TV.com

Joan of Arcadia

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 70

CBS (ended 2005)

USER EDITOR

Gislef

User Score: 925

8.8

User Rating

1,698 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

114

SHOW REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Show Summary

EDIT

Joan of Arcadia is a drama that follows a typical family facing atypical situations, not the least of which is their teenage daughter's conversations with God. A tough but soft-hearted police detective in Arcadia, Will Girardi (Joe Mantegna) dreams of providing a safe haven for his family and community. An outbreak of serious crime in his idyllic new town has challenged Girardi's desire for order, as have the ups and downs he faces with his family. Daughter Joan (Amber Tamblyn), an average teenager, has been acting a little strange. Most don't know that it has to do with the unusual way various people keep popping up, introducing themselves as God and then giving her specific directions to do things, such as get a job, join the debate team or volunteer with children. The appearances are hard for her to believe, even more so as she never knows who's going to turn up next. One minute it's a cute boy her own age, the next it's the lunch lady or a little girl. She'd been keeping it a secret from everyone, though she has finally revealed it to her artistic and generally sensitive boyfriend, Adam (Christopher Marquette), who believes she's been experiencing hallucinations. Rounding out the Girardi family are her art-teacher mother, Helen (Mary Steenburgen); her 16-year-old science-geek brother, Luke (Michael Welch), and her older, newspaper-writer brother, Kevin (Jason Ritter), a former high-school sports star who is in a wheelchair as a result of a car accident. Joan's unlikely new best friend is her publicly caustic and rebellious, but privately insightful and supportive classmate, Grace (Becky Wahlstrom). Unsure of what God wants--if God exists--and if she's even sane, Joan tentatively follows God's cryptic directives, all the while trying to retain a normal teenaged existence. Theme Song: "One of Us" Performed by Joan Osborne CBS Broadcast History: September 2003 - May 2005 --- Friday 8:00 pm Awards and Nominations: 2003 - Won - People's Choice Awards - Favorite New Dramatic Series 2003 - Won - American Film Institute - Top 10 TV Programs of the Year 2004 - Nominated - Golden Globes - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Drama): Amber Tamblyn 2004 - Nominated - Golden Satellite Awards - Best Performance by an Actress in a Series (Drama): Amber Tamblyn 2004 - Won - Golden Satellite Awards - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series (Drama): Mary Steenburgen 2004 - Won - Saturn Awards - Best Actress on TV: Amber Tamblyn 2004 - Nominated - SyFy Genre Awards - Best Young Actor: Amber Tamblyn and Michael Welch 2004 - Won - The Humanitas Prize - 60 Minute TV Category: Pilot episode 2004 - Nominated - The Humanitas Prize - 60 Minute TV Category: The Uncertainty Principle episode 2004 - Nominated - Television Critics Assn. - Outstanding New Program 2004 - Nominated - Teen Choice Awards - Best TV Show: Drama, TV Actress Drama: Amber Tamblyn, and Choice Fresh Face: Amber Tamblyn 2004 - Nominated - Emmy - Outstanding Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actress in Drama Series: Amber Tamblyn; Outstanding Guest Actress in Drama Series: Louis Fletcher (Do The Math episode) 2004 - Nominated - Artios Awards - Dramatic Pilot Casting: Vicki Rosenberg 2004 - Won - The Family Television Awards - Best Drama Series and TV Actress: Amber Tamblynmoreless

Episode Guide

S 2 : Ep 22	Something Wicked This Way Comes	Aired 4/22/05
S 2 : Ep 21	Common Thread	Aired 4/15/05
S 2 : Ep 20	Spring Cleaning	Aired 4/8/05
S 2 : Ep 19	Trial and Error	Aired 4/1/05
S 2 : Ep 18	Secret Service	Aired 3/4/05

See Full Episode Guide

Cast & Crew

EDIT

Joe Mantegna	Will Girardi
Michael Welch	Luke Girardi
Mary Steenburgen	Helen Girardi
Christopher Marquette	Adam Rove (Seasons 2+; recurring previously)
Amber Tamblyn	Joan Girardi
Jason Ritter	Kevin Girardi

See All Cast & Crew

Joan of Arcadia Listings

Full Listings

Thursday

No results found.

Friday

No results found.

Saturday

No results found.

Fan Reviews (114)

Unnime

10

By TiagoNobre1, Aug 18, 2012

Olha, estou assistindo o seriado e apreciando demais! Todos meus amigos esto curtindo muito... Finalmente alguma coisa na TV para falar do ser humano como um todo! Muito bom...
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Another Great Show before its time

9.0

By mindmalfunction, May 29, 2012

Time for a remake - this was a great show and would fit in with today's favourited genre.
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Sequel to the last episode

10

By hduck1, Jan 03, 2012

I need a movie or book to follow the last episode of this series. An elaboration needs to be made to Joan's encounter with the evil character. Please!
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide
I loved this episode... heck, I loved the show itself...

9.8

By peacejaw, Feb 01, 2009

I loved this episode, but I do wish that we could have seen some of the future for the family... like who Joan, Luke, and what's his name of a brother... actually marry? And what will happen to the brother in the wheelchair? Does he ever walk again? And will Joan & her friends be able to stop the guy who's starting all the fires.... especially before anyone gets seriously hurt? And will anyone but her close friends believe who is starting the fires?

We can only imagine what will happen, since the show's been cancelled, and has been for awhile now... and possibly even write some fanfiction/stories about the show itself, and all the character developments, etc...moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide
One of the most highly intelligent shows ever written about the place of God in human society, shown through the view of a young high school girl, and those of her family as it copes with its own tragedy.moreless

10

By igotbupkis, Jul 08, 2008

Unfortunately, this show was a particularly intelligent one for people who AREN'T particularly religious (or are filled with doubt, or have problems with the classic view of God).

It had issues with appealing to actually highly religious people. I won't detail them much, but the one PC sop, having God appear as a rather effete male, suggesting that it's ok to be gay is sure to annoy some religious types, with adequate Biblical argument on their side (regardless of if oyu agree, it's still going to annoy many highly religious people). I think it should have been either left as a topic-to-be-avoided (such as denominational issues, including judaism, Xtianity, and Islam) or confronted head on, with some sort of acknowledgement of what the Bible states but leaving the fact that it's between each person and God rather than something to be enforced by others. The show did neither, which did not help.

That said, there was a movement by some Xtian groups to write-in to save the show, so not all Xtians were sufficiently offended by the show, which was on the cusp after the second season. Its initial popularity obviously surprised the hell out of CBS -- there's a reason they put it in the Friday Night Death Zone in the first place (remember, The Passion of the Christ came out in 2004, the first Narnia in 2005. Joan debuted in 2003).

Another issue -- God is not supposed to appear to anyone again, after Jesus, until the Second Coming -- i.e., there are no further prophets (including Mohammed) -- which I have no problem with in the context of the show, as it is certainly never claimed or suggested that Joan is a prophet -- but I know at least one person who cited the Biblical passage as an excuse to reject the show unseen, and yes, I think he's an idiot. So its basis can chase away part of the "obvious" audience, Xtians, while not making its appeal known to the actual target -- people open to belief but who have problems with the classic view of God. This show is very good for people who consider themselves Agnostic or even somewhat Athiestic, or who have Really Serious Doubts -- because I believe it presents a view of God which is more humanistic and rationalistic than many "official" views. If the basis for your disbelief and doubt is associated with problems with the "classic view" of God, this show may provide you with a view you will find more acceptable to your own sense of Right And Wrong. I think that God, in this show, makes sense in light of the problems in this world. That can be a basis for Faith.

I'm not making any promises -- YMMV -- but I think it's a fantastic show, exceedingly well written, with excellent acting and characters, and it does address issues with God, and The Problems of the World (and why God may choose to not interfere) with a remarkable level of intelligence and wisdom. If you don't believe in God, you may, watching this show, find a view of God which you can respect and believe in.

At the very least, the show can be a good source of some great late-night BS sessions in a college dorm about religion and its place in society. And that's not necessarily a bad way to find religion, either.

It is unfortunate that the show ended so abruptly, but, despite the cliffhanger series end, it's still very much worth the time spent watching it.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
4 0

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Latest News

JOAN OF ARCADIA CREATOR BRINGS EXORCIST SERIES TO TV.

New CBS pilots follow exorcist, '70s swing set

By Reuters, Dec 20, 2006

ALREADY MISSING THE TIME SPENT WITH FAMILY ON THANKSGIVING? SPEND A LITTLE POST-TURKEY DAY TIME WITH THE CAMDENS IN 7TH HEAVEN, THE WILDERS IN THEIR LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, OR THE GIRARDIS IN THE SECOND SEASON OF JOAN OF ARCADIA. OR YOU COULD TRY SPICING THINGS UP WITH BONES, CRIMINAL MINDS, OR JAMIE KENNEDY'S BLOWIN' UP.

November 28, 2006 DVD Releases

By Ian Micklewright, Nov 22, 2006

See All News

Photos

See All Photos

Forums: Joan of Arcadia

Add a Topic

Favourite character
I just wondering who's everyone's favourite character is. Mine's Friedman. He's really odd but in a good way. Reminds me of a frie...

By GusF, Jan 02, 2006

09/10/11

39
Reply
Jesus?
I have only just started on the second series but I couldn't wait to find the answer to my question. Was Jesus ever mentioned?Did ...

By alyssa01, Jan 04, 2009

09/10/11

8
Reply
Joan of Arcadia E4
Just watched the Pilot Episode in the UK on E4 :)looks very good :) any other UK viewers watch it?its on 6.50am and 11am on E4 and...

By purplepansy, Jan 04, 2008

09/10/11

11
Reply
Friday Night AKA Judith's Death
what do you guys think about this episode

By JJAlexandrovna, Jul 22, 2008

09/10/11

2
Reply
Hello? *hears echoes*
Hi! I was just wondering i anyone is ALIVE out there or if this is a DEAD thread? So please if u see this please say ur name! ty!~...

By indigorain_, Jul 20, 2007

09/10/11

7
Reply