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There are many things to love aboutBriarpatch, USAs new mystery crime anthology series.
Its almost unfathomably stylish, thanks to the involvement of Sam Esmail, who executive-produces alongside creator Andy Greenwald.
Its full of oh hey, its that guy!
The show is also led by Rosario Dawson, who strides throughBriarpatchlike an untouchable, unflinching force.
Still, watchingBriarpatchoften feels like watching a show very carefully designed to be great TV.
Its fast and quirky and colorful and distinctive, but it also feels empty at the center.
To explain why, we must turn to those aforementioned giraffes.
But the giraffes are a fitting representation ofBriarpatchsbroader problem.
The giraffes arent alone, either.
A large feline prowls a hotel hallway, eating some symbolically rotting leftovers.
Somethingwildis going on here.
Beyond that very direct signifier, though,Briarpatchs menagerie is mainly for show.
The animals amp up the shows visual attraction, which is absolutely effective.
Its a slick series, especially in scenes where it leans into its baseline visual weirdness.
The proud external weirdness is a shell covering a fairly rote interior.
There is no shortage of suspects.
The trouble is that the second you stop watching it, none of its burrs stick.
