Following the history of great men, this season unlike the first season that follows, Albert Einstein, a great scientist who develops the theory of relativity, this season revolves around, Pablo Picasso, a famous artist. This season dramatizes two important periods in his life : The first period as a young talented who has no idea about the value of his talent. The second period as a celebrated man who struggles against Fascism and his ideas.
When the drama comes vividly alive, as it does often enough, the subject is seldom art. It's almost always Picasso (a seductive if also largely unknowable character in Antonio Banderas's subtle portrayal) and the women who loved him.
Almost all of the dialogue in Genius: Picasso is comparably exaggerated and cringe-inducing. The great man is ever wailing things like, "I can only paint what I feel!" and "You only teach rules and imitation. I want to do something original! Unique!"
If the expectation of Genius is to grant the viewer some sliver of enlightenment about the inner workings of complex minds, it has fallen down in its mission yet again.
There are some enjoyable passages and good performances in addition to [Antonio] Banderas', but overall the series - so far as I have seen it - is prey to the usual compressions and exaggerations of the bio-pictorial form.
"Picasso" certainly offers much to catch your eye. And you're in splendid company throughout this journey. Despite all of this, however, this accomplished and impressive work of art misses being the stuff of genius.
Genius: Picasso, with its notable performances by both Banderas and Colley, has a chance to become much more than a paint-by-the-numbers bio as its story proceeds.
