The Consultant Season 1 Review: Christoph Waltz Excels in the Comedic-Thriller

Amazon’s newest series, The Consultant, is an attention-getting comedic thriller with aspects of horror that genuinely keeps the audience questioning what’s real or fake from beginning to end.

The Consultant is sinister and intimidating, but on a deeper level, it forces the audience to think about their decisions and their impact, along with the fact that one’s intentions are never as they seem.

Based on the book of the same name by Bentley Little, the eight-episode series, written and created for television by Tony Basgallop, follows Elaine (Brittany O’Grady) and Craig (Nat Wolff), two employees at a top-tier game-developing company called CompWare.

When their boss, Sang Woo (Brian Yoon), dies at the hands of a group of middle-schoolers and all seems lost, in comes Regus Patoff (Christoph Waltz), a consultant who swears he’s working on behalf of their deceased boss.

Patoff discovers new ways to push these characters to their wit’s end, all while keeping a shroud of mystery around himself.

Christoph Waltz is known for his many hit films, with his only prominent television role being on CBS’s Most Dangerous Game. However, The Consultant is a clear example of why he should venture into television and helm more series in the future.

Waltz is the perfect embodiment of the character, and his ability to command a room with a mere facial expression is sensational. The esteemed actor effortlessly brings the essence of Regus Pattoff to life and is a definitive highlight of the series.

On The Consultant Season 1 Episode 1, “Creator,” Patoff begins his reign in a swift takeover, disturbing the evergreen work environment overnight. He moves in so swiftly that there’s no time for the blood to be cleaned from the windows before he’s setting up in Sang’s old office.

In a speech, Patoff exclaims that he is there to oversee production for Sang and improve the company as a whole.

Patoff’s first steps? Informing all employees who work from home that they must be in-office within an hour if they wish to keep their job contracts. Vile, right? It gets worse as the episode progresses, with Patoff locking the front door and refusing entry for a disabled worker moments from entering the building based on the technicality that she was late by ten seconds.

Patoff’s egregious actions put Elaine and Craig in uncomfortable positions, leaving it up to them to determine the truth behind his motives. The offsetting, awkward moments move the audience to relate with these characters on a personal level.

For anyone who’s ever dealt with an overbearing, asinine boss, it’s hard not to take one look at Patoff and immediately relate with Craig and Elaine. The series forces the audience to gauge Patoff’s intentions from beginning to end, weary about his next steps and how they’ll affect the people below him.

Waltz’s impeccable performance in The Consultant primarily keeps me coming back for more. His ability to transfix the audience’s attention and keep anticipation at an all-time high with each passing episode is unmatched.

If the twist at the end of Season 1 Episode 1, “Creator,” isn’t enough to keep your interest, you might as well stop there because the series only escalates further and gets more outlandish.

Craig and Elaine are complex characters that semi-accurately portray the real-life inner workings and thoughts of the average employee in this situation. Obviously, not everyone has had to deal with the extremes of a maniacal boss like The Consultant portrays, but it’s clear the story is meant to connect with viewers on a personal level.

However, Waltz’s Patoff is the real star of the show. His actions are questionable and unorthodox, causing speculation about his true intentions. Still, by the end of the season, it’s clear his time at the company leaves an everlasting impression. The question: does Patoff leave the company better or worse off after his abhorrent actions?

The Consultant cleverly ends Season 1, leaving the option for a renewal on the table. I’m not sure about everyone else, but if Amazon decides to greenlight a second season, I’d be eager to follow Patoff’s story and potentially learn the background of the cryptic character.

My only issue with the series lies with the inconsistent pacing, leaving some episodes to feel chock-full of suspense and further pushing the story. Meanwhile, some episodes feel stagnant, with no actual development taking place outside of providing bits of background information here and there.

The season finale also feels weak, considering the lead-up and build-up all season long, leaving some lingering questions for the viewer.

What did you think of this season of The Consultant? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Consultant is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

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