Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I stumbled onto this show having read nothing about it and am so glad that I decided to watch it. Patriot is many things - dark comedy, melancholic drama, dreamy folk travelogue and wry satire about the ways our government stumbles (and covers up) one mess after another. Above all, this is a truly original series that succeeds through its combination of great writing, unexpected character dynamics, gorgeous shot composition and cinematography, stellar soundtrack and wonderful casting. Michael Dorman is ostensibly the lead actor but the character he plays (John Lakeman) is so deadpan and non-verbal, he serves as more of an anchor for the great ensemble cast who flesh out each scene. Terry O'Quinn is as fun to watch as he was in LOST and Kurtwood Smith breathes real life into the character of Leslie, John's perpetually irritated boss, elevating what could have been a very two-dimensional part into something special. If you can suspend your disbelief enough to allow this show to work on a more emotional plane and bask in the rich style of it, Patriot's silliness and heart make up for the dissonance with its subject matter (a government assassin who processes his feelings about killing by singing folk songs about them). This is a really enjoyable series and I hope there will be another season to look forward to.