210 reviews
"The Conspiracy Theorist in Me"
So far, so very, very good
Only the first four episodes have been streamed thus far but, with any luck, this program will keep up the excellent work. It's a really great premise: a documentary about a jury trial that is actually a mockumentary but actually is also, for one person, a real trial as a juror -- the others are all actors. The producers were either very lucky or screened applicants well as the clueless fellow is remarkably charming and telegenic. The other actors are working improv rather than from a complete script and they, too, are doing a terrific job: they seem like the kind of people you might meet on a jury panel except, of course, the more you see of them, the weirder they get, to keep the action going.
All in all, a very original idea, well executed and well acted.
All in all, a very original idea, well executed and well acted.
Hilarious and Unique
- RobTortureWright
- Apr 15, 2023
- Permalink
Protect Ronald.
- madden-brad
- May 15, 2023
- Permalink
Screw the critics
I cannot believe this is getting lambasted by critics. Comic genius on a level I haven't seen in ages. Not every comedic offering has to take itself so seriously, and this one is totally absurd and original. I died at the defense attorney's animations. The cast is brilliant, and I can't wrap my head around how they must have coordinated all of the improv moments. If they truly kept this poor oaf in the dark for three weeks or whatever it was, that in itself deserves an award. Marsden playing an egotistical version of himself is perfect. Exactly what I needed, and truly the best kind of comedy.
- daneulephus
- Apr 8, 2023
- Permalink
A Hero's Path
- seaeschliman-99509
- Apr 20, 2023
- Permalink
A hell of a comedy!!!
Oh my gosh! I woke up at 3:00 in the morning and I couldn't get back to sleep so I grabbed my iPad and I saw an advertisement for the show. I checked the ratings and there pretty good so I gave it a try. Oh my gosh, I started to laugh so hard and tried to be quiet because my wife was next to me sleeping and she woke up and said "what a hell are you watching" So I let it all out! "Jury Duty" is a hell of a show it reminds me so much of "The Office" it is so hilarious! The casting is perfect, and the writing is great! It gets you hooked, can't stop watching. Marsden and company are great and so beautifully weird! If you like the office, you will love Jury Duty. Thanks, Freevee for a great Original!
Brilliant
Those of us fortunate enough to have seen the brilliant "Joe Schmo Show" many years ago will recognize the premise. Everyone is in on the joke except for one person. This allows to view the craziness from one person's Ernest point of view. I love reactionary humor and this show has it in spades.
We are 4 episodes in at this point and I've already laughed out loud a number of times. There is something oddly satisfying about seeing everyone having so much fun even when your know they are acting. Having seen "The Joe Schmo show" years ago I know that even though these characters are fake the comrodary they develop is often times very real and there are moments in this show when you can tell they're having the time of their lives. I am very excited about this show and hope it does well enough to produce more seasons.
We are 4 episodes in at this point and I've already laughed out loud a number of times. There is something oddly satisfying about seeing everyone having so much fun even when your know they are acting. Having seen "The Joe Schmo show" years ago I know that even though these characters are fake the comrodary they develop is often times very real and there are moments in this show when you can tell they're having the time of their lives. I am very excited about this show and hope it does well enough to produce more seasons.
- jjpscott01
- Apr 8, 2023
- Permalink
Brilliant and hilarious
This is so brilliantly funny to watch I cried tears of joy. Immense respect to all the actors on the show who had to improvise/react based on Ronald's reactions and not break character. The casting was amazing, all the press were talking about James Marsden as he's the only famous person in the show but the real stars were all the actors who in my opinion, carried the show. And Ronald, I can't wait to see the end of the series where it's being revealed to him! The scenes were all incredibly funny, and made me want to visit margaritaville at some point. This show really depicted regular folks including outcasts of society and nerds and it's so wholesome to watch when Ronald showered them with kindness and empathy. And the fact this is unscripted even though the scenes were, is just unbelievable to me. A top 10/10 TV that I highly recommend.
- urylle-32346
- Apr 8, 2023
- Permalink
Exceptionally creative and deceptively profound of the human condition
Can't say enough about this TV Viewing Experience. Exceptionally creative and new..it will cause you to suspend belief..and befuddles the senses at times, a breath of fresh air though.
And the emotional payoff in the end is genuine and comes through the screen at the end of the 8 show series and grabs you. I highly recommend it.
Agreat snapshot and expose into what is good in humans. The performances are intricate, improvisational, focused and generous equaling combiner the actors character and the actors real self at the same time. Character development was spot on. The Judge extrordinary. Writing one overiding purpose and goal in mind.
And the emotional payoff in the end is genuine and comes through the screen at the end of the 8 show series and grabs you. I highly recommend it.
Agreat snapshot and expose into what is good in humans. The performances are intricate, improvisational, focused and generous equaling combiner the actors character and the actors real self at the same time. Character development was spot on. The Judge extrordinary. Writing one overiding purpose and goal in mind.
- PHOENIX4444
- Apr 21, 2023
- Permalink
Good show with a terrific cast
Is Jury Duty a great show? Nah, but very often it is so darn funny. Is it repetitious? It is. But the cast is so darn good who cares? It's a premise that is really fun. James Marsden is terrific as the stereotypically egotistical Hollywood semi star. But the other jurors/actors are perfect, too. Each one is so real. However, the luck of the series is finding the guy who is left out of the loop. He is so charming, sweet, compassionate, sincere - but not without raising his eyebrows in disbelief when things get crazy at times. The last episode when the ruse is revealed is excellent. It's actually heartwarming and touching. It makes up for some of the dull stretches.
If you enjoy cringe comedy, this show is for you
Great assemblage of actors who play cringey but believable LA folks to perfection. Marsden blows it out of the water playing an at-times exaggerated but yet still plausible version of himself. Ronald is stuck smack-dab in the middle of it all, with hilariously eccentric folks from all walks of life surrounding him, yet he takes it all in stride, whether at times blushing or shrinking down in his chair or being stoic or giggling almost uncontrollably - turns out real life can be hilarious when you're a casual viewer of it sitting on a couch and not mired in the circumstances and people for yourself and constantly wondering just what is possibly going to happen next. Ronald's tension is palpable during the cringiest stuff yet he always somehow remains cool as a cucumber throughout, even when he's blushing, and almost always says the perfect thing in response. One of the best shows I've seen in many years.
Still Not Sure What is Believable
The premise of the show is kind of interesting but there's also something to it that just doesn't seem to convince me. Perhaps there are cut out moments where the supposedly unaware Ronald actually didn't act how they wanted him to, but it just seemed like he fit too perfectly into every scenario they were hoping. Maybe I'm wrong and they just found the most gullible person out there, but I feel somewhere along the line a normal person wouldn't go along with all the craziness.
Also, the show operated playing a weird middle ground where not only was it trying to be a social experiment , but also a court version of the office. I'm sure that's a great thing for some, but not my type of comedy. I was personally more interested in the reactions of how a juror would react to the craziness in the court.
If they were to do a second season on a more serious note I wouldn't mind seeing an entire fake jury with a fabricated case to see how a jury actually operates and observe how they follow the judges instructions or disregard them. Of course this would eliminate the comedic element though.
Overall the show is certainly unique and worth a watch if you can get through the first bit and buy in. I'm not surprised that some people absolutely love it because it hits a certain type of comedy well. For me though , there's still something a bit suspect about the entire vibe of the whole thing to be that amazed by the show.
Also, the show operated playing a weird middle ground where not only was it trying to be a social experiment , but also a court version of the office. I'm sure that's a great thing for some, but not my type of comedy. I was personally more interested in the reactions of how a juror would react to the craziness in the court.
If they were to do a second season on a more serious note I wouldn't mind seeing an entire fake jury with a fabricated case to see how a jury actually operates and observe how they follow the judges instructions or disregard them. Of course this would eliminate the comedic element though.
Overall the show is certainly unique and worth a watch if you can get through the first bit and buy in. I'm not surprised that some people absolutely love it because it hits a certain type of comedy well. For me though , there's still something a bit suspect about the entire vibe of the whole thing to be that amazed by the show.
- ThereelscoopwithKK
- May 22, 2023
- Permalink
'The Office' mixed with 'The Truman Show'
We found this to be laugh-out-loud funny, really original and clever... so much so that we were certain it was adapted from the UK.
They picked the perfect guy in Ronald who is very much your average Joe. He's aware things are funny and can laugh along but he's also just naïve and easy-going enough to not lose his cool when a whirlwind of crazy unravels in front of him. James Marsden earns so many extra cool points for agreeing to do this and play a farce version of himself.
If you're a fan of The Office, this definitely harkens to that in many moments. Perfect casting, smart improv, silly moments.
Worth the ads.
They picked the perfect guy in Ronald who is very much your average Joe. He's aware things are funny and can laugh along but he's also just naïve and easy-going enough to not lose his cool when a whirlwind of crazy unravels in front of him. James Marsden earns so many extra cool points for agreeing to do this and play a farce version of himself.
If you're a fan of The Office, this definitely harkens to that in many moments. Perfect casting, smart improv, silly moments.
Worth the ads.
- mbaban-39543
- Apr 9, 2023
- Permalink
I can't believe how much I am enjoying this!!
It's been a long time since I've had a series that I can't get enough of. I discovered this masterpiece on a random reel and it has been the best discovery so far. The premise is very simple but the execution is just "chef's kiss". The actors are great at their roles and do a great job at not breaking character.
It has been a long time since I've watched something on my own and have to stop it because it makes me laugh so hard.
Thank you for this amazing lighthearted content. This is exactly what I need to disconnect from everything that is happening these days. Highly recommend it!
By the way, I was late to work today because I couldn't get myself to stop watching the night before.
It has been a long time since I've watched something on my own and have to stop it because it makes me laugh so hard.
Thank you for this amazing lighthearted content. This is exactly what I need to disconnect from everything that is happening these days. Highly recommend it!
By the way, I was late to work today because I couldn't get myself to stop watching the night before.
- oscar-239-873656
- Apr 11, 2023
- Permalink
The best thing I've seen in awhile
This mockumentary was the best thing I've seen in awhile. It was so refreshing to enjoy something that wasn't a series about murder or the cops. It follows a young man as he navigates his way through jury duty and all the fun the happens along the way. Ronald, who the show follows the most meets all types of people as he shows what kind of person he is. We learn that he's just a great American, and all around great guy. He's nice, kind, empathetic, funny, charismatic, and the kind of person that everyone will like. He helps his fellow jurors out with everything including helping an actor read lines, help a young man with his relationship, help a separated husband feel good, and plenty more.
I highly recommend this, and it should be mandatory that all Americans see this bc it showed me that there's still lots of good people in the world. Not everyone is out for themselves, people do care about strangers.
I highly recommend this, and it should be mandatory that all Americans see this bc it showed me that there's still lots of good people in the world. Not everyone is out for themselves, people do care about strangers.
- rosscohen-08568
- Jun 11, 2023
- Permalink
Keeps pulling you in
Absolutely grab your gut laughing funny. Ronald is such a nice dude. You feel bad at some points but other times he is so kind to these wacky idiots that you enjoy the show even better.take the office and add a slight reality tv spin to it. Can't wait for more episodes and having to watch a couple of commercials is worth it.
The humor can be a bit dry and is that type that makes you feel embarrassed for the character but I have to say these actors killed it. Give it easily two or three episodes and you will be invested. If what we do in the shadows or the office is your jam, this is your show.
The humor can be a bit dry and is that type that makes you feel embarrassed for the character but I have to say these actors killed it. Give it easily two or three episodes and you will be invested. If what we do in the shadows or the office is your jam, this is your show.
Highly recommended
I was kinda pessimistic when I started but wow this show really pulled me in. I couldn't stop watching it! I hope there will be more seasons and more episodes! Didn't know at first that this is made by people who also made The Office at first (another fave of mine). I love all the actors involved and Ronald of course cause he seems so naive but also very kind and empathetic. Agreed with other reviews saying that the actors in this show really doing a great job. A big round applause for them! They deserve all the recognition. And Marsden also quite funny here. Definitely a must watch! Can't wait for the rest of the episodes!
- alinelunardy
- Apr 11, 2023
- Permalink
Refreshing! Acting is excellent!
Jury Duty is a hilariously and well acted show. I was pleasantly surprised with how good this 8 episode series was. Entertaining and the actors from A-Z were full of their own quirks,personality and bizarre behavior on purpose.
Actor James Marsden plays himself but with a twist. He is full of himself and only care about his movies..scripts and not being on this fake jury. He plays a hatable actor to a tee and befriends the only character on the show who doesn't know this is all fake.
Craziness and well done humor has made me a fan of this show. The production must've been a huge undertaking to have all the moving pieces not to blow their cover to the mark. Must see tv.
Actor James Marsden plays himself but with a twist. He is full of himself and only care about his movies..scripts and not being on this fake jury. He plays a hatable actor to a tee and befriends the only character on the show who doesn't know this is all fake.
Craziness and well done humor has made me a fan of this show. The production must've been a huge undertaking to have all the moving pieces not to blow their cover to the mark. Must see tv.
Incredibly uncomfortably funny
I felt compelled to review this as I have not watched something so funny, so uncomfortable and incredibly clever, I want people to watch and discover this show!
I stopped episode 1 twice from laughing as I was commuting, and was howling and then episode 2 and 3, parts were watched behind a pillow from the awkwardness.
It's witty, intelligent, yet stupid. Ronald and is a real life Truman. He's so wonderfully sweet and awkward, you just love him while he's wrapped up in in this unknown (to him) bonkers jury duty process.
Each of the supporting characters are kooky in their own way, whether they play a main role, supporting character or one of the insanely good jury members.
James Marsden, as ever, is just so wonderful, as a absurd egotistical version of himself.
I'm halfway through episode 3 and am obsessed. Love it.
I stopped episode 1 twice from laughing as I was commuting, and was howling and then episode 2 and 3, parts were watched behind a pillow from the awkwardness.
It's witty, intelligent, yet stupid. Ronald and is a real life Truman. He's so wonderfully sweet and awkward, you just love him while he's wrapped up in in this unknown (to him) bonkers jury duty process.
Each of the supporting characters are kooky in their own way, whether they play a main role, supporting character or one of the insanely good jury members.
James Marsden, as ever, is just so wonderful, as a absurd egotistical version of himself.
I'm halfway through episode 3 and am obsessed. Love it.
- Anotherfilmfan
- Apr 13, 2023
- Permalink
Very fun
I saw the cover by just random chance and then decided to watch it. I didn't know anything about it and didn't even want to look into it and find out if it was real or not. The humor won't work if you think this is acting by the clueless lead. After watching this I can for sure say he was not acting at any point, but he may have known something was up as some of the scenes were just extremely over the top. More things happened to him in 17 days than have happened to me in all my life combined so he had to have known something fishy was going on. But there is no way he can fake these interview scenes unless he is a professional actor and even then it would have been really hard to act at this level.
I did feel like the show took a dive in quality at the midpoint. The episodes and acting was still good. But they just started to lean on toilet humor. Many main jokes were about someone about brown stuff. It became lazy, nasty and very over the top. Some hanky panky jokes were also extremely over the top and clearly not realistic in any way.
Overall anyone would have figured out it was fake because of these stupid gags later on. But everything else was great. I think American Vandal 1 and 2 are better for sure. But come on, American Vandal is spectacular so it's hard to be as good. This show came very close especially at the start and it does feel like a American Vandal season 3 which is extremely exciting.
Another show like this is Joe Schmo season 1 to 3. I very highly recommend season 1 and 2. They are great. Also Joe Schmo wins $100K for "being kind". So Jury Duty is clearly a copycat show. But it's very different and you should watch all 3 of these seasons for sure even though Jury Duty feels more mature. It's easily some of the best reality TV ever made. If not the best? Most reality TV is horrible.
I did feel like the show took a dive in quality at the midpoint. The episodes and acting was still good. But they just started to lean on toilet humor. Many main jokes were about someone about brown stuff. It became lazy, nasty and very over the top. Some hanky panky jokes were also extremely over the top and clearly not realistic in any way.
Overall anyone would have figured out it was fake because of these stupid gags later on. But everything else was great. I think American Vandal 1 and 2 are better for sure. But come on, American Vandal is spectacular so it's hard to be as good. This show came very close especially at the start and it does feel like a American Vandal season 3 which is extremely exciting.
Another show like this is Joe Schmo season 1 to 3. I very highly recommend season 1 and 2. They are great. Also Joe Schmo wins $100K for "being kind". So Jury Duty is clearly a copycat show. But it's very different and you should watch all 3 of these seasons for sure even though Jury Duty feels more mature. It's easily some of the best reality TV ever made. If not the best? Most reality TV is horrible.
- JurijFedorov
- May 26, 2023
- Permalink
Pretty funny
The concept behind Jury Duty is great, and I feel like the execution lives up to the premise. It involves a fake trial where one man doesn't know it's fake, and essentially plays out like an extended prank where increasingly ridiculous things happen, but never so far that the man at its center ever suspects he's in a fake trial.
All the behind-the-scenes stuff is incredible to think about, so if anything, the show could've offered even more of that. I will say, there are maybe one or two episodes that feel a little repetitive, and not exactly laugh-out-loud. But for the most part, it's very funny, and most importantly, it does conclude incredibly well (I think they save the best for last; hard to elaborate too much more without giving things away).
All the behind-the-scenes stuff is incredible to think about, so if anything, the show could've offered even more of that. I will say, there are maybe one or two episodes that feel a little repetitive, and not exactly laugh-out-loud. But for the most part, it's very funny, and most importantly, it does conclude incredibly well (I think they save the best for last; hard to elaborate too much more without giving things away).
- Jeremy_Urquhart
- Jun 18, 2023
- Permalink
life's not stranger than fiction
Jury Duty has a remarkable premise to built a compelling a scripted 'reality tv'. It has a great set up, i like the way its made, and the actors did a decent job making things look natural, but the problem is it's not very realistic...
The strings of event that happened throughout is very absurd, peculiar and often times too much... and unnecessary. I find it hard to believe that the guy doesn't realize or even suspect that something fishy going on. Which kinda takes the fun out of it..
Though I do appreciate the wholesomeness, i don't particularly care that much. Idk maybe i'm just bitter and old
Anyway, a bit overhyped. If you take out the fact that it's a 'reality' show, ironically, it made a somewhat decent sitcom.
6/10.
The strings of event that happened throughout is very absurd, peculiar and often times too much... and unnecessary. I find it hard to believe that the guy doesn't realize or even suspect that something fishy going on. Which kinda takes the fun out of it..
Though I do appreciate the wholesomeness, i don't particularly care that much. Idk maybe i'm just bitter and old
Anyway, a bit overhyped. If you take out the fact that it's a 'reality' show, ironically, it made a somewhat decent sitcom.
6/10.
As real as wrestling and The Blair Witch Project
Everyone is an actor except for that one guy (who also happens to be an actor).
How did they turn up this supposedly non-actor. He is the difference between a great show and a total bomb. There is no in-between with a show like this and it all hinges on the "non-actor". The producers went through great pains to find this guy.
I have very strong doubts that he isn't an actor. He's too good at not looking at the camera even when the so-called action is on the other actors and far away from him. This guy will never, ever look at a camera directly - at any time. The real actors all behave exactly the same way (though even they can't resists a peek but not this "non-actor"). You and I would never behave this way. Ever.
The other actors are also too good at not flubbing their lines - which means multiple takes. It's impossible to say as much as these guys are saying and not flub many lines. All the moving parts and interactions... mean multiple takes, multiple angles. There's no way around this. No way. The "non-actor" is a part of the multiple takes.
Everyone is mic'ed. Yet this guy speaks with zero concern - as if he's in his living room speaking to buddies. He is diplomatic when he needs to be or embroiled in awkward situations - all of this he takes in stride.
Remember... there are multiple cameras, there's harsh lighting, there's a crew of people filming (running around), there's a director, there's makeup, there's a ton of activity - not - related to the actual (fake) court case and he's completely unfazed by any of it. This is years of practice.
How about all the times the camera (crew) happens to be in the right place at the right time to capture a secretive moment. This rarely even happens in real life - at least not to the degree in which intimate moments are captured here. Too funny if anyone believes this is real.
The show even dares to pretend it's real. It utterly fails when the other actors pretend to have their own lives and interact with each other away from the non-actor. This isn't being sold as 'The Office', version 2.0. This is suppose to be a reality show so Jeannie Abruzzo's interest in Noah Price, for example, and their possible relationship holds little interest if it happens away from the "non-actor". Or an actor talking about the *fake* case like it was real (away from the eyes/ears of the non-actor). We're here to see the "non-actor" because we were told everything else is 100% fake.
This show is highly rated because too many just want to believe. They are even forgetting these are actors faking a story and are getting lost in the story as if it was real.
Focus on some of the points above and you'll see this is obviously fake - like most of the reality shows & courtroom dramas that have aired before this.
How did they turn up this supposedly non-actor. He is the difference between a great show and a total bomb. There is no in-between with a show like this and it all hinges on the "non-actor". The producers went through great pains to find this guy.
I have very strong doubts that he isn't an actor. He's too good at not looking at the camera even when the so-called action is on the other actors and far away from him. This guy will never, ever look at a camera directly - at any time. The real actors all behave exactly the same way (though even they can't resists a peek but not this "non-actor"). You and I would never behave this way. Ever.
The other actors are also too good at not flubbing their lines - which means multiple takes. It's impossible to say as much as these guys are saying and not flub many lines. All the moving parts and interactions... mean multiple takes, multiple angles. There's no way around this. No way. The "non-actor" is a part of the multiple takes.
Everyone is mic'ed. Yet this guy speaks with zero concern - as if he's in his living room speaking to buddies. He is diplomatic when he needs to be or embroiled in awkward situations - all of this he takes in stride.
Remember... there are multiple cameras, there's harsh lighting, there's a crew of people filming (running around), there's a director, there's makeup, there's a ton of activity - not - related to the actual (fake) court case and he's completely unfazed by any of it. This is years of practice.
How about all the times the camera (crew) happens to be in the right place at the right time to capture a secretive moment. This rarely even happens in real life - at least not to the degree in which intimate moments are captured here. Too funny if anyone believes this is real.
The show even dares to pretend it's real. It utterly fails when the other actors pretend to have their own lives and interact with each other away from the non-actor. This isn't being sold as 'The Office', version 2.0. This is suppose to be a reality show so Jeannie Abruzzo's interest in Noah Price, for example, and their possible relationship holds little interest if it happens away from the "non-actor". Or an actor talking about the *fake* case like it was real (away from the eyes/ears of the non-actor). We're here to see the "non-actor" because we were told everything else is 100% fake.
This show is highly rated because too many just want to believe. They are even forgetting these are actors faking a story and are getting lost in the story as if it was real.
Focus on some of the points above and you'll see this is obviously fake - like most of the reality shows & courtroom dramas that have aired before this.
Humans are strange, funny, and beautiful