Council of Dads (2020) User Reviews

Give it a chance

[mestberg · 8/10 · 8 June 2020]

Yes, this show is an attempt to provide us with a summer "This is Us." Yes, I will watch anything with Sarah Wayne Callies in it. Yes, this is an overwritten show. Yes, we're introduced to two young LGBTQ... family members in one family (I'm glad we're being sexually all-inclusive these days, but I actually would like to have one show without children struggling with their sexual identity. It starts to lose its importance and begins to come across as a plot ploy, which is disrespectful in itself.). BUT I find myself getting drawn in more and more with each new episode. AND I think I've cried through each episode- even when I know that's exactly what the writers want me to do.

So I suggest giving it a chance. No, it's not "This is Us," but it is a tender and sweet family show that will leave you feeling warm inside.

Need more good TV like this

[bohnejean · 8/10 · 30 May 2020]

I am not a critic, I don't like nit picking things a part! I take the good out of things and move on if there isn't a lot of takeaway, but this TV show keeps me coming back for more!

Don't Overthink it, Just enjoy a Sweet family drama

[rukkymodia · 8/10 · 9 May 2020]

Council of Dad is an emotional, adorable and of course a lovely drama for the family. Forget about the bad reviews and just enjoy it.

Excellent series

[angelachase2002 · 10/10 · 7 June 2020]

I've just seen the first six episodes that have aired of this show because it's truly awesome and addictive.

Yes, I agree that if you like "This Is Us", you will probably like this series but the reason is simply because it also has a family at the center and also has great writing and fantastic performances. I love "This Is Us" but mostly, I love good writing and thank god, this show is different from "This Is Us" because we don't a copy of anything.

This show has its own identity and its own originality and the characters are what make it interesting on their own as much as the relationship between them. I've been suprised by how well it deals with all kinds of diversity in a very subtle way which obviously reflects our society and may also educate a lot of people... and seeing what is happening these days in the world, it's obvious that it's still very much needded.

But anyway, I'd say that anybody can find a character they identify with and like on this series... You don't need to be parent to enjoy it... You just need to have feelings and appreciate good writing.

I can't wait for the rest of the season... and hopefully, it will have more seasons as it deserves if it is not affected by the whole COVID situation as one of the actors explained.

Keeps getting better!

[Kciward · 9/10 · 26 June 2020]

This has really grown on me! Each episode has built on the one before, and now I'm hooked! I need to see where these characters go. Please renew for another season!!!

Great story, lousy sermon

[dv727 · 7/10 · 6 June 2020]

The basic idea was a great one--terminal father and his soon to be widow discuss who can step up as a father (not husband, btw) to the family after he goes. They come up with a novel idea. The interaction between the "dads" themselves is a great part of the story. When it focuses on family issues that would be common to all of us (grief, anger, when is it ok to start over, and the like) it's a great work. Now, the not so good. A number of posters have commented on the political nature of the show and I don't disagree with them. I wouldn't even mind if there were some occasional issues raised. However, every episode, so far, has had SO much on so many issues. I can get that anywhere. I gave this the title I did because I don't need a sermon every week on them, and by throwing in the proverbial political kitchen sink, the message loses any meaning.

I'll accept you as you are...trite, maudlin, saturated with cliched characters that tug bowels not heartstrings

[michaelmain-62884 · 2/10 · 5 June 2020]

Okay. a transgendered first grader. Okay, a gay uncle. Okay, a freshly out adopted lesbian teen from China with a heart condition. If this series makes it through another season I fear the writers will have to reveal some of the characters are secretly alien horses from Neptune with involuntary celibate issues. I believe we can tell family stories without having to stereotype and classify everyone. I give up on this one.

So far- so good

[karenalane · 9/10 · 19 June 2020]

I am only up to episode 4 but am really liking it so far. During these stressful times this is just the kind of show I am looking for! Please keep it going after this season!!

SO RIDICULOUSLY CLICHED PC IT'S FUNNY

[holchie · 6/10 · 10 June 2020]

Just when you think they can't squeeze in another politically correct storyline character, they do! I am waiting for the transgender surgery storyline, though, I don't think they've gotten there yet, but they will! And the combined clichés are plentiful, too. Not only gay men married, but black gay men. Not only a little girl who lives as a boy, but also a Chinese lesbian teen girl! One thing I don't understand: We are always told how gays and lesbians are mistreated and lead hard lives because of their sexual preference, yet when the adopted Chinese girl states she is a lesbian, the entire family breaks out in smiles of joy. Why, when she is going to have such a miserable life at the hands of the public?

Intriguing storyline riddled with MSNBC politics

[erichnolan-08256 · 5/10 · 25 March 2020]

I heard this show would be similarly written as This Is Us and it's true. If you like This Is Us then it's likely you'll be sucked into this show as well. Council of Dads thus far is well written and has a slightly far-fetched storyline but I enjoyed watching. There were already a few moments of eye-welling and that's impressive for a 41 minute show that has no previous backstory.

The problem is NBC is already pushing the storywriters' political beliefs too early for me to try to get around it.

Twenty minutes into the show and I'm hearing about how great Ruth Bader Ginsburg is (who the heck talks about her casually?) and a second wave of a transgender six year old kid that only an old, white, bigoted woman would bat an eye at. I'm surprised she wasn't wearing a Trump hat just to drive the point home.

I've heard the many complaints about this in sports, but it seems like we have no escape from politics. I would turn on MSNBC or FoxNews if I wanted to be indoctrinated. Leave the politics out and keep writing quality content. I would rate higher and watch more if they did.

4 episodes in and loving it so far

[vampchic2 · 10/10 · 16 May 2020]

Reading other reviews comparing this to popular shows right now (This is Us and A Million Little Things) as if the creators stole those ideas is laughable. There once was a show called Brothers & Sisters where the dad died in the pilot episode and a lot of political things happened throughout. Gay brother, republican sister, adoption of a black baby, cancer, etc. Then came Parenthood with more political views that were heavily liberal, interracial dating, rebellious teens, accidental pregnancy, abortion, cancer, etc. Yet even with all of that nobody claimed that This is Us or A Million Little Things ripped off those two shows, which they absolutely could have given the similarities and that those shows came first. The bad reviews here are boiled down to people who are just against all of the things that are being presented here. I mean, even Randall on This is Us would 100% chant RBG to his daughters too and would also add in black women who have been instrumental in history as well because that entire family is also woke af. So think about that here. If you like This is Us and A Million Little Things then you're either progressive enough to get what they're doing or you're at least mature enough to be able to have different opinions without berating an entire show for being "too woke" as some have claimed here.

This show isn't perfect and honestly what show is in the very beginning? Not many. Kinks get worked out and a groove is found over time. We get to know characters over a season. With four episodes in I think there's a lot of potential here if people would just calm down the hate and expand their minds for a bit. Sure, having a lot of diversity in one family may seem like a lot to those who don't have those families too, but that doesn't make them disingenuous here. There are families like this and they've been waiting to be represented in positive ways like cisgendered white people have been for decades. If the entertainment world is becoming more "woke" and "progressive" than I'm here for it. It's long overdue for all people to be represented in entertainment. I hope this show gets picked up for the long haul and that it maybe opens some archaic minds at the same time.

It's a slow start but only thing I would say is character development is needed in the first episode .

[sharriemccain · 7/10 · 26 March 2020]

So much was going on in the episode . I won't say this is a " this is us " rip off . I love that show too but let's face it . Before this is us there was a show called " parenthood " and other family shows . They all relate to each other . Only thing is the writers are each show that keep them separate. I'm a watch to see where it goes but I just wish mote character development was in this episode . I feel I don't know who most of the characters are .

Everything and the Kitchen Sink

[oceansroar · 1/10 · 26 March 2020]

I never thought I would live to see the worst thing ever on the telly. Council of Dads proved me wrong. The writers made a list of every group in the world, then tried to fit them all into this emotional rip-off of This Is Us. Unfortunately I did not feel anything during the premiere episode, except disbelief. I cannot believe that Hollywood thinks we want to be spoon fed their political agenda. I am not for either party, but this kind of crap is turning me off to one side. I cannot recommend this series to anyone with a brain.

Completely Underrated!!!

[moffitt-17346 · 10/10 · 29 May 2020]

Yes, there is a lot to take in with this show. The first episode tried to cram in way to much information. It was hard to process it all. However, week after week this show has gotten stronger and stronger. If you read the reviews of those who only watched one episode and believe them, they are right, but they really should've given it a 2nd chance!

Great cast; Interesting family drama

[connie-pine · 10/10 · 15 May 2020]

I actually have never watched This is Us or A Million Little Things and typically don't watch shows like this, but I was intrigued due to the cast and wanted to check it out. I'm glad I did. I've really enjoyed it and it keeps getting better and more interesting. Just finished the 4th show and I'm definitely hooked and am already disappointed that it skips next week for special programming. For those who are making negative comments because the dad brought up Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Really? He's just trying to speak positively about a feminine icon to his daughter. What is the BFD? Give it a chance, you won't regret it.

Willing to give it a chance

[peachsalsa-77525 · 7/10 · 27 March 2020]

Before I even watched the pilot, I felt like it was trying too hard to be This Is Us meets A Million Little Things. But, knowing it was filmed in and around Savannah, one of my favorite cities, I decided to give it a go.

I liked it. If it weren't for the Savannah shots, I may have given it a five or six. I'll keep watching. And decide after a few more episodes of it's a keeper.

To the writers at NBC, not every baby girl born after tragedy needs to be named Hope...

Pushed an agenda

[nicolevkeren · 4/10 · 26 March 2020]

It would have been an interesting show to watch but there was so much that was being pushed onto me in just one episode.

Don't listen to the bad reviews

[bellasings-47917 · 10/10 · 22 June 2020]

I love this show. The representation doesn't feel forced to me as other reviewers have stated. The characters are well fleshed out & their problems seem real. The time jumps can make things feel rushed, but you get used to it. Obviously, not everyone would enjoy this show, but please give it a chance. It might surprise you.

Promising, better than expected

[thedudebryant · 7/10 · 26 March 2020]

There's a lot in this first episode. They could've staggered this over several episodes but I guess they wanted to get to the point of the whole show. They really should have spent more time on the actual "council" members. As for the show being overly woke or pushing some agenda, I really don't see it. If you do it says more about y'all than the show.

Great acting marred by super-woke writing

[I-like-cake · 5/10 · 20 April 2020]

I really wanted to enjoy this show because it features some really great talent and an intriguing story line, but the writers were on a mission to make it about pushing their agenda whenever they could. Unless you're a Progressive, the writers will find a way to trigger you. I don't know if they will be able to redeem it for a lot of people who would probably watch it otherwise, which is a shame, because it had a lot of potential to bring people together if it weren't for the politics.

Love Family Inclusion Diversity

[poetik · 10/10 · 4 July 2020]

The acting. The writing. The City. All good. All worth your time and investment.

A little bit too predictable for me LOL

[miltonsanders · 7/10 · 26 June 2020]

LOL if a show like this were to come out back in the 90's or early 2000's it probably would have caused a humongous uproar among viewers as well, as back then it would have been more of a shock, than now where people hate it but its not nothing to be to shocked about.

This show is meh but not my cup of tea, but im not going to hate on it just because

LOL You can predict when something's going to go wrong Also i think this show probably would have gotten cancelled quickly after 7 or 8 episodes back in the late 90s & early 2000s

NBC cancelled a lot of tv shows quickly before their run was finished

~ Daddio ~ ~ Battery Pack ~ ~ Everything's Relative .~ ~ Freaks and Geeks ~ ~ The Michael Richards Show ~ ~ The Mike O'Malley Show ~ ~ Pride and Joy ~ ~ Rhythm & Blues (TV series) ~

there's a lot more TV shows but it'll be a big list so yeah ....NBC cancels a lot of shows really quickly

Edit: I just read this show was cancelled HOURS after I've written the review, you see my point NBC cancel shows like this quick.😑😑

Disappointing to say the least

[bmdoubleu · 1/10 · 28 April 2020]

Some people and I hope most people like to sit down and watch an occasional show to take their mind off the world and forget it all. Just sit down and relax for a few minutes and chill. Not have to think but just have a little entertainment and a story to watch and follow. I thought this show might be it. Wrong... This show is in your face social agenda. And it's tiring. We. America. As a whole. are tired of being inundated with others' opinions. Can't just have a show that tells a story without all the bull? Hollywood, what's wrong with that? Can't you just give us something we can enjoy without force feeding us what keeps you awake at night? come on. I don't have an issue with your ideals. But don't try to make them my ideals... just give me a decent story to watch....

I was really hoping for a good show that painted men and dads in a good light. Those shows are practically nonexistent coming out of Hollywood. When the dad chanted RBG RBG to his daughter, I knew this show was nothing more than one among dozens and dozens of other shows to push a liberal agenda. I should have turned it off then, but I held out... but not to the end. Couldn't stomach it. Oh well. Better luck next time. Hopefully, this show isn't renewed and maybe we can get something decent next round.

Good so far

[snsnass · 10/10 · 26 March 2020]

Yes! I love that the show is moving along fast but the show will develop more throughout the episodes. So much went on in the pilot but I will give it a ten. I never seen anything like it.

Love this show.

[carolyn-lazar · 9/10 · 26 June 2020]

From reading other reviews, it seems like there are too many viewers who would prefer to return to the days of lily white casts and a non diverse America. That's exactly why I like this show. It's a microcosm of our country and all it's diversity. I enjoy the stories, and the interactions between the characters. My mother died when I was 6. If I had had a council of moms, (and dads because my dad buried himself in work), my childhood might have been a great deal happier.