I watched this because it has a few actors that are on my watch list, but I found myself looking away.
When will companies realise that the "reality" shaky camera work just doesn't add anything, and, actually detracts from an audience viewing and taking in what's happening. It actually looks as though the camera operator is deliberately shaking it. The editing also consists single shots of the camera panning up and down individuals, at various points, along with extreme close-ups. Honestly if this had good editing/camerawork it would get me hooked. Now it's just like watching an extremely bad found footage series albeit with good actors.
53 Reviews
It gets better
niagarasme12 March 2018
Watched because two of my favorite actors, Cory Hardrict and Sean Bean are in it. The 1st 3 episodes are very confusing as you try to piece what's going on, who's who, which is normal. Then I was hooked and can't wait for season 2. It's no Power but definitely worth watching.
Not as good as i expected "or better hoped for " but i think there's something there worth your time.
Aktham_Tashtush12 March 2018
So i just finished the whole season ,, a quick review , i'd say it is difinitly not as good as i expected ... but >>
The show with each and every episode keeps you somewhat interested and looking for more to know how things will end for this "police gang".
The plot is strong, but i think the script was a bit stretched and sometimes a little dull ,, i mean this could have been a really good 3/4 hours episodes show "Like what we see on BBC2" and it would've been fast strong and even more attracting.
talking Cast, they all were really good well engaging actors , you can't move on without bringing Sean Bean , as in the first 4-5 episode you'd think he has a minor role , appearing in prison a couple times, but hen after you'll see him more ,, you'll like him, then hate him then like him again :D but yeah over all the whole cast were good.
but again maybe Crackle after they have changed to "Sony Crackle" wanted to pop up with the new Sony mask ,, who knows ,, but again , the show was okay, it grows with each hour , but as i said,, it needs a bit more work on the directing.
The show with each and every episode keeps you somewhat interested and looking for more to know how things will end for this "police gang".
The plot is strong, but i think the script was a bit stretched and sometimes a little dull ,, i mean this could have been a really good 3/4 hours episodes show "Like what we see on BBC2" and it would've been fast strong and even more attracting.
talking Cast, they all were really good well engaging actors , you can't move on without bringing Sean Bean , as in the first 4-5 episode you'd think he has a minor role , appearing in prison a couple times, but hen after you'll see him more ,, you'll like him, then hate him then like him again :D but yeah over all the whole cast were good.
but again maybe Crackle after they have changed to "Sony Crackle" wanted to pop up with the new Sony mask ,, who knows ,, but again , the show was okay, it grows with each hour , but as i said,, it needs a bit more work on the directing.
What's with the camera?
Vaxi11 April 2020
Immensely bingeable solid crime drama
neil-2603312 June 2018
Despite the fact any connection to realism here will require a leap of faith, (regardless of the producers' statement at the start of each episode), and despite the fact the camera work can get a little annoying at times, and despite the fact it's a little slow to get going, (especially for Sean Bean fans), this is solid crime drama entertainment. Very well written. Great cast. More than enough well-crafted twisty turnabouts to sustain interest and keep predictability, (the bane of all cop show/crime serials), at bay. And a finale that skillfully sets up a season 2. This is my favorite Crackle original so far. Immensely bingeable. And the price is right. My only real complaint is the extremely graphic close quarters gunplay. I realize brain splitter is all the rage in this genre right now, but if it crosses the line into the gratuitous, it distracts from the overall quality of the project. Just saying'.
Good Show
rheaelisha8 April 2019
For a show that is limited to 10 episodes they did a good job going into character depth on the characters. The plots were good but I can think of 2 incidents where the writers got into a tough spot and they didnt know how to get out of it. Anyway the cinematography was excellent.
Ruined in post
eddieo196930 March 2018
I wanted to like the show as its not set up like the generic Police shows, (it is an anti hero bad police show) and I could of liked it if they hadn't over done the shaky camera shots, to be honest at time it was more like watching a TV show in the middle of an earthquake. I believe as an earlier reviewer said they were trying imitate 'The Shield' going for gritty realism .The difference is in The Shield it was a real effect they had cameramen taking shots with hand held cameras. In The Oath they have used a tripod then created the effect in post production and they have over done it.
There is also a problem with the amount of edits, they are constantly cutting from shot to shot. I get that they are trying to keep it fast paced but having so many edits takes away from the acting, it is a failure to show or give the actor the chance to act.
So overall it had potential but it has been spoiled in post production
Addicting to watch!
xokayla14 May 2018
As someone who adores watching police procedural's, I quickly added this one to my list whenever I saw it was out. The story line is well constructed and definitely has twists that keep you on the edge of your seat until the finale! Ryan & Sean were the only actors whom of which I was familiar with, and both of them did exceptionally well in their roles; not to mention the rest of the wonderful cast. Everyone truly seemed to have a strong bond and it showed on screen through their character development. The finale provided a sense of closure, though it also offered the story line of the Raven's to be built upon - so whenever I saw that this show had been renewed so quickly, I was ecstatic. The locations that The Oath filmed on were perfect, and from a cinematic standpoint, I really enjoyed the darker aesthetic it gave off whilst watching. Needless to say, I can't wait to see Season 2!
James
rveach-810464 July 2019
Shaky cam makes this unwatchable!
sagrat23 July 2018
I just could not keep my eyes on the screen for this ridiculous camera work! I ended up running the series as background when doing other things, only looking at the TV - Actually, mostly at the closed captioning - when something really important happened. The nearly constant bouncing and shaking and twisting and turning of the camera along with the extreme close-ups was giving me a headache, so I turned on the CC and then focused on only listening to the dialogue.
As other reviewers mentioned, a sadly under-used Sean Bean, too, made this a disappointing experience, along with the use of some tired cliches. Still, the story itself was engaging enough to keep me following to the end.
Conclusion : something to put on when you need something to listen to while doing other things.
Realest Cop Drama on TV
thomas-james-gray14 May 2018
Halfway through the first series. To me it's a mix between The Wire and The Shield. The shows fast and gets you right into the action. I would highly recommend for anyone who is a fan of Sean Bean, The Wire, or is interested in finding a new show to binge watch.
I can see the concept
moov_e_c_er30 April 2022
First season absolutely horrible action camera - drunk shaky work that makes me angry. Story wise and character wise was well done, a little confusing and I always like the lead males work. Second season way stable camera work. Too bad it was cancelled by the end of it.
handheld camera
mapanari14 May 2018
Another one of the MTV school of jerks; hand held jerky camera to simulate "action" and "tension".
What moron came up with that "style" of camera/direction?
I stopped watching, because I was also sure, as night follows the day, the whole series was going to full of embedded cigarette commercials.where the producers get paid by the cancer stick industry to subliminal advertise cigarettes, along with my getting sea-sick watching.
Shades of Blue anyone?
Tljamail10 February 2019
Was hoping for more....
mts-913199 September 2019
Really wanted to get hooked on this one as several of the actors are on my favorites list. Writing leaves too much to desire. Concept of the cop gangs has some merit but the incompetence of FBI/etc is lacking. Don't think it will last but hey, it's been here 2 seasons. Maybe I'll try to go back to it if they renew it for another season (#3)...
Has more highs then lows
javeltt14 March 2018
Fair cop
jandriod201224 November 2020
This is a series about bent cops who form their own gangs with the resulting fallout of such criminal activity. The main characters are supposed to be antiheroes, but are actually not very heroic, just violent thugs jostling for supremacy.
I began bingewatching this show but found I had just drip feed myself after the first couple of episodes. It's rather hard to watch back to back as everyone is so angry all of the time and none of the characters are particularly sympathetic, which is quite draining. Its good to see a gritty drama with adults, but what it lacks is humour. Naturally the subject matter doesn't lend itself to comedy, but it is too grim too much of the time. I think this is largely due to poor writing, as comparable programmes such as Breaking Bad managed to be hard hitting as well as witty. The cast is ok and Sean Bean is suitably menacing, although some of the storylines are predictable and the characters are one dimensional. This was apparently written by an ex-police officer who worked undercover and got mixed up with gangs; if this is a true depiction then I pity him, what a horrid, soulless life it must have been.
I began bingewatching this show but found I had just drip feed myself after the first couple of episodes. It's rather hard to watch back to back as everyone is so angry all of the time and none of the characters are particularly sympathetic, which is quite draining. Its good to see a gritty drama with adults, but what it lacks is humour. Naturally the subject matter doesn't lend itself to comedy, but it is too grim too much of the time. I think this is largely due to poor writing, as comparable programmes such as Breaking Bad managed to be hard hitting as well as witty. The cast is ok and Sean Bean is suitably menacing, although some of the storylines are predictable and the characters are one dimensional. This was apparently written by an ex-police officer who worked undercover and got mixed up with gangs; if this is a true depiction then I pity him, what a horrid, soulless life it must have been.
Agree with Zanty - Shaky camera movies are an artsy brain fart
FesteAinoriba16 March 2018
The shaky camera "effect" distract from my ability to suspend disbelief and mentally move into the movie experience. I'm so constantly aware of the shaky camera that I it keeps reminding me that I'm watching a poorly edited movie and not actually experiencing palsy.
Typical but great
brokenpromisez12 March 2018
Shaky cam and lack of sean bean makes this lack luster
LiquidOcelotYt11 March 2018
Just stop it with the shaky cam it makes your head spin, sean bean is used so little the story is already confusing and this makes for an extremely dissapointing series was looking forward to this but gosh its as if a school boy with nervous hands made it stay away!!!
Binge Worthy
zzcomms25 February 2019
God Awful Camera Work!
nhughes522 February 2019
Only made it through the first 10 minutes or so of the first episode. The wife and I couldn't take the jerky camera, it made our heads hurt. Story looked good but no way would we be able to watch something that shaky. Cameras are built with stabilizers for a reason, use them. Or try something called a tripod.
2 stars.
Waiting for season 2
efremdedwards-0991928 March 2018
Written by porn writers?
bill-8872919 March 2018
It has a good storyline, but some of the dialogue is like watching bad porn dialogue. Also, someone needs to teach the cameraman how to center a shot and not hand carry the camera. This could be a good series with a better cameraman and less pornlike dialogue.
Lovethe series but...
nicksdesigns-566-2541998 September 2018
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