Everybody Loves Raymond is an interesting show. It's the kind of show where the main cast has so much personality that when other characters arrive at the scene, they look almost out of place. The main five characters - Ray, Debra, Robert, Marie and Frank - are easily the most memorable sitcom characters ever.
The good stuff? There are some episodes that are just ingenious, with storylines that are either straightforward and work because of it, or complex and therefore a lot more interesting. The characters can be very funny. Ray's recognisable voice, Robert's deadpan quirkiness and Frank's random, sarcastic comments are often highly amusing, and Debra and Marie are okay... sometimes. It can often be very heartwarming, with episodes that really make you see these characters as real people with real problems. And when the kids get involved, it's even better. Though it's not really about the kids.
But holy crap, when it's bad, it's really bad. There are some episodes of this show where the main characters are either so stupid or so unlikable that it actually makes me stop watching, knowing where it's going to go. Ray can be an inconsiderate peabrain and often denies it. Debra can be extremely hotheaded (though I don't really blame her) to the point of female-on-male violence. Robert's dark jealousy of Ray is sometimes so bad that it's almost bullying, in many episodes laughing at Ray's misfortune, loving every second of it. But the worst two - Frank and Marie - are what make this show occasionally "unwatchable". Marie is honestly awful, a character who is, even in the good episodes, a nasty witch of a character. Her criticism of Debra are so uncalled for and so disgustingly exaggerated that it makes me wonder how Debra doesn't just divorce Ray in order to get away from it. And Frank, in some episodes, is such a disrespectful, angry and cruel man that you can even sympathize with Marie. I honestly cannot decide who is worse. Both Frank and Marie are demons with barely any heart. And sadly, few episodes feature Ray, Debra and Robert versus Frank and Marie. It's often Ray and Marie versus Debra and Robert, with Frank in the middle.
Overall, this is a decent show. It's often funny and even though many episodes repeat the same storylines, you'll want to know what happens, unless it gets too mean-spirited. When it does, shut it off.
When it's good, it's great. When it's bad, it's almost unwatchable.
Everybody Loves Raymond is an interesting show. It's the kind of show where the main cast has so much personality that when other characters arrive at the scene, they look almost out of place. The main five characters - Ray, Debra, Robert, Marie and Frank - are easily the most memorable sitcom characters ever.
The good stuff? There are some episodes that are just ingenious, with storylines that are either straightforward and work because of it, or complex and therefore a lot more interesting. The characters can be very funny. Ray's recognisable voice, Robert's deadpan quirkiness and Frank's random, sarcastic comments are often highly amusing, and Debra and Marie are okay... sometimes. It can often be very heartwarming, with episodes that really make you see these characters as real people with real problems. And when the kids get involved, it's even better. Though it's not really about the kids.
But holy crap, when it's bad, it's really bad. There are some episodes of this show where the main characters are either so stupid or so unlikable that it actually makes me stop watching, knowing where it's going to go. Ray can be an inconsiderate peabrain and often denies it. Debra can be extremely hotheaded (though I don't really blame her) to the point of female-on-male violence. Robert's dark jealousy of Ray is sometimes so bad that it's almost bullying, in many episodes laughing at Ray's misfortune, loving every second of it. But the worst two - Frank and Marie - are what make this show occasionally "unwatchable". Marie is honestly awful, a character who is, even in the good episodes, a nasty witch of a character. Her criticism of Debra are so uncalled for and so disgustingly exaggerated that it makes me wonder how Debra doesn't just divorce Ray in order to get away from it. And Frank, in some episodes, is such a disrespectful, angry and cruel man that you can even sympathize with Marie. I honestly cannot decide who is worse. Both Frank and Marie are demons with barely any heart. And sadly, few episodes feature Ray, Debra and Robert versus Frank and Marie. It's often Ray and Marie versus Debra and Robert, with Frank in the middle.
Overall, this is a decent show. It's often funny and even though many episodes repeat the same storylines, you'll want to know what happens, unless it gets too mean-spirited. When it does, shut it off.