The Big Door Prize - Series Premiere Discussion

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:

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mattcoady t1_je3uaha wrote

Replying to mdavis360 (#2,439,093)

Looks like it's a 10/11 positive on rotten tomatoes, although most of the reviews rate it around 3/5 which is exactly the RT passing grade.

Might still check it out, I do like Chris O'Dowd

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CosmicLars t1_je3w8iz wrote

2nd episode is better than the first. It's quite funny.

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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.

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Pineapple996 t1_je4bud7 wrote

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.

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WilliamBruceBailey t1_je4gomu wrote

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.

−7

Driew27 t1_je5139l wrote

Since when did apple release stuff not on a Friday?

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Prax150 t1_je58miu wrote

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?

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HuntMore9217 t1_je5ewhq wrote

Oh it's that guy from IT Crowd. Would give it a try.

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Undaglow t1_je745ct wrote

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).

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endubs t1_je7litq wrote

Replying to Undaglow (#2,462,857)

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.

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endubs t1_je7o8g1 wrote

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")

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popandlocnessmonster t1_je7osyk wrote

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.

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Someguineawop t1_je89wfq wrote

Does anyone know the location of the Italian restaurant in the first episode? I really hope it's a real place!

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Undaglow t1_je8pjq6 wrote

Replying to endubs (#2,466,605)

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.....

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