I really like this series. It's set in Southern California in the late 60s and revolves around Detective Sam Hodiak of LAPD and people associated with him, and Charles Manson and his associates. It is inspired by the real events of that time, including the infamous murders carried out by the "Manson Family", but is largely fictional. I read there was strong opposition to this series by surviving relatives of some of the murder victims. From what I read I gathered that many of them didn't want to see any re-enactments of their loved ones' murders, which is understandable. There may also have been some fears that Manson would be somehow glorified because of the series. I can understand their strong emotional reaction to anything which they see as a commercialization of their tragic losses. Manson was and is a ruthless, conniving criminal who preyed upon everyone he could, as when he tortured Gary Henman in order to gain access to all his money and saleable possessions and then ordered him murdered. It sickens me everytime I read or hear about young people who admire and/or defend Manson, even to this day. I am dead set against any portrayal of Charles Manson as a sympathetic character. I don't see any whitewashing of Manson in the Aquarius series. He is shown to be the manipulative, conniving, thieving, felon he was. So I have no criticism of the show in that regard.

There are several intersecting plot lines in the show which helps keep it interesting. I was a boy during the late 60s. The show does a fairly good job showing the old racial attitudes and prejudices. I thought all the actors did a great job. The Vietnam War was in full swing in the late 60s as were the protests against it and against the government of Richard Nixon. This cultural current of the times is woven into the storyline as well. SPOILER ALERT Walt Hodiak, Det. Sam Hodiak's son, stole classified documents and went AWOL, returning to LA with the intention of publicly disclosing the documents which he said: "prove that the President is lying to the people".
Det. Hodiak (David Duchovny) told Walt that it is the President's job to lie to the American people. Walt responded saying: "It's not my job." This wide-eyed juvenile and selective view of righteousness and duty served as Walt's justification for his impulsive and short-sighted decisions which led to his later arrest and imprisonment. What was Walt's job as a soldier? It wasn't to steal classified documents or publicly reveal them. It wasn't to disobey orders, go AWOL, or break his oath. All his actions increased the risk to his fellow soldiers, whom he claimed to love. And they gave comfort to the enemy, an enemy guilty of genocide and gross war crimes, including the torture and murder of prisoners of war. Walt's faux righteousness and selective moral outrage are reminiscent of the attitudes and justifications expressed by leftist radicals and protesters prevalent during that period (and among the same elements today). I would like to have seen Det. Hodiak tear down Walt's arguments and justifications more forcefully but in the show, Sam Hodiak seems reticent to say too much for fear of driving his son away.

I would really like to have seen this series continued for several more seasons. To date, there have been only two seasons, 26 episodes, created. I read that the show was canceled. That is really a shame. The network execs should at least have allowed the show one more season, even if a shortened one, to try to tie up the plot lines, to resolve issues, and to provide answers to mysteries. The viewers deserve this. When networks commit to a show they should commit to the viewers as well, such that in the event of a cancellation there is sufficient notice given to the writers and producers to create an ending to the show, to give closure.

Well, here is hoping that some other network picks up Aquarius for at least one more season.