Dead to Me (2019–2022) User Reviews

Dark comedy and mystery? Fun!

[eelen-seth · 9/10 · 3 May 2019]

Dead To Me follows two women who tragically lose someone in their lives. This Netflix Original Series is very mysterious and the comedy is dark as the night. The first episode sets up the vibe for the rest of the show and it only pulls you in more and more, up to the point of no return.

The two leads - Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini - have wonderful chemistry. Their interactions and the moments of sorrow feel like as if they are best friends in real life and just connect in the most sincere and natural way. The acting is also just sublime and shows once again that these ladies don't get enough high profile acting jobs in Hollywood, which is a shame. The subject of the series is not an easy one to handle and to combine it with comedy is very risky, but it really works here.

The episodes are easily bingeable with a runtime around 30 minutes and every episode has several situations our characters get in, that'll keep you interested while you watch it all unfold. Every episode also ends on a cliffhanger that made my jaw drop, over and over again - which I'm a sucker for.

The show starts with Jen (Applegate) losing her husband in a hit-and-run accident. She's obviously having many problems and trying to deal with the fact she's a widow and single mother now, trying to raise her two teenage sons. She decides to join a meeting for those who lost loved ones and it's here we get to meet Judy (Cardellini). Both totally opposite personalities, but still connecting in a way they didn't think was possible. The pacing of every scene and episode is enjoyable and kept me engaged throughout. It's fun to see things progressing not knowing what will happen next.

The events slowly come together as a cohesive whole and we meet several key witnesses and side characters that help our leads develop into different personalities, without losing the characteristics we love them for. This build up could escalate in unseen proportions and who knows what might happen to the people closest to them.

The ending gets wrapped up really well and it does set up a potential follow up, but it could work as a standalone season. Dead To Me Season 1 is a tale of sorrow and mystery, the latter intriguing its interested audience the most. Don't think you've seen it all after the big twist gets revealed at the end of the first episode. More secrets arise, which cause lots of banter and drama. In my opinion the writers could've made it all even darker with the comedy-aspect and certain intense situations. Who knows what a second season might bring.. Although I think it would be a waste to see these characters disappear, since they are so much fun to spend time with on an evening after work, with a glass of wine in your hand. Cheers!

Applegate & Cardellini Knock It Out Of The Park

[slightlymad22 · 8/10 · 3 May 2019]

The new show starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini just had its full first season drop on Netflix and both leads totally knock it out of the park.

It's premise (Two widows meet at a support group meeting, and become close friends) is not something that sounded interesting to me, but I love Christina Applegate, always have since I had a crush on her in Married With Children, and since then, I have always enjoyed her work in movies and TV. So I gave it a chance. Well, I binge watched the entire season in one go.

Linda Cardellini is an actress I only know from the Scooby Doo movies and other supporting roles in comedies (Daddy's Home) and the MCU, I didn't really have an opinion of her, I didn't like or dislike her, but she is amazing here

Darkly comic at times and heartbreaking at others, it is utterly compelling and each episode just makes you want to watch the next. I highly recommend it, one of the best TV shows I have seen in a long time.

Binged it in one go

[ssabah80 · 8/10 · 3 May 2019]

This new show popped up on Netflix so we decided to watch an episode, 5 hours later the whole season came to an end. Really enjoyable dark comedy, drama, crime all wrapped up in to one. Great performances from both the ladies. If you are looking for the "who done it?" type of show you found it, however there is a slight twist. How does one reveal what they know. Enjoy it, looking forward to season 2.

NOT like grace and frankie

[benji-UCLA · 10/10 · 4 May 2019]

So...loved the show. But I have seen reviews of people who dislike it because it's too much "like grace and frankie" and other reviews of people who LOVE it because it is "like grace and frankie "...all of these people are wrong and it makes me think they didn't watch the whole series. Do not go into this expecting grace and frankie for the gen x generation...this show is much darker,the sense of humour is much more dry, and the subject matter is way heavier....I love both shows...but other than the fact that they both involve 2 women who live together after circumstances brought them into each other's lives, they have nothing in common. Go into it knowing it isn't a GandF knock off, and you will enjoy it much more.



Edit: season 2 is even crazier and funnier! Some of the plot is a bit far fetched but it's easily overlooked and even accepted because The two leads are AMAZING. The chemistry they have together is a huge part of why this show seems to work so well no matter what is going on.

SURPRISING BRILLIANT DARK COMEDY

[Danckersen · 10/10 · 4 May 2019]

I was sucked in within ten minutes. Brilliant acting and plot twists. I am always a fan of Christina Applegate, but Linda Cardellini SHINES! THOUGHTFUL, KIND AND HONEST. Enjoy the binge! Thanks NETFLIX!

I'll never see a paper crane and not get emotional.

[kcitraro · 10/10 · 22 November 2022]

Just finished season 3. First time in a very long time that the seasons got progressively better. I did not want it to end. I was unbelievably touched. I needed this show right now. I'm not posting spoilers but it turned in a direction in season 3 that got me in the feels as I laughed. Hard to create a show that does both. This one masterfully does. The writing is perfect, directing outstanding, lighting so good! Setting (nice artwork) and site location outstanding. Casting in this show was perfect. I can't imagine any other cast. I gave this a 10 because of the difficulty in illiciting all the emotions that this does, the writing directing and acting was as good as it gets. If this show doesn't deserve a 10 Which show would? (Other than Queens Gambit of course). This show was as good as it gets in every way. I don't think I'll ever be able to see a paper crane without getting emotional.

Two great actresses, ten easy stars

[laflammemark · 10/10 · 6 December 2022]

I'll tell you what. If I was rating this show on the basis of the story alone, I might give it a seven and credit it with being a solid thriller. If I was rating it for its comedic elements, maybe I'd bump that up to an eight. The story is sound, after all, and the comedy is intelligent and used in just the right amounts.

The way these story tellers blend comedy with darker elements is masterful. It's a show that can literally be a laugh-out-loud riot one scene and jerking tears the next. With that in mind, why not give 'er an eight or nine and call it good?

I'll tell you why. Because outshining all of that are the performances of the show's two main stars; performances as impressive as any I've ever seen. I mean it, too. Until I took a look at this show, half-hearted to begin with, I had no idea what a powerful actress Christina Applegate turned out to be. I was not much familiar at all with Linda Cardellini but now I'll count myself as among her biggest fans. Both of these women knocked their every scene out of the park, whether it was Applegate being hilariously bitchy, Cardellini being a cute misfit or the two of them weeping sloppily over the endurance of their friendship under extremely difficult circumstances.

I don't know if the two women are friends off screen, but in the context of the show, they have chemistry. Tremendous chemistry. Some of the most realistic and intense chemistry I've ever seen on a screen, small or big. Ultimately, the story is about that friendship and these actresses make that story irresistible. All the other plot lines, some of them downright goofy, are just bones on which to hang the flesh of this magnificent story of unconditional love, loyalty and maybe a smattering of co-dependence.

And with these complex mathematical formulas in mind, I have no trouble at all lighting up ten stars for this one.

I love this show, and many of the characters that populate it. Ben, the big dork, is a favorite, although I wasn't so fond of his twin. Those WERE two different actors, right?

The neighbors, friends, coworkers and support group members were all richly played by talented actors, but I tell you. None of those characters, no matter how colorful, could hold a candle to Applegate and Cardellini who just raised the bar on buddy movies forever.

Good season 1, season 2 wasn't as good

[JRH87 · 7/10 · 11 May 2020]

Season one was gripping, you couldn't stop watching. Season 2: the comedy seems slightly more forced and the situations (let's say without spoilers) seem a bit more unrealistic, just to suit the narrative. Overall still enjoyed it, but found myself a bit bored at time's during season 2.

Incredible!

[becky-rothwell · 10/10 · 4 May 2019]

Started with the Netflix teaser as I was aimlessly scrolling and 5 hours later I've watched every episode! And when I say 'watched' I honestly mean it. Not 'watched' whilst also playing games on my phone or 'watched' it in the background of doing other tasks. Watched! Eyes firmly fixed to the screen. It's a great balance of comedy and true tragedy. The acting is incredible, the main characters are fully formed and dynamic women that really show there is always a person behind the monster.

Loved 1st season, hate the 2nd

[iulianturicianu · 6/10 · 10 May 2020]

I don't understand why so many commenters say how second season is even better?! Everything that made this show interesting and exciting, setting us up for traps of what to expect and delivering the opposite, being witty, making fun of melodramatic stereotypes, while still feeling like a serious depiction of grief, are gone through the window in the second season, delivering exactly what first season made fun of. Like the witty humor of the bird showing up as the dad in the first season, is now being dragged out into a whole story to beat us on the head with what the main characters go through. It's just not the same show anymore, which is a shame as I was super excited for the second season.

Gem

[kateabr · 9/10 · 4 May 2019]

Usually if I see Christina Applegate I'm already on board (have a soft spot for her since the "Married With Children" times) but damn she nailed this character, she shines in this role brilliantly! She absolutely owns every scene, floored me in the extra emotional scenes, such an underrated actress! She's so strong as a lead that for me the only properly competative actor on her level seemed to be (to my surprise) James Marsden and Brandon Scott. Great pacing, great story, great directing and acting and overall really great show! Highly recommend!

First season: great, Second season: I hope there is no 3rd season in the pipeline

[hansj-verhoeven · 7/10 · 25 May 2020]

I found the first season great, a unique story with great acting. Then came the 2nd season. It started slow, not exciting and certainly not unique. Then a number of new story lines appeared and a bit cheesy and very soapy. The first season I rated an 8, the second a 6.

Good on the surface but...

[False_Nostalgia_Reviews · 5/10 · 13 June 2019]

At its core, Dead to Me is a soap opera for the Netflix age, with every episode packed full of twists and turns that grips its audience (myself included) and forces them to binge harder than Garfield in a lasagna factory. This sort of appeal tactic is Netflix original series production 101. Therefore, I cannot judge the quality of this show based upon how fixated my eyes were to the screen, much like how I cannot judge a Disney Star Wars film by how much nostalgia inducing fan service is crammed into each scene.

The show is fairly formulaic: Establish episode premise, slowly stew over premise for majority of episode, have huge revelation at end of episode for characters to stew over in the next episode. The characters will constantly retread covered ground, making dialogue come off as time filler rather than a thickening of plot. To be fair this formula is nothing new. Shows like The Good Place have a similar story structure. But where The Good Place succeeds and where Dead to Me fails is having likable characters that you want to see through to the end.

I personally thought the main protagonist, Jen was portrayed as too unlikeable, to the point where I was happy whenever she would fail or get what was coming to her (all except for one particular scene involving the interior of a red mustang, you'll know it when you see it). I didn't want to see her succeed, nor did I care when she would be faced with heartbreak or disaster.

To sum up, much of my enjoyment of Dead to Me was surface level. The thrills and chills were gripping in the heat of the moment, but we're ultimately superficial once looked back upon, realizing that much of this five-hour, ten-episode journey, could have been summed up with better character progression in the length of a two hour feature film. Here's hoping the next season learns from its mistakes.

PHENOMENAL!!!!!

[ljholder3 · 10/10 · 3 May 2019]

This show is simply phenomenal! The acting is superb! You really feel the nerves of everything espacially Judy (Linda Cardellini)! The characters and plot keep you hooked and it's hard to stop binge watching! Christina Applegate's performance is astounding! But Linda!!! Hand her that Emmy now!! You empathize and fall in love with Judy! Such a well rounded character and pure. You want nothing but the best for her! I suggest you watch! IT'S AMAZING AND ONE OF NETFLIX'S BEST ORIGINAL SERIES!!

I accidentally the season

[jezemabel · 10/10 · 4 May 2019]

It was already late when I started with the pilot. I needed to sleep as I had an early morning. I watched the whole thing.

Every episode was so enthralling. The writing, acting, and directing are just a treat! Such believable characters. Even though you think some of the situations they get themselves in seem a bit much, it's presented in such a way that you can understand what the characters are going through; what motivates them, and what they're feeling.

Maybe I relate to the portrayal of grief, and trying to keep it together. The acting was on point. I love layered characters. Nothing is black, and white.

Don't start watching this at 1am.

Enthralling much better than I expected

[UniqueParticle · 10/10 · 7 April 2021]

Such a great dark comedy/drama! Christina Applegate, Lina Cardellini, and Sam McCarthy are my favorites in it. I love how effed up it is in some ways, I see why some would binge all the way through it's like a great craving of food Dead to Me is phenomenal! Great too that Adam McKay and Will Ferrell are producers they're awesome beings.

Just binge-watched the whole 10 episodes

[kimbpaul · 8/10 · 4 May 2019]

I was having a crappy day, so grabbed a coke and some chips and hit the couch, looking for a little distraction. I forgot about the clothes in the dryer and at 9pm I took a break to throw a sandwich together because I realized I had missed dinner. Kept me riveted right to the end, which made me laugh out loud. Great characters, human and beautifully flawed. The actors were perfectly cast. I don't think any follow-up season is needed, the ending is perfect just the way it is. I'm stingy about giving 9's and 10's, so an 8 is great in my book.

Sometimes less is better

[AsianTalentHollywood · 7/10 · 21 September 2020]

This series is well written and Christina Applegate has an amazing performance. The premise is a very interesting mystery and this series goes from good to excellent throughout and thus can't quite get a higher rating. I have to think that with more editing of some unnecessary lulls and picking up the pace this could have been great. I almost didn't make it to EP3. Glad I did, still worth watching.

A refreshing take on grief

[nutmeg0913 · 10/10 · 4 May 2019]

I know too much about grief and this story explains so many different stages of grief that are not talked about. The story has so many twist and turns and it's well worth the watch

6 to the previous two seasons. No need to watch the last one.

[cheerio-77065 · 6/10 · 27 November 2022]

I'm usually scared to see the very last season of the series, but as much as I loved the last two seasons of Dead To Me, I wanted to say bye to these two women properly. But why? Why torturing fans and wrapping up like this? I mean, it's not even a wrap-up. Nothing has been solved, what they did to Judy is absolutely brutal, and most of all, it's the fans who gotta watch all this in the LAST season.

And Jen, seriously? They made Jen character really annoying in this season. I'm so heartbroken to see Judy throughout the season 3... Those thinking of starting these series, please watch the first two seasons and do not watch the last one.

Amazing

[uqob · 10/10 · 4 May 2019]

Probably one of the most solid dark comedies I've watched in ages. Both Applegate and Cardellini deliver a very believable and surreal "Odd Couple" relationship that simultaneously makes you feel the sorrow and joy of the tragedy that brings them together. Here's why I gave this ten. I started watching it, ended up watching it until 4AM. Finished it in the morning and, STARTED WATCHING IT AGAIN. It begs to be watched again because of how the story unfolds. Outstanding series and I hope that Netflix renews it.

Season 1 was amazing! Season 2 is just meh..

[jamesvass-62316 · 6/10 · 28 May 2020]

Season 1, Strong female leads with a solid layers of storylines for every character. Compelling plot with a great cliffhanger. Season 2, PC police 🚨 strike!! Established storyline takes a back seat and replaced by a series of patchwork additions which make little sense and stutter the flow of the series. It's as if the writers said, ok. Let's take the lead and have her "decide" to be gay (kick in the guts to the LGBTI+ community)... oh and let's make the other woman Latino, And let's also have the main bad guy's twin brother show up out of nowhere and let's also make him a stupid hapless male cliche. Oh and let's now make the main lead an awful mother/person and have her completely forget the events of season 1, (which took place only days earlier), and move on to murder and other disposable acts, her neighbours, her children, her friends and clients, complete strangers, her victim's family... nobody's safe... What a shame...

Am I the only one who thought this show completely contrived and unbelievable? Apparently...

[karencookstoo · 3/10 · 12 May 2019]

First, Jen lives in a $5 million dollar house, drives a $100,000 Mercedes, is married to a man who doesn't work and has such anger management issues (even prior to the death of her husband) her partner finally had to part ways with her because of lackluster business. So, where did she get all this money? Second, why does someone who admits they are guilty of a hit and run resulting in a persons death, regardless of her boyfriends status as a money launderer, not go immediately to jail? Why is she a sympathetic character here? Instead, she gets to move back in with the victims wife and become best buds? Ridiculous. I did like Abe.

Absolutely Brilliant

[Shivam47Surya · 10/10 · 3 May 2019]

I never thought that the pilot episode would make me laugh and kind of sad and encourage me to share grief... It's weird in a way, ridiculous but in the best way... Lovely performances, precise dark comedy, absolute fun ride.

A brilliant duet in a compelling story

[ursuladuke · 10/10 · 22 November 2022]

Totally binge worthy, this series captured me from episode one till the end. It's all about the black humor and the amazing cast, who gave this intelligent story life and credibility, driving the spectator skillfully from laughter to tears. I just read about Christina Applegate's health issue and I think it's so empowering and admirable how she managed to complete her work and give an absolutely thrilling performance. And so does Linda Cardellini, James Marsden and everybody else, offering truly great acting in an original script that goes further from being fun and takes a chance to explore grief, friendship, motherhood. I will definitely revisit this one!