“The show is fueled by small moments in which people miss opportunities for connection or self-improvement rather than seize them. The only other TV series that can match ‘Enlightened’ in this department is ‘Louie’ — and in some ways ‘Enlightened’ might be more impressive, because it’s so much more tightly structured and outwardly traditional, yet strikes emotional notes that are just as surprising … The series manages to be corrosive and compassionate at the same time.

Judging from what’s on-screen, there’s no doubt that White and Dern appreciate and empathize with all of these characters even though they don’t cut them so much as a millimeter of slack. What we’re seeing isn’t a cliched ‘edgy’ indie film worldview — a variation of ‘I love humanity; it’s people I can’t stand.’ ‘Enlightened’ is richer than that. It’s merciless yet somehow not misanthropic. The tone is about as warm as can be without turning gooey.

‘Enlightened’ is probably the sharpest satire of modern white-collar work since the original British version of ‘The Office,’ and its skewering of this world intertwines with its portrait of individual personalities so deftly that you can’t separate them. White has a social satirist’s keen ear and eye.”— Matt Zoller Seitz, Salon