Reviews for 'Spinning Out' (Netflix's Figure Skating Drama) - who's watching?

[screech]

I don't watch the show, But Evgenia Medvedeva did an Instagram Live this evening in both English and Russian regarding the show. She said many people have reached out to her to ask about the drinking on the show, and that it doesn't represent her. She at first said that none of the elite skaters drink like is shown in the show, but then corrected to say that she can only speak for herself. She did say that they all take a lot of supplements (like Vitamin D) though. And that she enjoys the show.

 

[muffinplus]

I don't watch the show, But Evgenia Medvedeva did an Instagram Live this evening in both English and Russian regarding the show. She said many people have reached out to her to ask about the drinking on the show, and that it doesn't represent her. She at first said that none of the elite skaters drink like is shown in the show, but then corrected to say that she can only speak for herself. She did say that they all take a lot of supplements (like Vitamin D) though. And that she enjoys the show.

Do you have a link to her Instagram live?

 

[victorskid]

Do you have a link to her Instagram live?

There's a transcript on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MedvedevaNation/status/1224527470524870657

 

[MacMadame]

I'm bummed too.

 

[Prancer]

Bummer. I was looking forward to seeing Nationals.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Bummer. I was looking forward to seeing Nationals.

Yeah damn we will never see it.

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

Even though I enjoyed the show (while acknowledging that it wasn't very good), can't say I was surprised. While it had a lot of pre-release hype from Vulture and other culture outlets, they all went silent right around the time the episodes dropped. I don't think I saw a positive review, but I could be wrong. Additionally, the timing of the release could have factored into low viewership, etc (speculation on my behalf as Netflix doesn't disclose numbers). So much for making it out of Regionals!

 

[cgh_11]

New Figure Skating Drama on Netflix (EDIT: no longer starring Emma Roberts)

This plot is steadily getting worse and worse and worse, holy shit. Who really thought it was appropriate to have a bunch of young girls in a sport that demands them be pretty have a crush on a doctor? Really? Are they that fcuking tone deaf? Yeah, reading that blew my mind.

www.fsuniverse.net

Cross-posting from the other thread...sorry, I didn't see this discussion already in progress....

So...it doesn't look like Spinning Out had a huge fan-following on this board, but I have to admit, currently on episode 7 and still watching. It is nice to see any show that has skating. The handling of the mother-daughter dynamic is compelling and I find the acting to be solid even if the storylines are overly-dramatic (can't imagine all of this happening to one skating family!). With all that being said, just saw this morning that Netflix has cancelled the show. If anyone is invested and interested in a protest campaign twitter is trending #renewspinningout #savespinningout

 

[Aerobicidal]

I prayed fervently for this program filled with vulgarity and histrionics to be canceled, if not outright banned. Thank heavens someone at Netflix saw the light. Now all I can hope is that Tonya Harding doesn't appear on some bottom dwelling competitive reality show yet again.

 

[TAHbKA]

I watched 3-4 episodes, turned it off and have no desire to watch the rest. Unlike the Japanese cartoon, which totally sucked me in (I did watch quite a few tv series before, I never watched Japanese cartoons before nor after...)

 

[MacMadame]

I think it's more that the show is expensive to produce. (All that ice time, CGI and skating doubles, coaches & choreographers.) So to justify continuing it, it had to have a pretty big audience. Probably just us hard-core skating fans aren't enough. It needed to go more mainstream and it doesn't look like it did that.

Just speculation on my part, of course.

 

[sap5]

Spinning Out wasn't highlighted as a show whenever I turned on Netflix (the way Cheer appeared as a new show to watch, for instance). I had to specifically search for it,and I wouldn't have even known about it but for being a skating fan. I'm not surprised it never got a huge viewing audience.

 

[cheremary]

Spinning Out actually got pretty decent reviews overall by both the critics and audience (63% fresh by critics and 90% by audience on Rotten Tomatoes).

Spinning Out: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes

Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Spinning Out: Season 1 on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!

www.rottentomatoes.com

Netflix has generally been quick to renew their original shows in the past, though there are a lot more of them now. (I started another show recently that I just couldn’t get through - turned out it only had a 24% RT rating and Netflix still gave them a second season.)

In this case, I agree that it’s probably a combination of high production cost, odd release time of Jan 1, not much marketing, and not enough of an audience to justify the cost. It’s too bad - some of the storylines were kind of outlandish, but overall it was more entertaining than most skating-related TV shows or films I’ve seen.

 

[DreamSkates]

I read a few of your posts about what you observed/thought about this series before deciding whether or not to spend the time watching. Decision: nah.

 

[alchemy void]

I'm moderately disappointed this wasn't renewed, but it's not exactly devastating or terribly surprising. The production costs had to be high, and there was very little buzz.

But anyways, I have Kitchen Nightmares on in the background during work today, and the similarities between Amy from Amy's Baking Company and Carol Baker is ridiculously uncanny. Even down to looks, mannerisms, and speech patterns.

Try to convince me January Jones didn't base 80% of Carol on Amy and the other 20% on Betty Draper.

 

[sus2850]

I also think it had first of all a marketing problem on Netflix itself. I always got „The Witcher“ and now „ Lock & Key“ as prigram suggestions. I had real difficulties to find it.
Also they may have problems with the algorithm, there are just no other figure skating shows on Netflix, so no recommendation.

 

[Andora]

Good point about lack of other skating shows on Netflix. I think for years the only thing I could find was the fantastic documentary, The Fabulous Ice Age. I know there's a smidge more now, but not much. So many dreadful figure skating movies out there, and Netflix Canada can't offer up a single Cutting Edge by 2020??

I'm moderately disappointed this wasn't renewed, but it's not exactly devastating or terribly surprising. The production costs had to be high, and there was very little buzz.

But anyways, I have Kitchen Nightmares on in the background during work today, and the similarities between Amy from Amy's Baking Company and Carol Baker is ridiculously uncanny. Even down to looks, mannerisms, and speech patterns.

Try to convince me January Jones didn't base 80% of Carol on Amy and the other 20% on Betty Draper.

I would LOVE to, but YouTube won't let this canook have access. I will just believe you-- I find JJ kind of low-key fascinating. Her acting is so uneven, though I wouldn't say bad, and I always manage to forget she was in one of the American Pie movies. Like Mindy Kaling, she had a kid and didn't make the father's identity readily available-- love it. The public doesn't own that info, even when I'm the one curious. If word's out for either lady, I don't care to know. Maybe 20% is too low for Betty Draper? (Especially later seasons Betty)

 

[made_in_canada]

I also think it had first of all a marketing problem on Netflix itself. I always got „The Witcher“ and now „ Lock & Key“ as prigram suggestions. I had real difficulties to find it.
Also they may have problems with the algorithm, there are just no other figure skating shows on Netflix, so no recommendation.

Fun fact. Locke & Key features former Brazilian skater Kevin Alves. In case anyone is interested in obscure South American figure skaters circa 2010

 

[mjb52]

Fun fact. Locke & Key features former Brazilian skater Kevin Alves. In case anyone is interested in obscure South American figure skaters circa 2010

I think you are in the right place for a yes on that...

 

[Lemonade20]

Spinning Out had me excited, but after 5 minutes I was done. I can’t stand Kat, she has one facial expression throughout and it wasn’t as entertaining as I thought. I loved JW, they should have based it around his character instead

 

[aftershocks]

I found Spinning Out to be an entertaining and intriguing series, but the script was out-of-control with trying to cram in every personality quirk and problematic angst and indecision and bad decisions and complicated love interests and coaching excesses, and parenting excesses, and eating disorders, biting disorders, injuries, psychoses, health problems, coming of age plot twists, competitive traumas and dramas in the skating world, not to mention cringe-worthy miscast doctor (pedophile) hitting on and violating his teenage patients. The scriptwriter needed to pick a lane. Alas, it all ended up in a rubbernecking pile-up. Too bad as there's some beautiful gems hidden in the rubble.

The acting was really good and the production values weren't bad and everyone tried really hard with the questionable script. I loved seeing Johnny in the mix, and he apparently forged good friendships with his fellow cast members, as indicated by his Instagram posts during and after filming:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B71X4iQhQpm/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Tz1vEhxRL/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B60s2wHB1_C/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7gXGFEh0Tj/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7bDKCSBDNw/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6uCv2yBp-N/

Spinning Out had me excited, but after 5 minutes I was done. I can’t stand Kat, she has one facial expression throughout and it wasn’t as entertaining as I thought. I loved JW, they should have based it around his character instead.

Yep, I didn't find the lead actor who portrayed Kat, at all interesting. The actor who played Kat's best friend was much more interesting, and even the younger sister wasn't as dreary as Kat. Even Kat's mixed-up Mom was more appealing, but both the Mom and Kat in the latter episodes tried my patience mightily. The script was too over-crammed and at times, preposterous, my gosh!

Oh, and I loved the Russian actor who played Kat's coach. It would have been good had the story centered more around her character as a coach of Gabe (Johnny) and his partner! The actor who played Kat's partner is really good, and good looking. Also, the young aspiring skiier/ bartender who had a crush on Kat was a very good supporting actor. The character of his mother was dreadful though. Oh well, as I said, the script was way out-of-control and couldn't decide what it really wanted to be.

I even enjoyed Kat's partner's family, his stepmother, father, and twin brothers, and Kat's younger sister's coach. But again, what the heck was going on with all the overdone and unwieldy story lines? As I said earlier, the pedo doctor and disgusting plot twist involving him was a huge miscast, ill-conceived mess. If it was going to be about a coach or older adult authority figure abusing young charges, that's a completely different story that would have needed to be focused on exclusively with a lot more thought, research, care, and better casting. That's a whole 'nother can of worms story that deserves separate treatment. By trying to examine every possible scenario along with the kitchen sink and the toilet, the worthwhile promise hidden within the overall concept really got lost, sunk, overwhelmed.

 

[Lemonade20]

I found Spinning Out to be an entertaining and intriguing series, but the script was out-of-control with trying to cram in every personality quirk and problematic angst and indecision and bad decisions and complicated love interests and coaching excesses, and parenting excesses, and eating disorders, biting disorders, injuries, psychoses, health problems, coming of age plot twists, competitive traumas and dramas in the skating world, not to mention cringe-worthy miscast doctor (pedophile) hitting on and violating his teenage patients. The scriptwriter needed to pick a lane. Alas, it all ended up in a rubbernecking pile-up. Too bad as there's some beautiful gems hidden in the rubble.

The acting was really good and the production values weren't bad and everyone tried really hard with the questionable script. I loved seeing Johnny in the mix, and he apparently forged good friendships with his fellow cast members, as indicated by his Instagram posts during and after filming:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B71X4iQhQpm/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Tz1vEhxRL/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B60s2wHB1_C/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7gXGFEh0Tj/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7bDKCSBDNw/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6uCv2yBp-N/



Yep, I didn't find the lead actor who portrayed Kat, at all interesting. The actor who played Kat's best friend was much more interesting, and even the younger sister wasn't as dreary as Kat. Even Kat's mixed-up Mom was more appealing, but both the Mom and Kat in the latter episodes tried my patience mightily. The script was too over-crammed and at times, preposterous, my gosh!

Oh, and I loved the Russian actor who played Kat's coach. It would have been good had the story centered more around her character as a coach of Gabe (Johnny) and his partner! The actor who played Kat's partner is really good, and good looking. Also, the young aspiring skiier/ bartender who had a crush on Kat was a very good supporting actor. The character of his mother was dreadful though. Oh well, as I said, the script was way out-of-control and couldn't decide what it really wanted to be.

I even enjoyed Kat's partner's family, his stepmother, father, and twin brothers, and Kat's younger sister's coach. But again, what the heck was going on with all the overdone and unwieldy story lines? As I said earlier, the pedo doctor and disgusting plot twist involving him was a huge miscast, ill-conceived mess. If it was going to be about a coach or older adult authority figure abusing young charges, that's a completely different story that would have needed to be focused on exclusively with a lot more thought, research, care, and better casting. That's a whole 'nother can of worms story that deserves separate treatment. By trying to examine every possible scenario along with the kitchen sink and the toilet, the worthwhile promise hidden within the overall concept really got lost, sunk, overwhelmed.

Exactly, they tried to cram everything but the kitchen sink in one season and it was a train wreck.

 

[sus2850]

Plus too much hard drinking which apparently was so important to the scriptwriters that they made all the young and upcoming skaters being over 21... The age thing bothered me the most, strangely enough. I am still a bit sad though that there is no second season.

 

[aftershocks]

I thought the actual skating scenes were very well done, with excellent editing too, so kudos to all in that department, including Canada's very own Walsh/Michaud! And of course Johnny too and the actors who had some background in skating.

But that's why the huge problems with the overdone script are so disappointing, because there was something good about the overall concept, along with good production values, and good acting too, for the most part (the lead actor who played Kat was not the best lead for that role).

 

[Lemonade20]

I thought the actual skating scenes were very well done, with excellent editing too, so kudos to all in that department, including Canada's very own Walsh/Michaud! And of course Johnny too and the actors who had some background in skating.

But that's why the huge problems with the overdone script are so disappointing, because there was something good about the overall concept, along with good production values, and good acting too, for the most part (the lead actor who played Kat was not the best lead for that role).

If Kat came back as a different actress or assuming they decide they want to do a new season, who would you cast?

 

[aftershocks]

If Kat came back as a different actress or assuming they decide they want to do a new season, who would you cast?

I don't know enough about young up-and-coming actors. But like we discussed earlier, if the focus was more on the Russian coach and her training of Johnny and his partner. Or the guy who played Kat's partner could come back and team up with the actor who played Kat's best friend and share the Russian coach with Johnny and his partner. They could further explore the rivalry between the two pairs which was touched on slightly. Also, the actor who played Kat's younger sister was good and her story could be better explored with her coach. I don't know though. They really should have toned down and rethought jamming so many ridiculous storylines into the script.

It's possible to cover the issue of abuse, but probably better with tangential characters and with better casting. Plus, I think the doctor angle was rather silly, and the actor who played the doctor was horrible for that part. He looked like Kat's sister's father or uncle, rather than some kind of lover she would actually be tempted into a relationship with, and then everyone was acting like Kat's best friend hooking up with the same doctor was okay (though I know the other relationship was hush hush and forbidden). But both relationships were out-of-bounds and made absolutely no friggin' sense. The foolish doctor would never have turned up at a competition like that wandering around the hallways and brushing off a teenage competitor he had been abusing.

Plus, Kat suddenly realizing her sister was missing and she hadn't been paying her any attention, but it's time to go out on the ice to warm-up with her partner, and she decides: 'No, now is the time to look for my sister.' Forget about them suddenly rushing out to compete (when they hadn't participated in the warm-up) after Kat had a long overdue heart-to-heart with lil' sis. Give me a break and a quadruple scoop ice cream soda, please.

 

[Lemonade20]

I don't know enough about young up-and-coming actors. But like we discussed earlier, if the focus was more on the Russian coach and her training of Johnny and his partner. Or the guy who played Kat's partner could come back and team up with the actor who played Kat's best friend and share the Russian coach with Johnny and his partner. They could further explore the rivalry between the two pairs which was touched on slightly. Also, the actor who played Kat's younger sister was good and her story could be better explored with her coach. I don't know though. They really should have toned down and rethought jamming so many ridiculous storylines into the script.

You’re right on that. It has so much potential to be a really great series. I wanted more skating, more rivalry, more of what we expect to happen in real life (backstage meltdowns, overbearing coach, etc). It’s supposed to be about being bipolar but honestly, the set up is unrealistic.

 

[aftershocks]

You’re right on that. It has so much potential to be a really great series. I wanted more skating, more rivalry, more of what we expect to happen in real life (backstage meltdowns, overbearing coach, etc). It’s supposed to be about being bipolar but honestly, the set up is unrealistic.

So true. Probably skating fans could get together with current competitive skaters (or maybe even with some members of the cast) and write a better script. Just sayin'... (ETA: I'm not saying that writing a script is easy, but those with good judgement would at least know to throw out the stuff that made no sense and weighed down the concept).


You're definitely right. There are just so many true crazy things that have really happened in the sport to draw on, so why create ridiculous scenarios and overdone plot lines that don't add up? We all know there's gritty melodrama and silly things that have happened in real life, but the set-ups and the plot lines definitely have to be believable, as well as the characters' motivations. So yep it's a poor script, with poor execution of overdone plot lines, but with generally good acting and interesting overall concept.

 

[Lemonade20]

So true. Probably skating fans could get together with current competitive skaters (or maybe even with some members of the cast) and write a better script. Just sayin'... (ETA: I'm not saying that writing a script is easy, but those with good judgement would at least know to throw out the stuff that made no sense and weighed down the concept).


You're definitely right. There are just so many true crazy things that have really happened in the sport to draw on, so why create ridiculous scenarios and overdone plot lines that don't add up? We all know there's gritty melodrama and silly things that have happened in real life, but the set-ups and the plot lines definitely have to be believable, as well as the characters' motivations. So yep it's a poor script, with poor execution of overdone plot lines, but with generally good acting and interesting overall concept.

I bet we could start a new thread and write a better script for Spinning Out with the FSU fans ?