77y73ad97 · 7/10 · 24 September 2018]

Jonah hill starts this wacky series as a broken youngest brother of a large family where all the rest of the family have their lives together. And being caught up in a court case to protect his brother from an unknown acusor.

Being set just far enough in the close future adds so many questions to what cold happen in the future, black mirror type start to a series.

Oh and a hawk = justice prefect little call back!

Loads of questions to be answered and will be gripping by the end.

Also one last thing just from one episode the chemistry with Jonah hill and Emma stone, great

Off putting first episode, yet lots of potential

[starving_college_student · 6/10 · 22 October 2018]

I have to say that this was the most off putting first episode of a series I've seen in a while. In fact, I had to give it two tries. The first go, I knew nothing of the show, but wanted to check it out because Emma Stone is great in everything. But 15 minutes in, the story was expanding and expanding introducing non-related elements in each scene, and was so clunky and nonsensical that I shut it off. Then I found out Fukunaga was the director of the series and gave it a second go. Unfortunately the episode wasn't any clearer the second time around, but I could appreciate the craftmanship in filmmaking and details put into the world. And I simply loved the retro futurism. I think I'm the target audience for this quirky, mind-bender kind of show, because I love things like Brazil/Memento/Eternal Sunshine. I love stories that start as a jumble of pieces and later you have to figure out what it means. At this point, however, I'm not even sure if I'm looking at a a puzzle. I'm also not sure of the tone, it keeps bouncing from serious to silly. But it feels like there's so much potential here. I'll give it a shot.

Netflix puts off many viewers by a boring first episode.

[alextalent · 6/10 · 14 October 2018]

Having eventually watched the entire series after being put off by the first episode, I really struggled to understand why I thought the first episode was so bad; so I watched it again.

This episode is all story, that's the first mistake.

The second mistake is that there's way too much information and none of it will make sense for a first time viewer.

Now if you have watched the whole series and then watch this episode again, like me, then it'll actually make sense and will make some interesting viewing, but it's definitely the weakest episode.

Netflix needs to stop doing this. They did it with Altered Carbon and sense 8, which are my favourite shows. Even when I watch the first episodes of those shows I cringe at how bad they are compared to the rest of the series .

Well outside mainstream.

[Mikelikesnotlikes · 9/10 · 2 February 2019]

This mini-series is not for everyone. However the quirkiness is exactly what I was looking for among all the trash.

So strange from the start. Maybe it was a slow start, as everyone seems to be saying, but I did not waver when deciding if I wanted to watch the second episode. Wondering what the hell is going on, and the jarring offbeat moments that keep you guessing, well, it's down the rabbit hole from there.

I was worried the various plot strings might slip through my grasp with a beer or three under my belt but there's enough show and tell to keep you in the picture.

Really good. Entertaining and weird for the viewer who wants to be jolted out of the predictable and unimaginative junk ground out for the masses.

Great new show!

[jdawson-87307 · 8/10 · 30 September 2018]

I love this off-beat new show. Make sure to allow yourself time to adapt from what we normally see from these 2 main actors. If it seems boring, maybe it's not for you. Jonah Hill looks like he put a lot of himself in this show.

Can't wait for episode 2

[petewood-59951 · 9/10 · 13 July 2020]

I have no idea where this is going, but Jonah Hill and Emma Stone have sold me on the series already. Rock solid acting by both who are playing against type. I like that this science fiction series is rooted in character and small technological changes. Its world could very easily be our world. No over the top gadgets, just subtle differences. Looking forward to episode 2.

Slow Beginning, But Lots of Stuff to Like!

[gab-14712 · 8/10 · 21 January 2021]

Cary Fukunaga's newest series Maniac has potential. It feels like some sort of hybrid of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Memento. With Jonah Hill and Emma Stone as the lead actors, there is a strong core in place in terms of characters. With "The Chosen One!," I liked the style, the visuals, and the performances. My main concern is that the episode seems lumpy and just meanders. With the advent of Netflix and streaming, commercials are not used to break up an episode...which I believe goes against this episode. There are too many things happening or sequences that go on for too long. But with any premiere to a series, there are things to be worked out. There is plenty of promise and intrigue and I do enjoy these weird vibes. Fukunaga also balances his work with a hefty balance of drama and comedy, so that was a nice surprise considering I did not expect much comedy based on the synopsis.

Owen Milgrim (Jonah Hill), named after the Milgram experiment which tested obedience, has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Owen harkens from a wealthy family led by patriarch Porter (Gabriel Byrne). He wants his son to protect one of his other sons against troublesome allegations. Owen sees his father and an unseen brother as figures of authority. This mysterious brother tells him he has a purpose to save the galaxy and must keep an eye out for his contact. He sees his supposed "contact" all over the city and ends up meeting her, Annie (Emma Stone) at an experimental drug trial.

Even though Emma Stone is not here much, I loved her interactions with Owen. Her reactions about some weird dude like Owen approaching her is funny. We got to see a little of the experimental drug trial and the moderators, Dr. Fujita (Sonoya Mizuno) and Dr. Muramoto (Rome Kanda). The weird video in the beginning was narrated by Justin Theroux. Definitely can't wait to see more of this! I liked how they designed New York City and the way people lived. Like the computers are straight out of the 90's, but the apartments are futuristic. There is a lot of potential here, but refinement is necessary moving forward. I am piqued to see what comes next.

My Grade: B-

Suuuuper slow and hard to watch

[banuyilmaz714 · 5/10 · 26 September 2018]

Actors are great, scenes art some kind of art show yet episode was painful to watch because of all the messages that was hidden in the dialogs and inside of Owen's head. This many unsolved and not-understandable info, is actually chaotic and exhausting. At some poiint it felt like I see the world from the Owen's schizophrenic mind.

I think many people missed this as one of the greats

[Highlight0r · 9/10 · 25 August 2023]

This show is refreshing, it's a nice level of being creative & original while still keeping great storytelling, developments & human characters , its rated high but i haven't seen it mentioned much

has connectable characters , nice use of color & a warmth to it , has some nice sets and shots , jonah hill fits great as owen being a melancholic relatable character. It has adventure mixed with intrigue but grounded with some human depth, amazing soundtrack that fits well, a unique retro futurism vibe, some sad moments some strange moments & some wholesome moments. It stays interesting with its plot device & i was invested in the characters

This is the type of show that could possibly help lift someone out of a down state for a time and give a re-connection boost. Was a breath of fresh air starting in relatable place . I think this is one of the greats that seemed to slip by many.

Slow and Boring

[jonathanpjones · 3/10 · 29 September 2018]

Wanted to like it, but it is just to wiered, slow and boring!