User reviews

I've read the user reviews, and people seem to love or hate it. Yet, no one seems to have pointed out the obvious: it is only the kids that speak in "modern slang". The adults are all speaking appropriate to the era. So the underlying theme is the age old concept of kids and adults speaking different languages, and therefore not understanding one another. Schultz did it with the Peanuts characters and more recently Macfarlane with Family Guy. I am a 56 year old WASP, so am the definition of "stuffy" and I throughly enjoy period shows and movies. This was NOT intended to be one of those. Once you let go of that expectation, it is really quite clever and entertaining.

And new. All right, I don't get the low ratings at all unless the raters were expecting something they had already made up their minds they were going to see. I went into this not expecting anything, but what I got was something different and frankly, the only thing worth watching on Apple TV. Anachronistic? Yes, so what? Anything like the real Emily Dickinson? Except that we can be sure she didn't talk 2020 hip, who knows what the real Emily Dickinson was like? For the record, I'm well over 65 and I loved the imagination that went into this series. I love TV from the 60s and 70s, for what it was. I love this for what it is - different, imaginative, fresh.

This show! Loads of fun... taking a historical literary genius, and mashing up 21st century language, music, and antics into it. Because why not?

Shows and stories like this turn stuffy dry history into something a lot more palatable and attractive to the teenage crowd, and therefore they will feel some sort of connection to Emily as a writer.

There's a huge disconnect in the reviews, because some people can't fathom what the writers have done with this story of Emily... but I think it's a very clever way to bring our younger generations along for the literary ride. Its meant to be fun... not biographical.

I watch it and, re-watched it again. I understand this may not be for everyone. However, as far as myself, I wish there was more show like this. I enjoyed every character. I especially enjoyed the way Hailee Steinfeld portrayed Emily Dickenson.

This is not your typical "Cookie Cutter" series. For me; it was a very pleasant surprise. And yes, I am already looking forward to watching it again.

I can not comprehend why this has such a low rating on here. I was mind blown. Tore through the series in a day. Hailee is Emmy-worthy and it's a fresh, unique show. Can't wait for season 2.

Make your own decisions, like Emily.

I'm normally so good with words. It's historical but accessible. It's poignant but laugh out loud funny. It teaches you something about humanity. It connects you to a bygone era in a way that's rich, not a soup of facts and names. It's well written, well acted, well directed. It's a good deed, keeping alive a famous poet, but in a way that's relatable. It's like Hamilton and Arrested Development, a new type of of medium. A new art form. I'm LOSING MY MIND. It's so good. Even if you think you hate poetry, don't you see? Poetry is life! Everything in the world is poetry to the discerning. Teaching us a discerning viewpoint is the purpose of any great art. This show does that.

I came for Hailee Steinfeld and I stayed for the quality; bold, inspirational, "old" but that surrounds you to also feel in the present, I loved the realities in Emily's mind, sometimes they are uncomfortable but interesting.

I wasn't sure about watching this simply because I'm not a lover of historical series. However from episode 1 Hailee Steinfeld's Emily had me hooked. It's fast and funny and quirky and there are only 2 people who could have taken this role: Steinfeld and Winona Ryder. Krakowski brings a fiery funny to it too and the rest of the cast are very able. I'm not interested in the life of Emily Dickinson, I just love the show for what it is.

I actively avoided this program. I did not study Emily Dickinson (I now have a book of her collected poems), and I avoid shows about wars at all costs ....... except this one because I ran out of anything else to watch.

To say this is not a regular program is an understatement. You have to watch and listen closely to the lines and situations - and you'll be well rewarded with some of the funniest tidbits on TV.

My absolute favorite scenes are Emily with Death! He is MAGNIFICENT!! WOW!! Talk about perfect casting. Wiz Khalifa puts a slant on his character that is so smooth and I cannot imagine another actor in that part. He is absolute perfection.

This series is odd. And beautiful and gripping. Yes it's different. Please enjoy it for it's uniqueness.

Half way through and wanting more. I definitely think the negative reviews are from watchers who do not understand that this is a comedy/satire. Nothing about this screams historical accuracy, it is just an interest premise centered around a very interesting historical figure. It reminds me of the show "Another Period" in many ways, but replace the reality show vibe with historical fiction.

Not my cup of tea. 19th century optics with 21th century behavior.

I am 3 episodes in and this show is a hilarious, anachronistic romp! Loving every second of it. Hailee Steinfeld is oddly delightful stepping into the shoes of this morose literary hero.

One of my favorite parts of my studies at university was getting to learn about the life of Emily Dickinson. I always had an idea of what she would have been like, and this show got it spot on. Three words always come to mind while thinking of the real Dickinson: wild, eccentric, and queer (both in personality and sexuality). Hailee Steinfeld did an amazing job in her portrayal of Emily Dickinson. Also, I think the anachronisms were done remarkably well in this show compared to other uses I have seen in other film and television.

This show is really great. I love the mix of old & new. The jokes are funny and characters are enjoyable. The actors are doing tremendous job too.

The mix of Drama and Comedy is perfect.

Do not watch this with the intention of it being a biopic. It's fun, it's moving and it's a ride to enjoy!

I'd rate this show a lot higher if it weren't for the choice of music. The aesthetic is simply ruining it. I get it, using the music they want to tell the story in a contemporary way. I wish they didn't, because several times per episode the ridiculous 21st century party music absolutely ruins it.

I'll admit the modern language and music was a little jarring at first, but once it clicked for me, I realized how brilliant it was. I am so sorry for those who don't understand why it was used or who found it upsetting. It wasn't a gimmick at all. It was a perfect medium.

Period pieces can be beautiful and transportive, but we are always left with a sense of otherwordliness. The use of modern language and music in this show changed all of that. Instead of us being transported to her world, she was brought just a footfall into ours. I can't imagine a better way for Emily Dickinson to be brought truly alive and tangible and approachable to an audience who may not be familiar with her.

We never forget that she was from a different era with different requirements of women and different social ethics, but we are also invited in to see her... not as a woman from some long ago world too far away from ours to really understand... but as a young woman as real and vibrant as if she were alive today. The humor that it evoked in some scenes was the perfect foil for some of the tragedy. I really loved it.

It was heartbreaking and beautiful and really well done.

Once you give in to the stylized approach it works really well. I was not expecting to like this at all but I found the music, acting and story quite addicting. Really unique take on this talented and misunderstood poet.

But to be fair I don't watch that many shows! But gosh its cute and funny and serious and solemn and interesting and layered and fun super fun and really pretty to look at on top of the fact that this is the best writing I have ever seen in storytelling! I think, that is because it runs the full gambit of human emotions and it does it with unabashed passion , its in your face fun creative and the most outré thing about it is that , all the writing has to stay within the latitude of what has already been created , really good job, the stars aligned for this diamond! Good job , great job!

Usually I don't like things that incorporate modern aspects into history like the great Gatsby, but this has to create a narrative. Yes it's cheesy and obviously not for everyone, but it got me interested.

This is one of those dreadful shows where all I could do was wonder wtf were they thinking! This show is obviously aimed at a teen audience & is meant to be edgy & innovative. Instead all it does is insult the intelligence of its viewers & Dickinson's legacy. So we have the show's stars muttering such lines as 'I want to see your tits' & 'what's uppp...' Talk about the dumbing down of America...you go it all here. Says a lot about how AppleTV views its audience particularly it's female viewers.

As a forty something who loved Dickinson's poetry and enjoyed the various modern twists to Shakespeare and Dickens, I can't understand the venom that so many have on here towards this modernity added to Dickinson. It doesn't market itself as a documentary and I felt like it was breathing life back into Dickinson's poetry for a new generation as well as making me want to reread her work. I loved the chemistry between Hailee Steinfeld and the seriously underrated Ella Hunt (check her out in Anna & the Apocalypse) throughout the series focusing on the speculation of her more than platonic relationship with her sister-in-law (which in real life, was largely erased by her brother's mistress). There's plenty of subtle comic relief provided by Jane Krakowski as Emily's mother, as well as Adrian Enscoe & Anna Baryshnikov as her siblings. The graphics of her poetry are illuminating, as are the suggested originations. The modern soundtrack only adds to the enjoyment. If you want the truth, go research it. But, if you're just looking for an entertaining historical romp that takes liberties with Dickinson's life to give it a modern voice, give it a try.

Love this show. Honesty the best comedy in a while. Silly but respects and reflects her poems with dignity. She would be proud to be such a part of pop culture. Thanks!