The Brink is an American comedy television series created by brothers Roberto Benabib and Kim Benabib.[1] It focuses on a geopolitical crisis in Pakistan. Before cancellation, the show was conceived so that each season would follow a different crisis somewhere in the world involving the same main characters. The pilot episode was written by the Benabib brothers and directed by Jay Roach.[1]
| The Brink | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Genre | Political satire |
| Created by |
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| Starring | |
| Composer | David Robbins |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | June 21 – August 23, 2015 |
The series premiered on June 21, 2015 on the American cable television network HBO.[2] The Brink was initially renewed for a second season while the first season was still airing.[3] HBO later reversed its order and cancelled the series after just one season.[4]
Cast
editMain
edit- Jack Black as Alex Talbot, a lowly Foreign Service Officer assigned to the Embassy of the United States, Islamabad[1]
- Tim Robbins as United States Secretary of State Walter Larson[1]
- Pablo Schreiber as Lieutenant Commander Zeke "Z-Pak" Tilson, a drug-dealing United States Naval Aviator[1][5] on the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Ulysses S. Grant[6]
- Aasif Mandvi as Rafiq Massoud, a Pakistani employed by the U.S. Embassy.
- Maribeth Monroe as Kendra Peterson,[1] Walter's assistant
- Eric Ladin as Lieutenant Glenn "Jammer" Taylor, Zeke's backseater
- Geoff Pierson as United States Secretary of Defense Pierce Gray
- Esai Morales as President of the United States Julian Navarro[7]
Recurring
edit- Mimi Kennedy as CIA Director Susan Buckley
- Jaimie Alexander as Lieutenant Gail Sweet, a public affairs officer on the Grant whom Zeke has impregnated
- Melanie Chandra as Fareeda Massoud, Rafiq's younger sister
- Mary Faber as Ashley, Zeke's pharmacist ex-wife and drug supplier
- Meera Syal as Naeema, Rafiq's mother
- Joey Martin as Captain Stephens
- Carla Gugino as Joanne Larson, Walter's wife, United States Department of Defense general counsel and aspiring federal judge[8]
- John Larroquette as Robert Kittredge, the evangelical United States Ambassador to Pakistan
- Rex Linn as Rear Admiral (upper half) McBride, commander of the Grant carrier battle group
- Iqbal Theba as General Umair Zaman, a Pakistani general who stages a military coup
- Rob Brydon as Martin[9]
- Michelle Gomez as Vanessa[9]
- Bernard White as General Haroon Raja, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence and Umair's half brother
- Iris Bahr as Israeli Foreign Minister Talia Levy
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Jay Roach | Roberto Benabib & Kim Benabib | June 21, 2015 | 1.60[10] |
| 2 | "Half-Cocked" | Tim Robbins | Roberto Benabib & Kim Benabib | June 28, 2015 | 1.26[11] |
| 3 | "Baghdad My Ass" | Jon Poll | Roberto Benabib & Kim Benabib | July 5, 2015 | 1.17[12] |
| 4 | "I'll Never Be Batman" | Michael Lehmann | Dave Holstein | July 12, 2015 | 0.99[13] |
| 5 | "Swim, Shmuley, Swim" | J. Michael Muro | Jack Kukoda | July 19, 2015 | 1.06[14] |
| 6 | "Tweet Tweet Tweet" | Michael Lehmann | Sam Forman | July 26, 2015 | 0.97[15] |
| 7 | "Sticky Wicket" | Scott Winant | Aasif Mandvi | August 2, 2015 | 1.00[16] |
| 8 | "Who's Grover Cleveland?" | Michael Lehmann | Wes Jones | August 9, 2015 | 0.89[17] |
| 9 | "Just a Little Crazy Talk" | Adam Bernstein | Roberto Benabib, Kim Benabib & Dave Holstein | August 16, 2015 | 0.94[18] |
| 10 | "There Will Be Consequences" | Michael Lehmann | Roberto Benabib, Kim Benabib & Dave Holstein | August 23, 2015 | 0.87[19] |
Reception
editThe Brink received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season a rating of 53%, based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Brink avoids disaster thanks to the game efforts of a talented cast, but they - and viewers - deserve political satire with a sharper bite."[20] Metacritic gives the first season a score of 52 out of 100, based on reviews from 30 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[21]
IGN reviewer Amber Dowling gave the entire first season an 8.0 out of 10 'Great' score, saying that "after a rough first couple of episodes the actors settled into their characters and viewers grew more comfortable with the tone. Quick and surprising plot twists coupled with strong on-screen pairings eventually resulted in a fun summer romp with plenty of potential."[22]
International broadcast
editIn India, the series aired within 24 hours of the US premiere on June 22, 2015, on HBO Defined HD.[23] In Australia, the series premiered on July 7, 2015, on Showcase.[24] In Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East and North Africa, the series premiered on November 11, 2015, on Orbit Showtime Network (OSN).
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2014). "HBO Gives Series Order To Comedy Pilot 'The Brink' Starring Jack Black & Tim Robbins, From Jay Roach & Jerry Weintraub". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (April 9, 2015). "HBO Launching Comedies 'The Brink' & 'Ballers' With 'True Detective' In June". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
- ^ "'The Brink' Renewed for Season 2 by HBO". Variety. July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 27, 2015). "'The Brink' Not Going Forward With Season 2 At HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ "Jack Black/Tim Robbins Comedy 'The Brink' Premieres on HBO This Summer". Splitsider.com. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ ship name revealed in episode "Half-Cocked," class determined by hull number of CVN-82
- ^ Andreeva, Marshall Manesh (5 December 2013). "Esai Morales Joins HBO Comedy Pilot 'The Brink' As Regular, Will Play POTUS". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ The Deadline Team (August 13, 2014). "Carla Gugino Joins HBO's 'The Brink'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
- ^ a b "HBO's Jack Black Comedy Series Adds 'Gavin and Stacey,' 'Doctor Who' Actors". The Hollywood Reporter. September 5, 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (June 23, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Detective' Wins Night, 'Ballers', 'Naked and Afraid', 'The Last Ship' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (June 30, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: BET Awards Tops Night + 'True Detective', 'Ballers', 'Naked and Afraid' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (July 8, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: Shark Week Wins Night, 'True Detective', ' Ballers', 'The Last Ship', 'Botched', 'Falling Skies' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (July 14, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Naked and Afraid XL' Wins Night, 'True Detective', 'Basketball Wives', 'Ballers', 'The Strain' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (July 21, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Naked and Afraid XL' Wins Night, 'True Detective', 'Ballers', 'The Strain', 'The Last Ship', 'Tut' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 28, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'I am Cait' Tops Night + 'Naked & Afraid XL', 'Rick & Morty', 'True Detective', NASCAR, 'Ballers' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (August 4, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Rick and Morty' & 'Naked and Afraid XL', Win Night, 'True Detective', 'The Last Ship', 'Ballers', 'The Strain', 'Ray Donovan' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (August 11, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Detective' Tops Night + 'Naked and Afraid XL', 'Rick & Morty', 'Ballers', & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 13, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (August 18, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Naked and Afraid XL' Wins Night, 'Rick & Morty', 'Ballers', 'The Last Ship', 'The Strain', 'Ray Donovan' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (August 25, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Fear the Walking Dead' Tops Night + 'Talking Dead', 'Naked & Afraid', 'Rick & Morty', & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 28, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
- ^ "The Brink (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ "The Brink: Season 1 reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
- ^ Amber Dowling (September 1, 2015). "The Brink: Season 1 Review". IGN. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
- ^ "HBO Defined brings two new comedy series". Indiantelevision.com. 18 June 2015.
- ^ "Duck Dynasty, The Brink, Finding Carter, A Place To Call Home and live sport". The Green Room. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.