This Giant Beast That is the Global Economy (2019) User Reviews

Be entertained while being educated!

[keithbevins · 9/10 · 25 February 2019]

This is great entertainment and it is informative.

This isn't as serious as a Noam Chomsky lecture. The show might not leave you feeling angry at the system. You can enjoy it from any point on the political spectrum. You can sit down and watch it with older children, spouses, and friends, to find common denominators for conversations.

The show really is very entertaining and informative. I hope there is second season.

Try it out.

An entertaining introduction to complex and world changing issues.

[kvdbm · 8/10 · 12 March 2019]

The show does have its issues, but one has to take into consideration the nature of the show itself. Its being hosted by Kal Penn, so you should expect it to be an entertainer and not a purely educational series.

From that perspective, the show does an excellent job of introducing you to complex issues that may have immense ramifications for the future of the world. The episodes are informative, if you're not already aware of the problems. For example, I was quite bored with the episode on AI because I am well read in the topic. However, the rubber episode was quite revelatory.

Someone complained that the show has a deep leftist bias. I personally think the show tries to be balanced. It won't make either the leftists or the rightists happy.

My only real complaint about the show is that it could've gone easier on the humor aspect. Some of it does come off forced and unnecessarily distracting.

Ultimately, I think the show is good and would suggest it to anyone who doesn't have an in depth knowledge of the issues at hand.

Complexity simplified

[matthijsalexander · 7/10 · 4 March 2019]

2 Episodes in I must say I like it.

Take complex issues and simplify them by sticking to broad strokes, things people can follow without it getting technical.

Or, explain how a rich person came to be in a funny way.

The diversity of the first episodes was interesting, the presentation also not bad.

All in all, not something to look forward to, but an occasional episode of 'something else', something light.

Fun and Profound: best since Anthony Bourdain

[paulelisiegel · 10/10 · 10 March 2019]

Kal Penn goes where Bourdain went with his own hunor spin. Bourdain did global culture and food. Penn does global factoids and humor.

Great combination and wonderfully balanced. He will take it to the extreme to get your attention and make a point: when talking about the funeral business he humorously shocks you with an interview with an (undercover) hit man; and, when talking about money he starts with people who dropped off the grid to live without it.

I hope this cotinues and goes bigger still, as did Bourdain.

Entertaining and Informative....

[hzink · 10/10 · 8 April 2019]

It reduces a complex subject, through humor and presentation, into easily digestible bits that both inform and entertain.

I find it equally amusing that the only two critics of this series, capnpete-91469 and brian-06942, are fly-by-night accounts - both created recently (right around when the program first aired) and both with only a single reviewed program (this one), and that's it. Make of it what you want ;-)

Sounds to me like Kal Penn is hitting some nerves. Very entertaining.

I look forward to more of this.

A mix of humor and knowledge of the world economy.

[sanketmistry9 · 10/10 · 22 February 2019]

I found it very interesting. The series was directed by Adam McKay (The Big Short). The series gave the accence of The big Short like many guest actors were on the episodes and explaining some concepts of economics, but Its not very difficult to understand the docu series. The series says how people do things like corruption, money laundering and others. I loved the show to the fullest. It will shock you and amaze you.

Ignore the wanna-be Critics, It's Great!

[Cape_Olive · 9/10 · 4 March 2019]

It is informative and entertaining at the same time. Goes through the different aspects of the global economy every episode and what could potentially affect it. My favorite episode so far is the "Rubber Episode"

Super Entertaining

[Erik_Stone · 7/10 · 18 July 2021]

It's a loose, fun mix of comedy, truth, and inaccuracies.

Anything about economics to help the general public and politicians, is probably a good thing, which I think this is.

It does have some great, true information that most Americans will have no clue about. Unfortunately, most Americans will just think it's all true. It does still have the rich-actor, Hollywood ignorance, and somehow, every episode has something in LA or San Francisco. Shocker, right?

I liked it, even though it's an opinion piece posing as fun science . . . Think of "My Sex Junk is so Oh Oh Oh."🙄

Mostly fun to watch while you learn a lot

[luckykeeper-44676 · 9/10 · 27 April 2019]

If you liked the big short, you will like this one too. Adam McKay is a producer on this show and you can feel it in every second. Kal pen is the perfect host, funny and entertaining while still being able to teach you something. But the best parts are the guest stars. Do you remember Margot Robnie sitting in a bubble bath explaining funds? You get that every single episode. Thomas middleditch NAILED it. Overall, a very, very good series except for one episode witch kind of fell flat.

A enjoyable informative documentary

[imaginilding · 7/10 · 8 May 2022]

The issues selected are well explored by Kal. I just finished watching the AI episode and it really got me thinking about the preparation I need to do about the future businesses and careers. I surely recommend watching this.

Love it, just wish each episode had more of a wrap-up at the end.

[BucktownJim · 8/10 · 23 March 2019]

I thought the show did a good job of distilling complex topics into easily digestible (and entertaining) bites. However, each episode left me wanting for more of a wrap up. They'd spend 45-50 minutes going over the intricacies of something like counterfeiting, and then try to wrap it up in the last three minutes.

Great concept, just needs more summary at the end.

Complex Issues from Low Intellect and Deep Bias

[brian-06942 · 2/10 · 24 February 2019]

This program discusses complex issues from a place of relatively low quality thinking and one of a deep leftist bias.

The net result is uninspiring propaganda.

Billy Madison brings real to reality!

[sassershawn · 8/10 · 10 July 2021]

You see many productions by Adam Sandler, this one speaks the truth in today's society, the rich will give it a thumbs down, but the end result will give it a BRAVO! Shedding the light on the obvious truth, is a burden for the rich. I say BRAVO Adam Sandler! Lastly, who has made billions in the movie industry, Adam Sandler! He makes us laugh and he makes us cry. Heres to the truth of today! I look forward to tomorrow.

Well told stories and illustrations

[cleopatrazaya · 8/10 · 30 December 2019]

Reall informative and entertaining. Kal Pen's character had a colourful and human contribution to the subject matters. Well told stories and illustrations.

Great educational show

[justincalkins · 10/10 · 11 September 2021]

I found this show amazing, it's a mix of science and comedy . It's amazing it has a 3 star review . I think it's the system trying to silence this show.

Don't waste your time

[capnpete-91469 · 1/10 · 13 March 2019]

There is very little information in this show, and what information is there, is heavily biased. Much better options out there for tv

Teenage Humor and Little Facts

[tony-97162 · 3/10 · 1 May 2019]

This was an R-Rated attempt at humor instead of an educational show on the economy. The first episode seemed to suggest this would be an entertaining look at money laundering, then it was followed with cheesy stunts laced with profanity that threw away any useful information into the toilet. The title of this mockumentary is highly misleading. Watch the Panama Papers for a real documentary on money laundering and put this raunchy piece under Tinsel Town garbage.