TV Review: Miracle Workers

February 8th 2019, 9:40am

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Synopsis: Craig is a low-level angel responsible for handling all of humanity’s prayers. His boss, God, pretty much has checked out to focus on his favorite hobbies. To prevent Earth’s destruction, Craig must achieve his most impossible miracle to date

Review: There are good ideas and bad ideas and then there are fucking brilliant ideas. One such brilliant idea is Steve Buscemi is God. Like me, I am sure many of you have had this thought come up in your mind, sober or under the influence, but now we get to see just what it would be like for one of our most beloved actors to play the Almighty. The results are definitely not what you would expect and I mean that in the best way posible. Miracle Workers is a hilarious and heartfelt comedy that will appeal to everyone no matter how cynical or jaded you may be. Hidden under a layer of black comedy is a story that can appeal to even the least religious of viewers. Plus, it has Daniel Radcliffe in one of his best roles since the Harry Potter franchise.

Despite the marketing materials, Miracle Workers is not purely a showcase for Buscemi or Radcliffe. While both actors get to shine in their respective roles, this is truly an ensemble series similar to creator Simon Rich's underrated series Man Seeking Woman which aired on FXX for three seasons. That series starred Jay Baruchel and featured surreal storylines and subplots that drove the wacky material. Miracle Workers is all surreal and wacky as it takes place in a corporate version of the afterlife called Heaven Inc. The story starts with low level angel Eliza (Geraldine Viswanathan from BLOCKERS) who is reassigned to the Department of Answered Prayers. She becomes the focal character and our gateway to the story. Viswanathan delivers a cute performance that also allows her to play off of the much more broad work by Radcliffe, Buscemi, Soni, and a selection of guest stars that include Margaret Cho, Chris Parnell, and Tim Meadows.

Along the way we also meet Karan Soni (DEADPOOL) as God's executive archangel, Sanjay, as well as assistant Rosie (Lolly Adefope) who deal with God's wacky sensibilities. In fact, this version of God is nothing like you have seen before. Lazy and scatterbrained, Buscemi plays God as a bumbling idiot who hides an infinite amount of knowledge behind a hippie-like demeanor. In many ways, Buscemi channels the performance of Jeff Bridges in THE BIG LEBOWSKI for this role. Taking a cue from the Old Testament diety, Buscemi's God is wrathful, vindictive, and cares little for the humans on Earth who have forgotten their creator. That leads him to decide to destroy the Earth in two weeks. Not wanting that to happen, Eliza teams with Craig and makes a wager with God that will save Earth.

Simon Rich, whose background as a writer includes work on Pixar's INSIDE OUT as well as THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, is able to take this insane concept and makes it work by investing everything into the characters. There are countless sight gags and jokes inherent in comparing Heaven to any multinational corporation complete with HR and annoying coworkers. RIch takes the story beyond that by rooting the humor in the idea that there is nothing weird about what is going on and that it is just the way the world works. Each episode teases out more backstory and develops the relationship between God, Heaven, and Earth which allows the story to work as both allegory and pure entertainment. Similar to the fan following for NBC's similar series The Good Place, Miracle Workers takes a bent and adult take on a story that will appeal to everyone if given the chance. Plus you have to be okay with dick jokes.

Miracle Workers follows other recent quirky hits from TBS including the alien abduction sitcom People of Earth and the Millennial murder mystery Search Party. Of those shows, Miracle Workers is the lone limited series with a full run of just seven episodes. Having seen the whole story, it does reach a satisfying conclusion but one that definitely leaves potential for future seasons. But, with so many series overstaying their welcome, I almost hope that this is a one and done story. I wouldn't object to seeing Daniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi back in these roles for a second run if the story was worthwhile, but this story mines the jokes perfectly and earns each laugh. And I guarantee you will laugh.

Miracle Workers premieres February 12th on TBS.