This is a show that has a lot to say, and for the most part says it very well.It's a shame that it didn't go down the route of "The West Wing", which though undeniably funny - often even absurdist - nevertheless projected the image of a grown-up, intellectual exploration into the shady world of politics, media, and the legislative process. Perhaps if it had, it may have lasted more than two seasons and been taken as seriously as it deserved. But unfortunately it makes the mistake of appearing to be a half-hour sitcom, rather than a one-hour primetime drama, and despite an impressive cast and good production values, it doesn't on the surface seem as thrilling or, let's face it, brilliant, as The West Wing. But it does have its moments. Plenty of them.Unlike The West Wing, it lacks the ever-present intellectual wit and sophistication of Aaron Sorkin's genius pen, but there are some extremely well-written speeches that are very nearly as cutting and eloquent as Sorkin's work. And the basic premise of an ex-president who after 25 years away from office suddenly decides to rehabilitate his legacy is an excellent launch pad for a thoroughly satisfying political drama, with unlimited scope for political and social commentary. It just needed to be built on a more solid and respectable platform than that of a sitcom, which is inherently attractive mainly to an audience of the lowest common denominator, who won't "get" it. Hence cancellation.The casting is sublime, with Nick Nolte offering up some of the best acting of his career. I don't think I've ever seen him perform so much from the inside, with such truth and subtle sincerity. His work in this show is verisimilitude personified. My only gripe is that his voice is so ravaged by years of drinking and smoking that he can barely utter a coherent line - and the dialogue in this show is so frigging important! However, the issue of his ruined voice is tackled head-on in one scene so unexpected and brilliantly played that it had me in fits of belly-laughter, and I was able to forgive it after that.Nolte's newly hired assistant is played by Skylar Astin (channelling Steve Guttenberg), and though lovable at first, by episode three he was beginning to grate a little. Since Nolte's character was experiencing so many important epiphanies, and saying so many important things about so many important issues, having a hovering neurotic assistant constantly attempting to cover-up his "lapses" was an irritating distraction from things that needed to be said, and were already partially being lost due to Nolte's breathless and raspy delivery.Nolte's young-adult daughter is played by Heléne Yorke, a pretty but troubled character sporting an attractive pair of nipples, which get plenty of exposure - for which I was most grateful - and a pleasant little camel-toe which is occasionally given its own close-up. Aside from her contributions as designated eye-candy, she is also a fine actress whose work becomes progressively less mammary-based as the show proceeds, and her character becomes considerably more three-dimensional (as it were).The ex-First Lady, played by Sella Ward, is everything you would expect, both from the screen character and also the actress playing her. She would not be out of place in any of the various political dramas that have ever been made, including The West Wing, or more recently Madam Secretary. She is perfectly cast, and like Nolte is doing some of the best work of her career.Rounding out the regular cast is Chris Lowell, making a late appearance as Nolte's troubled son, recently returned from war and seeking a new purpose in life, which he quickly finds as an angry, ranting TV pundit - giving the writers a fabulous opportunity to comment loudly and at length about whatever political or social gripe is in that episode's crosshairs. Lowell is an excellent young actor, and also balances his screen-sister's eye-candy quotient.As season one progresses, it becomes increasingly more dramatic and serious, thankfully, and the season finale is a cracker! I haven't yet watched season two, but I'm already wishing it wasn't going to end so soon. This show is a surprise gem!

I went into this series thinking that with the combined talents of Nick Nolte and Sela Ward as the two main stars it would offer something insightful, thought provoking and offer a wonderful satiric look at Washington, D.C. and those who inhabit that location. I got none of that. Oh sure, the performances of all involved and in particular Nolte are wonderful to see. But this ended up being no meat and all low brand instant potatoes.The concept of the show GRAVES is pretty simple. Nolte plays ex-President Richard Graves, a cross between a Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush style Republican. Out of office for over 20 years he's been relegated to making speeches for other politicians and just causes and he's grown weary of it all. Graves feels his life has no meaning and hates all the things his past duties have forced him into now from making these speeches to being surrounded by Secret Service agents.Now if you are to believe this series a single night of getting high with a millennial waitress who lives in a trailer coupled with his visiting several website that proclaim him the worst President ever causes Graves to wake from his self-imposed moral coma and his way of thinking doing a complete 180. Yes, that's all it takes. Suddenly he complains about defense spending saying the solution to cure cancer is to use that money there, he stands up for illegal immigrants, he supports though doesn't endorse gay marriage, etc. This is the main crux of the series.Along the way we also find that his wife Margaret (Ward) is approached to run for the Senate and possibly the Presidency itself down the road. She may be a little more flexible on the issues but her husband's antics are not helping any. We also have Richard's new assistant Isiah Miller (Skyler Astin) on hand, an idol worshipping conservative of Graves who is seeing his hero in the flesh for the first time. Add to that their daughter Olivia who has recently split with her cheating Rockefeller husband, son Jeremy the spoiled brat who's just returned from the military and a myriad of other obstacles and you have what is supposed to be a comedy. At least that's how it's described at IMDb.com The problem is…it just isn't funny no matter what your political viewpoints are. For liberal viewers I would think that a show that offers little depth on any issue and glosses over each this way would be insulting. For conservatives the attack on any and all things you believe in depicted through the eyes of someone who was supposed to represent you offers nothing humorous. This has been a problem of late with political comedy. Whereas comedians of the past made a point of poking a stick into both sides it has changed to focusing only on one these days. David Frye made a career out of making fun of both LBJ and Nixon. Today only Nixon would get the barbs. The worst thing is that this conscious decision to play an us versus them mentality in entertainment as well as news was what gave rise to the whole Trump movement. Not trying to see and depict that there are two sides to every issue and slamming anyone who disagrees does not sow the seeds of compromise.This series is unlikely to reshape the hearts and minds of anyone it decided to skewer. It will most likely find praise and adulation from those who agree with the sentiments it expresses rather than taking a critical eye at just how badly it is done. In reading reviews posted online I've found that those that praise it also tend to slam anything that leans right at the same time. It offers a smug "My way of thinking is the only correct way to think and if you think differently then you're stupid and a joke" mentality. Again, more preaching to the choir and altering no one.Technically speaking it looks great and is well acted. Thematically it lacks a ton.

I only watched the first episode of this series, but I feel there's no reason to believe the show would get any better.The basic premise is an ex-U.S. president regrets his actions in office and decides to rectify all the awful choices that make him a historically terrible president. (Graves seems to be mainly based on GW Bush, who certainly ranks as one of the worst presidents.)First off, this is a very silly fantasy premise. Politicians are huge egotists, and they really feel qualified to make all these decisions. Certainly some presidents have looked back at some of their decisions with regret, but I suspect most of them would insist that at the time of those decisions it was a sensible option. I certainly don't think any president would do a 180 because pundits and historians were attacking him; after all, there would also be pundits and historians praising him - even Bush gets that.But the first episode suggests the real problem with the series will be cowardice. Because the first thing Grave says he'll try and rectify is cutting funding for cancer research.Is there any issue that is safer than saying, I'll do more for cancer research? As terrible as cancer is, it's very well funded and thus not struggling as much as a lot of other programs.If this were a political satire, which it pretends to be, it would start off with something genuinely controversial. Voter-suppressive ID laws, immigration policies, abortion.Perhaps the series is just warming up, but here's the thing; satire doesn't dip its toe in the water to check the temperature. It doesn't ease you in. Satire is cutting and savage and strikes out in all directions. Satire, in other words, is Veep. Graves is, well, not much of anything.I wouldn't be as annoyed with the series cowardice if it just had the decency to be funny. But I didn't laugh once.That being said, the acting is good, even if the characters are stock.

Small mercies or inability to accept Nick Nolte failing changed what would have been a 5/10 to a tentative 8.I almost missed the last 3 or 4 minutes of ep. 1, while logging in to dejectedly rate what seemed 1/2 hearted, 1/2 rehearsed, 1/2 committed....yadda yadda yadda ....still within earshot I caught Graves stumbled speech to the Cancer society, I re-watched the whole show, then ep. 2. What I had first taken as poorly scripted, poorly executed, now unfolded as Graves himself began too. I think if Noltes 'eyes opening' momentum can keep up moving forward, and if the writes can consummate the foreplay with substantial reward to Graves apparent epiphany of moral conscience this could be a win =)