The Outpost (2018–2021) User Reviews

Black blood

[unbrokenmetal · 7/10 · 17 November 2019]

The Outpost and me - it wasn't love at first sight. After episode 1 I thought: I knew after the huge success of 'Game of Thrones', a lot of low budget fantasy series would follow - but did it have to look that cheap? Like 'The Outpost' was shot in somebody's barn or shed? Also I disliked the story premise (bad guys killed the heroine's family and destroyed the entire village, many years later she became a trained warrior and wants revenge) because that was used in countless movies since 'Conan the Barbarian' (1982). Boring!

But I gave it another try in episode 2,3... and by episode 5, I realised I really enjoyed the series. The characters are developing well. Marshal Wythers, for example: he isn't just out to kill Talon, because he's a baddie. He has reason and logic on his side, when he wants to protect his outpost at all costs; that just happens to include the removal of Talon. Talon, on the other hand, makes mistakes and learns from them. She may be an accomplished fighter, but knows she has a lot to learn about the supernatural powers she has access to, due to the black blood. It gets more and more interesting, and I'm looking forward to the remaing episodes and seasons.

Slow starter with some issues but should have been given a chance

[Freakstone · 7/10 · 16 August 2018]

Sure, it had problems at first. It looked cheap, and the acting was a bit wooden, but as it picked up it has grown on me. I'm glad I stayed with it.

As many have said, the style is meant to be cheesy, cheap and cheerful. The story line is unfolding fairly well, and while the protagonist still only has her looks going for her, other characters (the tavern owner, for example) are keeping things interesting.

Worth a second go if you stopped early. Not everything is great from the get go.

Fantasy-entertainment with potential

[m_helten · 7/10 · 16 July 2018]

It really confuses my why this show has such low ratings. I get that the outpost is no match for something like game of thrones or westworld to which some reviewers compare it, but I liked it. Like (most) arrowstorm productions it shows a slightly cliché high-fantasy plot that tries to make the best out of a small budget and focuses on storytelling instead of huge cgi battles. Really looking forward to the second episode to see where this is going.

Everyone is missing out on what makes it amazing

[ferroln · 7/10 · 9 August 2018]

Just like every show that starts the actors are still trying to figure out how to best portray their character. That will always get better. The actual story is already great filled with a big world. That means with the vastness comes potential for huge adventures and long detailed filled storylines. I love that in a show. I read a review by aaron emaa and he nailed it when he talked about how they are paying homage to similar shows fome the late 80's early 90's im 30 and this aspect brings a comforting familiarity aspect to the show. I think this show has great potential and cant wait to see the character development.

Low Budget Fun with D&D soul

[dave-74935 · 8/10 · 19 July 2018]

Low Budget - Check

Charming Lead - Check

Quality British Supporting cast - Check

Ok it's not game of thrones here but it has the feel of an old School D&D adventure. Loving it!

Absolutely loving this show.

[gtarmstrong · 7/10 · 12 September 2018]

Besides for maybe episode 1, the show certainly doesn't deserve the low ratings it's received. I wasn't so sure after watching the first episode, but am now solidly in love with all the characters (and their flaws). Fantastic show.

Doesn't deserve all the hate it gets.

[skinraven · 5/10 · 30 July 2018]

Is it a masterpiece? Nope. But it has potential to be pretty good if people stop giving it 1s. What's the deal with that anyway? Just let it find it's feet.

Genuine Surprise Packet

[nowego · 8/10 · 12 January 2020]

If you are like me, you will most likely give this show away after watching the dreadfully amateurish acting in the first episode, all I can say is DON'T.

I can thank my partner for getting so much enjoyment out of this show and going back and binge watching the first season so we could watch the second season together. I did initially give up before even finishing the first episode, but she didn't.

This is one of those shows that gets better with each episode, the actors, mostly if not all, unknown, seem to grow into their parts as the show goes on, very similar to other low budget shows that start out with the acting a bit amateurish and get much better if you persevere. As I have been told over and over by my partner you have to stick with it past the first couple of episodes to really get entertained.

I now have a much better appreciation of low budget shows like this one, it has really grown on me and I look forward to season three.

Worth giving a chance

[amisanthropiccurmudgeon · 7/10 · 14 July 2018]

I plan of giving this show a chance to see if it can entertain me. It has possibilities. While it may not for everyone, I had a good time watching it. This is a TV show for people that enjoy reading. I don't mean that in the way the people say I have a face for radio. I mean it in the way that some people just like to be entertained by a good story rather than be awed by something more spectacular than the last spectacle they saw. I will be honest. From what I've seen so far there doesn't appear to be anything new or revolutionary about the story or its production. It's starting out as a classic revenge (or search for justice) tale in a somewhat familiar swords and sorcery fantasy setting. The important word though is "classic". It's classic for a reason. People like these stories. They're a little bit escapism and a little bit like comfort food. In the end, unlike the real world, you're pretty sure the villain is going to get their just desserts. What you tune in to watch for is the path that the story takes to get there. Unlike, some high-end productions this one doesn't let your own imagination atrophy by showing you every minute detail of its world and its inhabitants right from the beginning. It's not spending its budget on making sure you get to see the muscles of the Grey-skins flex as they crush the bones of their victims. It's enough that you know the the Grey-skins are dangerous. They appear to be concentrating their resources on the story and the actors that bring that story to life. Important points are revealed as the story unfolds and others are be left to the imaginations of viewers that still have one. I will admit that in my youth, I played Dungeons & Dragons and other RPGs. The settings, the stories, the characters even the tropes are all very familiar to me and I still enjoy them. I enjoyed the first episode and I'm curious to see what happens in the next.

This was worth making an account for.

[spntrsf · 13 July 2018]

Okay, dead-stop, I see a lot of man babies in the comments crying about the warrior woman trope, as they appear to be shocked that women are roughly 50% of the population. I'm not sure how much more backstory for her they expected in one already-expositional episode. So I'm registering an imdb just to put some things in scale. Now, I'll be honest, I wouldn't give it a "10" - I'm doing that to offset the completely unwarranted "1"s in the comments made by people who don't understand things like midsummer backdoor network pilot budgets or the fact that Women Exist. Reasonably, I'd give it a 5 in actual execution (for episode one) but a 9 in concept. So here's the deal.

Outpost already displays vast vision. While their cinematography is still finding its footing and fairly basic, they've already attempted to give us a large world with imposing landscapes just to begin, and there's a huge potential for more in that. It's VERY throwback. It's been called a love letter to the children of the 80s and 90s and I'm prone to agree with that. Admittedly the early bit actors were a bit low caliber. Some of the pacing is off but that is very likely an editing room choice and something I am completely okay with giving a few episodes for them to find their rhythm at. CW kids are spoiled to ideas like Flash and Arrow, which have comic franchise backing, or Supernatural, who had the luck of managing to drag David Nutter on board for their first few episodes - which you mostly know from Game of Thrones. For what I can reasonably expect them to have on call, there's a lot of heart in this. The story is simple, but in a flexible way; it is a classic fantasy but with all of the trappings we have built around a lot of our other classic fantasies. And before any other manbabies complain about those, sit down and tell me beyond "Kingdoms fight for throne, multiple magic god things" what sets even Game of Thrones apart - dynamic and characters. And we do have a potential set up for that. It's not above making light fun of itself, with flashback vibes to Pirates of the Caribbean and brief humors that I'm sure they'll find their beat on shortly, and parts of the soundtrack flatter that - but it's entirely original. The actors felt out their roles fairly actively even through the episode. I can feel Garret's charm begging for a chance to come out and I'm more than willing to give this show a season's run to see where they take that.

In sum, the Outpost is for anyone that grew up on shows like Xena, Warrior Princess. Give Jake enough time to shine as Garret and the manbabies will even have a good male lead to lock onto and compensate their tears over the strong female character being a major lure to the show. Similarly, the cast and crew is engaged and eager, and I imagine reasonable production notes and critique won't go unheard if you know how to not act like a toddler over it.

No tea, just facts.

Needs work

[jessicaheath · 5/10 · 18 July 2018]

Greens acting is good however she, and the show, could benefit from her adding more variety to her facial expressions. Also, her face is much too madeup and airbrushed, and the cast's clothes are much too clean and neat. Give us sweat, and pores, and reddening of the face during a fight sequence. Give us believability.

A Show With Heart

[cpg_shadow-402-634647 · 8/10 · 25 July 2018]

The people making this show love what they are doing and it comes through in their performances. Fantasy, adventure, heroics...they are doing their best to make it interesting. Looking forward to further development of the characters as the series progresses...

New and interesting!

[opticuscro · 7/10 · 5 November 2020]

It's definitely one of those low-budget tv show that's easy to notice. But simply attracted me with her unique plot, good graphics and acting. There is no exaggeration in romances, which is otherwise fashionable in today's TV shows, especially the low-budget ones, there is not much of that here, it is very subtle. The fight scenes are well done and interesting to watch, all in all I recommend this to fans of fiction!

like bad LARP on film

[rtcdwyer · 2/10 · 11 July 2018]

It took all of a few seconds to realize how bad this was going to be, seriously it's a masochistic train wreck- it hurts to watch, but you want to keep watching out of morbid curiosity. The acting is terrible. Make up is terrible (the "tattoos" look like jiffy marker doodles by a kid in elementary school). Continuity is almost non-existant. Costumes and props are clean...almost like they plan to try and sell them in a poor attempt to make their money back. The story isnt really anything new. And the "fighting"...painful only for the viewer. What was CW thinking?? Did they somehow owe a blood dept to someone and this is how they're paying it back? Money laundering? Seriously, I've seen better stuff belched up by mountain dew fueled middle school LARPers.

It's raw, but it is better than rated and has potential

[pencritical · 7/10 · 9 September 2018]

Don't watch the first ten minutes. Fast forward out of the bar scene that begins the series. It is inane and stupid. After that the show is much better. I have no idea why they opened with such a crappy scene. It is poorly staged and poorly acted and they could have introduced the character and theme in a thousand other ways. But onwards...

I did almost turn it off before it got any further, but I stuck it out and it does get better. Quite a bit, in fact. It isn't Lord of the Rings and it sure as hell isn't Game of Thrones and doesn't pretend to be, but it isn't nearly as bad as so much television fantasy is and it is getting better. The lead actress is finding her feet and there is some great supporting cast to go along with her. The story is old and has been done, but that doesn't make it uninteresting as long as it is told well. Let's face it, we all still go see the new King Arthur movie, though we've seen two dozen before...

If you like on screen fantasy in the Lord of the Rings style and you are willing to give this time to find its feet, then give it a go. I'm enjoying it and hoping it sticks around awhile cause I see a bit of potential. I like it.

Getting better!!

[kraiziehaz · 9/10 · 8 August 2018]

Sure the first episode I was like ugh....So boring. But now after 4 episodes the characters are beginning to grow and the plot thickens. I creayed this account bc its a show that will get better by time.

People are overcritical !!!

[natesuniverse · 7/10 · 13 July 2018]

If it's a show on a whim that you want to kill time this more than does the job. I think lots of reviews are overcritical. Yeah, she knocked down a guy in armor. Plot does say superpowers and maybe strength is one. I do like a lil cheese with my crackers though. Like this genre is to be taken seriously anyway??? It's adventure/fantasy!!! FFS

It's no Game of Thrones but it's not THAT bad... *sheesh*

[AttitudeInc · 19 July 2018]

I'm writing this in response to all the vitriolic posts I've seen about this show. I don't understand where it's all coming from. Will it ever win an Emmy? Probably not.. Is it cheesy? Yup. Does it look like a B movie? Sure but a REALLY good one.

Look, I'm no expert but from what I could see, the biggest problem I see isn't really a problem. They seem to have foregone the whole adding film grain digitally for effect (kudos, BTW - I'm quite sick of it) and just given us an incredibly clear HD picture that unfortunately exaggerates what is often referred to as "The Soap Opera Effect". On top of that, everything seems to crisp, too clear, too..perfect. People think it looks cheap because it APPEARS cheap compared to all artsy futzing around most people do with the picture nowadays to AVOID that. But it's all perception, an illusion based on our inability to recognize a realistic, clear image as anything but REAL and once it becomes real, it feels weird to look at. Like someone filming a live stage production with a high end recorder. Our brains expect the film grain and the weird lighting effects because it's what we're used to. Don't believe me? Try adding noise to an image and tell me that it doesn't "appear" sharper. I use it every day and people without fail are shocked at how much "sharper" the images are to them now (needless to say, I don't explain why - it's just too confusing).

As for the acting, fight choreography and such, I've seen worse. MUCH worse from shows that made it 3, 4 even 5 seasons and have fans out there to this day (I'm looking at you Z Nation). The lead actor Jessica Green does a decent job of making her character as believable as she can. Jake Stromoen (from the recent series Extinct which was fairly good and the movie series Mythica made by the same company which makes this series) is solid as usual. The fight choreography is nothing to write home about but once again, I've see far worse. It looks fairly realistic as long as you can pretend people can really do that and aren't staring too hard, which actually applies to most fight scenes anyway, now that I think about it.

One knock I have to give is for the makeup. Following in the footsteps of the Mythica movies, they seem to want to add dirt smudges around the hairline or forehead and usually one cheek. This then randomly moves around or just disappears for no good reason. I know they are trying to make them look less perfect but it just ends up looking contrived and obvious. Either leave it off or do it right. We're already suspending belief here, so why not that as well? I mean, how many movies and shows have we all watched and thought to ourselves "Where did she get that eyeliner and lipstick and exactly how did she get her eyebrows so perfect using what would pass for mirrors and tweezers. More importantly, when did she find the time for all that AND washing THEN drying her hair?" (having long hair, I know what a pain it is so I notice these things. Stop judging me.) So if you're just going to play with the face smudges while trying to keep everyone pretty, just drop it. If we can accept the fact that they've washed their hair (or even bathed), I think we can deal with them wiping their faces. You're not helping. Seriously.

For what it's worth, cut them some slack. It's not supposed to be perfect, just entertaining and so far, as with the Mythica series, it works for me.

Given the reviews so far, I won't hold my breath for another season but then again other shows have had the same thing happen and they're still on the air (I'm looking at you again, Z Nation) so who knows?

I would probably rate this as 7 stars. I'm giving it 10 because of all the haters.

Strangely compelling

[flowirin · 5/10 · 19 July 2018]

The series started badly. B-Grade acting, visuals and sound.

However, they had a lot of exposition to get through, and they rushed it a little to get it out of the way and into the main story.

And it is the story that grips. I'm reminded of the many fantasy books i've read.

Already, by episode 2, the acting is getting better and the comedic elements more obvious.

My current favourite show.

now season 3 and the charm is gone.

just stupidity, no fun.

Fun, low-budget summer show

[celestialshannon · 8/10 · 25 July 2018]

I think this show is a fun one to watch! Sure, the special fx aren't super great, but a lot of TV shows don't have a huge budget anyway. I thought the special fx in "Once Upon a Time" were worse to be honest. Jessica Green is a bit stiff, but she still delivers a great performance and I'm sure she'll grow with time. The story line is fun and I'm excited to see how it progresses! Honestly this is just a fun show to watch and not everything needs to be super high budget or crazy original. It's a classic revenge plot that I'm sure will expand and become more exciting. I think everyone should just get over the lead being female and the low budget and just enjoy a fun show that can only get better from here.

Why give it a 1 or a 2 or a 3???

[KathleenK22 · 6/10 · 18 July 2018]

I don't even like SciFi but would not give this such a low mark. People have to be made to understand that a score that low belongs with something that has no story, no visual aspects, no characterisation, etc. I have only watched one episode and was lucky to do so because the rating it has been given it a big putoff. Just under a quarter have loved it and nearly a half have enjoyed it. Maybe it has flaws but are they so bad to discount all that is being done well or convincingly. I don't think so! The girl is pretty, the story is interesting enough, the setting is realistic, and we are driven to hope she is alright. Acting is not too bad. So, again what with the 1, 2, or 3 score???

IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANY THING NICE DON'T SAY ANY THING AT ALL

[frogqueen-28240 · 5/10 · 25 July 2018]

Not to bad for a summer show, please give it a chance. & STOP SPEWING HATE!

Gets better as it goes on

[ChubbyChecker · 8/10 · 28 January 2022]

The thing about this show is that it starts off pretty weak, and that's being generous. I would say it's safe to ignore the reviews from people who only watched a few episodes and then gave up on it. While their reviews are probably accurate for what they saw they don't take into account that the people involved in the production really upped their game as the show progressed and made something which I at least found entertaining.

The acting is the most obvious flaw, at least for the first couple of episodes. A lot of the actors had little to no experience of appearing in a show and you can really tell. Thankfully the main cast grew into their roles as the show progressed, which is prevalent season after season. Some actors / characters were introduced later who added to the show positively. In my view as well some (though not all) of the more annoying characters were removed from the show as it went on.

It's not just the acting. The writers upped their game in terms of story telling and world building too. For me at least the world didn't really make much sense at first and there were a lot of hammy and cheesy aspects about it that were thankfully ironed out. The show really peaks in season 3 too, where a lot of the elements came together to make this low budget production a joy to watch. That's not to say that season 2 or the end of season 1 are poor, it just continued to get better.

Another great aspect about The Outpost is that it doesn't overstay its welcome. Not every show needs to be run into the ground over 8 seasons, and for whatever reason that didn't happen here. 4 seasons was enough to get the full story arc and end the show on a high.

Despite what I've said, beyond perseverance to sit through the rocky start you do still need to make some allowances for the fact that the budget simply isn't that big. Don't expect epic large scale battles and glorious special effects. Go in knowing this and in my opinion you'll have a good time with The Outpost, especially if you're a fan of fantasy.

Amusing

[mmevanille-53097 · 7/10 · 25 May 2019]

Low budget. Not so noticeable during character interactions, but especially so through the fight scenes. I am hoping in the future they hire a proper sword-choreographer because at the moment the 'action' scenes are the main downfall. Also hoping some supporters may help fund it to make it a little more polished.

By the end of the series 1 though, cast is starting to warm to their characters. They are interesting enough, and the plot moves along as a decent pace.

This is definitely one of those shows that you don't judge by the first episode.

PS good to see Jason Statham getting some work again =P

Laughable

[dharruk · 1/10 · 11 July 2018]

This is poor,maybe a younger audience might like it,horrible fight scenes and terrible acting,the atmosphere in the show is corny,like a high school play.