Westside (2018) User Reviews

Unexpected depth,

[irfan_meric · 7/10 · 24 March 2019]

To be honest, my mind was full when I decided to watch the show and I was looking for some cheap thrills with zero thinking with some glamour and pointless fun... Westside turned my expectations upside down. And as I was trying to get away from my problems, unexpectadly found a space where I can question my life as an artist and my problems.

The structure of the story telling was amazing to me. I don't really find reality shows necessary but this can't be fully labeled as reality, so... It actually is a combination of different genres. Episodes' structures were like collages, made with different sequences of visuals. And consistency of the whole is nicely done.

I really liked exploring depths of the chracters via music and performance arts. Art is about trying to know ourselves as individuals; asking questions and exploring a reasons and results related universe. I think the show searches these areas nicely.

As an artist, myself, I think the show lifts psychological weights a bit off and gives me space to think about myself, my vision, my existence and our collective reality. How it is wonderful and how it is full of hell... I guess, with the good and the bad, still it is good to focus on what is beautiful and exploring it through arts and experiencing a life with diversity, colours and possibilities...

The ending makes the show

[starving_college_student · 7/10 · 4 June 2019]

A nice and short 'reality' series. It's got the drama and personality-clashes of American Idol for reality series fans, the pursuit of stardom/hollywood for documentary fans, and lots of music for music fans. For the first 7 episodes, its entertaining enough, but the songs that the group produces are pretty generic, bland pop songs - nothing you'd remember, nothing with a unique voice. Don't get me wrong, the entire cast is talented and definitely on the pro level. But that is what makes the show even more interesting - it shows that talent is a dime a dozen, it's a uniqueness that is what sets great music apart. It's in the eighth episode that things really come together. The cast gets a big time producer to have a go at the songs that they wrote, and wow, it makes a difference. The once bland songs turn into tunes I can definitely imagine playing on the radio. It's a great and uplifting ending to what could have been 'just another reality show.'

Expected better

[rufious17 · 6/10 · 13 January 2019]

Big reality tv fan, didn't live up the hype or compare to Netflix's Made in Mexico

You'll want more episodes

[sonnydaize · 8/10 · 26 November 2018]

A fascinating glimpse into the music business and what it takes to make it in today's digital world.The musicians are all very different, very real, and their stories are compelling. This isn't a show about singers. It's a portrait of 9 artists, their struggles, their dreams and their talent shared with us in an intimate way, taking us through the song writing process, rehearsals, & auditions. I loved it and want more

Real Reality at it's finest!

[djrick62-1 · 10/10 · 26 November 2018]

You won't find another reality show like this. There absolutely is no script. Every cast member is playing themselves, and you get insight into all of them. Their struggles and the drama they produce is all real and in your face. It is AWESOME!!! Just watch the first 2 or 3 episodes. If you are not completely hooked. Move on. But this show is definitely worth trying out for yourself.

Irritating

[lozzledoingit-03666 · 4/10 · 5 July 2020]

I soooo wanted to like this and when it started i thought "oooh this is definitely a bit of me". However about 10 minutes in a song came on with a music video of them all. Well the song was rubbish but it ended and I thought "ok they just want to show us what their direction is and now we know. However as the programme progresses it is constantly interrupted by a music video of one of them and it's just so flipping annoying! It keeps me from being able to get involved with what is going on with the cast and the storyline plus the music just isn't good either! Every time I'm enjoying a scene it's cut short and now halfway through episode 3 I'm giving up and I've persevered with some baaad reality tv in my time but this is just too poor even for me.

Don't waste your time folks!

At first I hated it but now I'm hooked

[tonyfeliceaznsd · 9/10 · 20 November 2018]

This is masterful storytelling. That's all that needs to be said.

Disappointed

[davidmolloy21 · 4/10 · 22 October 2020]

I was enjoying it until the music video's started and then more music videos continued to interrupt the show. And the songs are terrible!

Fantastic

[bobbybrader · 9/10 · 2 December 2018]

This was so great. The stories are inspiring and the music is brilliantly original

Moving

[jmcsatx-10-644930 · 10/10 · 22 January 2019]

We are all struggling in a world that consumes the weak. This group of people came together to overcome that fear and created a bond using their talents. I felt this bond extend to viewers. I hope this reality TV format continues.

It grows on you

[simonefmoore · 9/10 · 17 January 2019]

Everyone seemed kind of depressing but that moment in episode 3 when they create a song together won me over.

Ignorance vs. Arrogance

[sadworks · 8/10 · 14 March 2021]

As someone who has worked in the Entertainment industry, I can semi-relate, though this exposed ignorance and one specific character showed complete arrogance, where his personality ruined the talent he has, because he obviously only cared about himself...Though I question the reality, since drama is pushed by Producers in Basically every reality show. (I even question why one of the characters had no problem exposing his cocaine usage). The majority of songs in the show were actually really good, as was the talent...yet, it also makes me glad I am not in the music industry.