Boss
Seen it?2011 | 2 seasons | Drama, War & Politics, Crime
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (76% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 7.2 out of 10 from audiences and a short run with a modest audience. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and history buffs. If you loved The Wire or Homeland, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty, intense.
- The pace
- 2 seasons: a few weeks of evenings.
- What might put you off
- Rated TV-MA: meant for adults.
- It was cancelled, so the story may not get a proper ending.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Mayor Tom Kane sits like a spider at the center of Chicago's web of power; a web built on a covenant with the people. They want to be led, they want disputes settled, jobs dispensed, and loyalties rewarded. If he achieves all this through deception and immorality, so be it. As long as he gets the job done, they look the other way. Yet despite being the most effective mayor in recent history, a degenerative brain disorder is ripping everything away from him. He can't trust his memory, his closest allies, or even himself.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
76% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor — Television Series Drama. Also nominated for 1 more Golden Globe.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Ran for 2 seasons and reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 70K people sought it out in the past year
Season by season
The show overall is a Sunday Safe Bet. Here's how each season stacks up; Season 2 is the high point.
Season 12011 · 8 episodes · 6.1 out of 10Monday
Season 22012 · 10 episodes · 7.8 out of 10Saturday
More like this
The Wire
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed political crime drama.
Show Me a Hero Sunday Safe BetAnother political crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Power Book II: Ghost
Weeknight WatchAnother political crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Homeland Saturday SpecialAnother crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
Chicago P.D. Saturday SpecialAnother crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
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Cast & crew
Created by Farhad Safinia
- Kelsey GrammerTom Kane
- Connie NielsenMeredith Kane
- Hannah WareEmma Kane
- Jeff HephnerBen Zajac
- Kathleen RobertsonKitty O'Neil
- Troy GaritySam Miller
- RotimiDarius Morrison
- Jonathan GroffIan Todd
- Sanaa LathanMona Fredricks