This 10-Part Sitcom With a Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Disappointing Fans

3 weeks ago 12

Published Mar 18, 2026, 6:03 AM EDT

Jenni grew up in South Jersey and developed a love for reality television at a young age when she first watched "The Osbournes." Often describing reality television as a "docuseries," Jenni loves exploring both the entertainment the shows provide and the deeper impact they have on America's cultural footprint.

Critics are loving NBC’s The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins starring Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe, calling them a match made in heaven, but the average viewer is giving the show a failing score. It’s possible the disconnect between critics and viewers is because of how the show’s being released. Critics saw more of the season right off the bat, whereas viewers are waiting for weekly episodes to drop.

'The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins' Is Better as a Binge Watch

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have given The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins a 100 percent rating on the movie reviewing website. But, viewers are only giving it 67 percent, as of the time of the publication of this article. That shouldn’t come as a total surprise to critics, because even critics have recognized that they’re at an advantage when it comes to enjoying the series.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins markets itself as a comedy and Radcliffe and Morgan actually play off each other really well. But, the show starts off with the characters in less than funny situations. Instead of diving into the comedy, the show begins by trying to build out the depth of the two characters. Morgan is a loud comedian, but in the early episodes of the show, he and Radcliffe are put together in scenes that are quiet and intended to be heartfelt.

There’s nothing wrong with having more serious scenes in a comedy, but, with a weekly release, it’s harder to build that investment with viewers who were expecting to laugh. Had the show been a binge release, this early, quiet start might have been fine because people could watch the entire thing at one time. Which is at least partially how critics got to watch it, and possibly why there’s such a disconnect between what critics think about the show and what the average viewer thinks.

Erika Alexander & Tracy Morgan in a scene for The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins on NBC.

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Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe Get Better With Time

Right out of the gate, the show introduces a lot of side characters. You have Brina, the influencer and new girlfriend, Rusty, a former NFL player who lives with Reggie, Carmelo, his son, and Monica, Reggie’s ex-wife, all taking center stage very early on. Of course, every show has to introduce characters quickly, but the characters lean so hard into their archetype at the beginning of the season that it’s hard to get invested in them. But, as the episodes progress, the characters start playing off each other so flawlessly and their understandings of each other show endearing moments of growth instead of hard shifts that can feel like whiplash.

That mojo starts to really get going in the third or fourth episode, which is why the weekly release may have lost some viewers. Without the strong comedy from Morgan and Radcliffe in the beginning and no reason to fall in love with any of the characters right off the bat, it would be easy for viewers to give up on the show.

By the third episode, “Put it on your cabbage!,” the characters settle into a groove and start to branch out of their typical stereotypes. After spending the day at a fancy spa, viewers get to see a different side to Brina and Monica. While Brina’s played the gold-digging younger woman well, viewers–and Monica–learn that she has a successful career as an influencer. But, showrunners didn’t just make the episode about showing the growth of Brina, they also showed a different side to Monica. While she’s always played the high-powered, career-oriented woman, this time, she teams up with Brina to negotiate a brand deal. It gives Monica a chance to show her caring and almost maternal side.

The Jokes Get Better The More You Watch – And Rewatch

Tracy Morgan wears a tux while leaning over a kitchen counter in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins

At first, some of the jokes feel forced given how heartfelt the initial scenes are in the show. But, as the show progresses, the jokes that Morgan makes in his ordinary day while trying to spend as much time at home as possible feel completely natural. Almost as if viewers were just hanging out with Dinkins at his house and he was making completely off-the-cuff comments.

One of the funniest moments is when viewers learn that Dinkins loves FDNY Chicago, a fictional show that’s a spoof on the first responder crossover series that are hits on several networks. And, at the end of the episode, we see Dinkins and Tobin run into a firefighter from Chicago on assignment in New York City. It’s an excellent callback.

With the chaotic energy of the show and the slow start, the episodes actually get better the more you rewatch the show. It’s easier to pick up on the dry comedy that makes it a hit with critics after getting past the slow start and when viewers can focus on the one-liners that could easily be missed on a first watch.