No Good Deed is the type of show I rarely watch.
It’s yet another all-too familiar television series about rich narcissists living in the lush foothills of Los Angeles who apparently don’t work for a living — yet they have no money problems, never clean the house nor do any yard work, and still somehow manage to drink cosmos all day long while desperately trying to manage all that daily stress. Of course, each of their lives is a giant clusterfuck, intersecting with one other in rubbernecking matrix of crippling insecurities, greed, jealousy, adultery, and spite, laced with an overdose of pettiness.
Aww. Poor things.
The cast is letter-LA perfect and exactly what you’d expect for this sort of thing — stoked with television stars from long-running former hit programs including Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow, Denis Leary, and Luke Wilson (casting any Wilson brother should always be a tip off).
The inaugural season and eight-part series debuted on Nextflix this month (Dec. 2024). Each episode runs about 30 minutes, making this seem more like the classic sitcom, except this subject matter wasn’t covered in Leave It to Beaver or The Brady Bunch. This material nor the dialogue would never be suitable for commercial television. Imagine Eddie Haskell dropping a dozen F-bombs in front of Mrs. Cleaver and then bashing Alice over the head with a fireplace poker.
No Good Deed purports to be a dark comedy and murder mystery. That’s an accurate tagline. We’re never quite sure what’s coming ahead in the next scene or the episode. One moment, I’m watching and laughing out loud….and just seconds later the leads are bickering in a bitter argument that makes everyone feel uncomfortable. It’s nearly as awkward as a holiday-season family reunion.
This isn’t to say No Good Deed is a disappointment and should be avoided. To the contrary, there are some terrific moments interspersed throughout the series, due mostly to witty dialogue and often-sarcastic snappy comebacks, delivered by a very solid cast that’s crafted this sort of comedy into a billion-dollar art form. I will admit — the performers surprised me at times. Maybe Lisa Kudrow and Luke Wilson aren’t so bad, after all.
The plot doesn’t matter much, other than serving as a giant drama canvass and launching pad from which to shoot a cavalcade of fireworks. The story is about about a messed up 50-something couple who lost their son in a tragedy. Now, they intend to sell the house which carries way too many painful memories. Three other couples want the house and compete for the opportunity to buy this palatial 1920s-era “cottage” with an asking price of $1 million. Reality Alert: This two -story, perfectly manicured Tuscany-style house overlooks Dodger Stadium and Downtown LA and appears to be about 5,000 square feet. If that house is selling for only $1,000,000, then I’d like the number of their realtor, please–and make it quick!
In the end, No Good Deed left me with mixed emotions and a conflicting reaction. I laughed out loud at least a dozen times. I also found myself cringing on a few occasions, and even considered giving up on the series altogether when the twisted story took some ridiculous unexpected turns. I presume those of you who read this review and then watch may also come away with feelings of ambivalence.
Grade: 6 on a 10 scale