Last Light (2022) User Reviews

Unoriginal and kind of dull, watchable though

[Gabriel4416 · 5/10 · 10 September 2022]

I always hope that when it comes to disaster or considering the scale here doomsday movies and TV shows there will be a lot of emphasis on what causes it and the clever ways people find out to solve it (like in Andromeda Strain) but eventually it usually turns out to have 2 percent about the science and miystery and 98 percent of people, usually family members of the main characters running around in a collapsing world trying to survive and reunite. It was funny the first time but this is the 50th such story and I'm bored. Running, screaming, some shooting also people keeping secrets, lying and being stupid. That's what this show mostly is.

And as always at least one scene where some violent thug comes after a main character, luckily gets hit on the head and collapses but instead of making sure he never gets up again and causes anyone harm our heroes choose to run away so he can later get up and pursue them. Terribly annoying.

So don't expect anything outstanding, this stuff can be watched once and kind of enjoyed but then it will be quickly forgotten.

'Just print more money'

[AfricanBro · 5/10 · 13 September 2022]

I like dystopian tv series and movies so I was looking forward to this even though the ratings weren't so great, but unlike most apocalyptic series that focus on the world created after this is more of what happened just prior and during the event that lead to the collapse of society itself concurrently. Unfortunately it's not a story you haven't heard and despite seemingly being well produced with a decent cast to go with it, the story just wasn't enough to make this something special. It could have been better.

The family is quite insufferable to watch especially the daughter, but it was quite alright when following the political angle that felt more interesting. And the finale, the end of the season finale felt rushed like they skipped through time and was unrealistically optimistic. I thought after the world order was shattered it'd end with a cliff hanger for another season where we see how society endured but it skips straight to the good part and the time jump isn't even large enough to justify it. Quite underwhelming and anticlimactic. The story also lacked detail in general and the antagonist in the end, despite supposedly being so smart had really naive logic. It's the equivalent of people who say 'just print more money' to solve economic problems (i.e. Giving people money to combat inflation), except this time it's climate change and oil. Solutions that only make sense if you don't think about it, or are just callow and gullible.

It's a miniseries but I feel like if they cut off the ending and hired better writers with focus on the chaos and events that proceeded the collapse for a second season it'd have been better, maybe trite but better.

It's pretty well made. I don't think it's as horrid as reviews with 2 star ratings give it, it's just nothing impressive and you won't be missing out on much if you skip it, but if you've nothing to do and just looking to pass time it's not a terrible option.

Well produced but weak on details

[supermellowcali · 6/10 · 9 September 2022]

This is a family-friendly disaster thriller (i.e., no sex or foul language to complain about but there is violence and murder). Not really sci-fi, although it IS a science-based story with a scientist as the protagonist.

A top notch production as far as camerawork, sound, acting and editing. Not sure who to blame for the boredom - director or producer - but the story drags as we divert from the plot to irrelevant scenes, apparently for character development but maybe just for filler, as they decided on a miniseries rather than the movie it probably should have been.

The idea at work is familiar: pollutants of civilization versus climate/environmental extremists, in which we have the justification for the bad guy and get to decide if he's right. The problematic bits seemed unnecessary, such as cars exploding (why? Nope), and urban anarchy (the whole world's oil supply?? Nope). Instead, we could've seen more of the inside of world governments (rather than, and to know what's going on is Cleveland (for example), not just Paris.

Maybe the most interesting part is where it leaves off: the world is going to be different. I admit I loved that visualization.

Terrible

[tlarraya · 1/10 · 11 September 2022]

The storyline and plot seemed interesting (end of the world story by petrol problem) and the actor from Lost and the actress from Downton Abbey made it look like it could be good since they were involved, but it just kept getting worse and worse. Really bad TV. Really bad quality. Give this one a miss. I wish I had. It can´t get much worse than this. Go watch something else instead. I don´t know how this got made, it´s that bad that I feel the need to review it to let people know since when I watched it the reviews were good enough for me to give it a try and they were clearly misleading (at least for me).

it is not very good, but it is well done and nice

[Sandre-Monroe · 6/10 · 8 September 2022]

I will not spoil anything here.

Acting, script, idea, music : all good Story : not really entertaining.

The problem with this tv show is simple : It can be resume into a movie of 2h00.

It is like the beginning of the tv show "Revolution".

The fact is, revolution explain the problem in 2h for a show of 42 episodes.

This tv show expand way to slowly the interesting points in 4h for 5 episodes in total.

Anyway, it can be interesting to watch if you like scifi extinction level event (E. L. E.) style type.

What is a very good point of Last Light is the acting!

That's very good, the actors did a very solid job there and artistic direction is good. And this is why you will want to know the ending. The story is very slow but when you start, you want to know more and what will happen next.

It is ok to watch, but do not wait for something realistic.

Honestly, 1 day of electric shortage and cars are burning, people loot shops, steel to each other ... okkk sorry but no. 1 week perhaps but at the second days people overreact like they announce on tv the sun had exploded.

And the bad boys are ... Who in this world do not want fresh water, electricity, hot cooking, microwave, plane, cars ... just ridiculous.

the start offered potential but...

[flowirin · 3/10 · 11 September 2022]

When you find yourself skipping all scenes with the mother and child, you know something has gone wrong.

They are also padding out a thin story using slow pacing, music and extended, boring, conversations.

It is not very good. The actors are, bar a couple, meh, unable to deliver lines convincingly. The 'authority' spook lacks any kind of presence for the role. The responses to external events are contrived, with stupid decisions driving the plot, rather than any kind of smart writing.

They finally spell out the core of the plot in episode 4, and it is as thin and dumb as it appeared to be when revealed in a single quick image in the first episode.

Decent

[richinhd-30581 · 7/10 · 11 September 2022]

This is a decent series.... it is well acted and has some good tense action scenes. It is a bit preachy about climate issues but it's OK it's not the best TV show ever but I've seen far worse.... definitely worth a watch. I was happy that it was not drawn out like many stories tend to be it was relatively short and to the point. It's good to see Matthew Fox back on tv and it's always a delight to see Joanne Froggart from Downton Abbey. I thought the little boy, Taylor Fay who played their son and is actually sighted in real life did an excellent job as well. Peacock continues to provide interesting content. Case in point is the show The Resort which I found to be excellent either great writing, casting and acting.

Ugh! I wasted 4 hours of happy life for this.

[glenno-42453 · 2/10 · 12 September 2022]

Save yourself. Don't waste your time. You'll do nothing but lose brain cells. And just possibly throw something at your TV.

You actually do get attached to the characters. Yes, I'm a sucker for blind kids. Go figure. And the acting is good for the most part. It has some very fine actors in it.

But they ultimately can't save the series.

The problem is not the acting but the writing. The plot is sometimes incredulous and some of the scenes downright silly.

But the I ultimate problem is, at the end, I felt like I had been manipulated.

SPOILER BELOW. STOP IF YOU DON'T WANT IT SPOILED.

It ends in unadulterated BS. Because it justifies terrorism, in fact worldwide chaos, death and destruction, all in the name of the false god of climate change. Because save the Earth by killing off half its population, which is what would happen.

I had some of this author's books on my wish list. No longer. I don't want to be subjected to, nor support, any of his utter nonsense. Entertain me. Don't try to indoctrinate me.

Not as bad as people are saying

[Siddhartha14 · 7/10 · 26 September 2022]

The story line is pretty solid but it moves along too quickly. The series would have benefited from more character development and a few more episodes. As it is, it speeds along too fast like it's in a hurry to get somewhere. Everything feels very rushed and why?

Were there shooting deadlines, poor character development of the script or what? We barely scratch the surface of these characters. Too plot driven, not enough human driven. The final lines of the series would have landed better if we got to see more of the aftermath, how people coped, etc. It's not a great series but a solidly good one.

Fails in almost every way

[Scampi1965 · 3/10 · 11 September 2022]

Acting lets this down. The plot is completely implausible (other than the scientific idea behind the "weapon") but the way it's portrayed also has .... A pathetic conviction. The world ending is down to one scientist and there's two Mercedes vans with useless MI6 teams approaching the not so menacing villain in his canvas tents .... Blah blah blah.

There is just nothing plausible here, from acting to plot to directing. I'd love to have better news and trust me, I've looked for it but for any half serious thriller movie seeker, this just fails in all its glory.

I wasted my time so you don't have to. Do yourself a favour, give this a miss.

Definitely worth watching.

[itaylor-50665 · 9/10 · 20 October 2022]

Very well paced, gripping, suspenseful series!

Very good actors. Good production values. Good cinematography.

Grabs you at the beginning and never lets go. Definitely a "good watch".

No flashbacks (that so many UK/BBC series are, unfortunately, so fond of).

No sex. Almost no drinking or smoking! Unbelieveable!

OK, this could be classified as a Disaster Movie, Apocalyptic, Message or Action movie.

Certainly lots of each.

OK, the story is unreal and even features a rich, messianic bad guy who seems willingto kill everyone, governments and countries because they haven't paid sufficient attentionto global warming, climate change, use of fossil fuels etc. Somehow he has managed to develop thousands of followers who will foster world-wide chaos. Geez!

The main characters (an Oil scientist, his wife, daughter and blind son) provide the "personal" part of the series. Their problems fit into the story quite well, rather than just being some thrown-in stuff to provide moments of personal anguish.

There are a few stupid, unrealistic moments but you just have to groan or laugh and then move on, just as you do with other movies of this ilk.

Finally, the weakest episode is the last when the series's heavy-handed "message" to the world is stressed and, of course, thec "bad guy" gets what you expect him to get.

Welcome back Matthew Fox

[rachaeljessie14 · 6 October 2022]

A very enjoyable thriller. My main draw was Matthew Fox. One of my favorite actors. So great to see him back in action. Loved the working chemistry between he and Amber Rose Revah. Loved the character banter. Andy and Mika, loved the line "So great with Non answer, answer".

Tom Wlaschiha was great in the final episode. The fight scene between Andy and Tobias was awesome to watch. Loved their interactions in the last episode. Tom, an amazing actor. You think he is the good guy, but he does give off that feeling of a bit shady.

Taylor Fay was a joy to watch as Sam. Such a talented young actor. Taylor and Joanne Froggatt worked so great together. Loved the family aspect of the story. Something we all need to remember, family is the most important part no matter what. Matthew and Taylor so adorable together. That sweetness watching Andy let Sam drive. Calling him my man. So cute!

Although we didn't get to see a lot of working together by Matthew and Joanne, I could feel the tenderness between Andy and Elena. Would've loved more background on their story.

I would've also loved a little more background on Joanne (Elena) and her story with Lucas. Definitely more to the story left untold.

Laura and Andy great working in the last episode. Father, daughter team, finally. Finding out they're not so different after all. Loved their quick whit's in the first episode. "Enjoy saving the world, Enjoy destroying it."

Overall great cast. Exciting storyline.

So glad Matthew Fox is back. His great acting was so dearly missed. He always is able to pull me into the story. So great seeing his intensity, swagger and the emotions he shows. A soul touching actor.

The message behind the family story is very important. Sometimes we forget just how much we rely on oil and that there are many other resources available. Just gives you something to think about for certain.

Bottom line, in my opinion. Watch Last Light, really (emphasis on "really") watch and just enjoy the story. I did!!

Could have been good, but it's a bit average.

[DazzlaMF · 6/10 · 15 May 2023]

Another dystopian story line, but this time no zombies! Based around in issue with fuel and the usual societal breakdown, this is a thriller on which the budget seems to have been spent on locations, but sadly not on acting or a decent continuity manager. The storyline could be pretty compelling, but when you try to weave in too many statements about global issues and add too many well worn tropes, it doesn't really hit the heights to which it could have achieved. If you've run out of other things to watch, then it passes the time, But trying to be too many things to too many people means it feels a little like drinking a bottle of Corona when you really wanted a shot of tequila!

My bf turned this on while I was working

[bunbunlynn · 1/10 · 21 March 2023]

I have since dumped him. JK. We're still together but I have vowed not to have children because I am worried they'll inherit his gene, and be as bad at choosing shows to watch. He's notorious for picking the worst films and shows.

I'm a scientist. As a note to film producers and writers, please stop making films about science. They're so painful to watch. If the only change made to the bacteria is an increased rate of proliferation, we wouldn't have to worry about losing power, we'd be long dead. The science is bad, but their general knowledge is absolutely baffling. Petrol =/= Coal =/= Gas =/= Other sources of power. The "grid" is not powered by petroleum. Sigh.

Eco Fantasy Claptrap

[kpassa · 1/10 · 19 February 2023]

When I started watching this series I thought it was supposed to be a drama about thwarting a plot to destroy the world's energy supply. Instead we were "treated" to a ridiculous fantasy where eco fanatics weren't really trying to bring us back into the stone age. No, they were trying to save us from ourselves. No mention about remaking the world using nothing but hand tools. It might have made a little bit of sense if they had a plan where they wean the world off it's dependence on oil as they remakes the world but no, they want to go fold turkey. The funniest part is that most of the interplay between the two sides is done using items that either have petroleum based products in them or are manufactured using petroleum. A totally silly waste of time.

Dire Series, not worth it.

[morganpaulle · 2 June 2023]

I read the book shortly after it was published a number of years ago, and what an absolute thrill to read. The book was based around cities in the UK, London particularly and I was gripped.

The second book was OK, but I felt it was rushed to publication with no real thought behind it.

When I saw they had turned this in to a series, I thought GREAT!!

Well how very, very disappointing right from the get go!!

Bad acting, considering these are great actors, it was as if they regretted taking the role and couldn't wait to get off the set.

The adaptation from the book was odd as the book was based around a terrorist threat, which made it feel more real and believable. So, so disappointed, but I had to continue watching in case the story/acting got better, alas NO.

Save yourselves the pain and trauma. Go watch a cartoon.

watchable but implausible

[roderickdav · 6/10 · 11 September 2022]

I enjoyed watching this series but, like so many other movies and series that are being made now it is full of stupid plot devices.

You know the old scene device where the goodies kill all the henchmen but when the ringleader is cornered, they forgive him only to be betrayed ? This show is full of those. Like when the daughter is visiting Owen in hospital and sees the killer walking to the hospital entrance, she finds Owen and then they run ... you guessed it, to the entrance(for them, the exit) gee, I wonder what will happen ?? Maybe they'll come face to face with the killer. Yes of course they do.

Or when Andy is studying the data in ep3 and says "I think its a bacteria" then we find out that he invented the bacteria years before - but it didn't occur to him from the preliminary data that it matched the effect of the bacteria HE invented ??

The most obvious problem though is an oilfield in the middle east detects a problem with the oil and literally the next day, all over the world cars are bursting into flames and electricity generating plants are stopping (even though they are ALL fueled by hydroelectricity, coal or nuclear) - so the contaminated oil was refined, shipped all over the world to international ports, sent to petrol stations and into the cars in one day ????

Even good shows have implausible elements, this one is still enjoyable, you just need to overlook a bit more than others.

Don't be fooled by the Promising Start

[darbysat-96678 · 1/10 · 26 September 2022]

Condoning terrorism that will kill billions of people...terrible plot and an obvious political agenda, but they don't spring it on you until the 4th episode, when the protagonist is found to have, unintentionally, set the worldwide plan into play.

Then, at the end he gives his little speech, which amounts to, "yeah sure, we've killed billions, but maybe in the end it was worth it". The director shows temperary anarchy, but than all of these lovely images of the aftermath...completely ridiculous considering the loss of all machinary would drive the world into irreversible famine, de-evolution, and de-industrialization resulting in all of humanity living in third-world conditions (which doesn't work to well for the current third world).

And it ignores the fact that when you have such scarcity of limited resources (i.e. Food and water), a failing infrastructure, and decentralization of basic utilities and government services, there would be a complete shift in power from federal and state, to local communities, where exploitation and corruption would inevitably follow, not to mention the loss of the means by which criminals are kept in check...unfortunately, it only takes a very small portion of society to create catastrophic chaos.

Such a stupid show..

Interesting but a little dissatisfying

[andrew-659-152933 · 6/10 · 13 September 2022]

Starts well with some interesting international settings and a premise that feels very topical. That it upsets reactionary viewers (anyone that uses the word "woke" in their reviews) is a pleasant bonus. The story unfolds well over the first four episodes but rushes to wrap up in the fifth. The moustache twirling antagonist is revealed but with actions that don't seem consistent with their motivations. There's some gratuitous argy baggy before an abrupt ending that tells rather than shows the outcome in a distinctly dissatisfying manner. Did they run out of budget for a planned sixth episode?

Incidentally Taylor Fay really nailed his scenes as the blind boy Sam. It's refreshing to see a level-headed child character.

Not bad, until it gets preachy

[Robot_Chikn_n_a_Biscuit · 1/10 · 28 September 2022]

This series is well acted, with an interesting story, and good dialogue. Poor directing, though. And yet, it is a fair watch until it gets preachy at the end.

Amber Reva, a good actress, is poorly cast as a government field operative. At 5 foot 5 inches tall, and weighing next to nothing, her fight scenes, etc. Are incredulous. In one scene she is shown carrying her pistol as a right handed person. In a later scene she has a pistol, in a left hand draw holster behind her back. The pistol is almost as big as she is. Have you ever tried to sit down wearing a pistol in the small of your back? Especially one that is as long as half your back? Not going to happen.

Matt Fox and Tom Wlaschiha are the ultimate science nerds in the series. And, yet, they fight like they are first degree black belts. Fox acts as if he is a government operative, gun toting bad arse. There is no set up for any of this. It is just thrown in there. Unbelievable.

Alyth Ross does a good job acting the daughter character. It is too bad that the part is so poorly written. How old is she supposed to be? 17? 18? And yet she is more adept at dealing with bad guys and unknown situations than almost anyone in the world? The scene where she grabs the gun and points it at her dad? Unbelievable.

But, it gets worse. After a half way decent series the show gets preachy. Bad preachy. It begins telling you about the anti-oil utopia that the writers' believe could exist. If I wanted a Sunday sermon I would go to a church.

Not great, but not deserving of the hate

[jamie-50817 · 6/10 · 18 October 2023]

Binged this when bored with a fever on a weekday afternoon, and it kept me entertained.

The concept is intriguing, the acting is solid, the production values are more like Saturday night British TV than peak Hollywood but still not bad.

It's sometimes slow, sometimes preachy, and sometimes silly. Sometimes apparently smart characters do things that don't make sense. Sometimes plot points are forced through without regard for reality. Sometimes whole segments of drama would be solved if two people would just talk to each other. But these are all problems that you'll find in many other B-level dramas.

I probably won't remember this show after next week, but as a fan of end-of-the-world shows and political dramas, this was an ok diversion from a bad cold and I didn't regret investing my time into the 5 episodes.

Nice to see Matthew Fox again too. I liked him in Lost and he shows a new maturity here that I hope we get to see more of in better projects.

So So Bad!

[rtailor-04901 · 1/10 · 23 September 2022]

This was terrible. There were so many silly plot holes. Ridiculous scenarios. Don't waste your time on this. It's meant to be a series about how big oil is ruining the world but it really is about how a series can ruin an afternoon. I read that after Lost, Matthew Fox said he was done with TV. Maybe he should have stuck with that plan. He is good in this but he was given (or chose) a terrible script. Also Joanne Froggat from Downton Abby was horrible. Shrill, dramatic and irritating. I thought she could act but I think she is a one trick pony. Her accent was awful! Anyway, move along nothing to see here. Next!

What could happen

[eve-melville · 8/10 · 17 March 2023]

Found this mini series just by chance while surfing through Amazon and glad I found it. Great look at what could happen if we don't don't clean up our act. There are some great tv series coming out of Britain and some regular actors giving us their best. The story line and characters were great but the mother and son were not consistent with characters they were playing. Great to see Matthew fox and always a fan of Tom Wlaschiha and Amber Rose Revah. Makes me wonder what life would be like if we could remove the need for refined oil in our every day life, Electric cars are still way too expensive and only for the wealthy. A must watch for every one who loves British shows.

Almost watchable but best to give it a miss

[scholtzc · 3/10 · 12 September 2022]

An incredibly contrived plot with Really Dumb Decisions being the main character, as it happens. And some of the plot holes are so large you can drive an oil tanker through them. Apart from Fox and Froggart, the acting is really poor. Like, school play poor. Actors standing around waiting for each other to deliver their lines, staring at each other's lips. It is that bad.

I was interested in the story and that is why I finished it. Now I am sorry I did that too. It made zero sense.

Did I mention plot holes? Things break leading to societal collapse, except when a character needs that thing. Then it works. Why? Because why not?

Actually, avoid. It it rubbish. Director should probably find another job.

Wasted 5 hours

[craigkerwin-27730 · 2/10 · 10 September 2022]

After waiting with anticipation for this mini series to start, it is a bitter disappointment. What could have been a really good story line was spoiled by cardboard characters, cardboard acting, and an incredible number of plot holes.

At times it felt like the script had been cut randomly so that the five episodes fitted into five one hour slots. At the end of Episode 4, the blind child was missing, but at the start of Episode 5 he had been found, just like that.

If the real MI6 is run by someone as dumb as the character portrayed in this series then we are in huge trouble.

It took until Episode 3 for Matthew Fox's character to have an epiphany and realise perhaps when he was in uni he may have created the formula to destroy oil. It didn't occur to him in the first two episodes. Also, apparently when he and Tobias "were kids" at uni (25 years ago) ... Matthew Fox looks old. His character looks portrayed as at least 50/55 ... sorry, 25 years ago they were not kids.

The organisation responsible for "destroying the world" still relied on a massive bank of computers and other technologies to control everything. And Tobias, who pronounced that we are killing the world with fossil fuels that spew CO2 into the air, smokes in several scenes - is that not a contradiction?

Joanna Froggart's character (conveniently) drops medication but happens to be rescued by a "refugee" who escaped "some civil war" and just happened to be a nurse who knew exactly how to crush some Panadol to make a new version of the medication that a special eye doctor had laboured over for years, so the blind child wouldn't lose the quickly degenerating cells in his retinas.

The only reason I have given this poor attempt for entertainment two stars is that there is a good scene in Episode 4 which involves a bike chase and a good old fashioned sleight of hand body double swap. Otherwise I unfortunately could not wait until the fifth instalment was done so I didn't leave the series hanging over my head.

And if the series hadn't already been spoiled enough, the last 60 seconds was absolutely cringeworthy.