This is the second TV series that was adapted from a comic book by Charles Forsman. The first series based on Forsman's work was
The End of the F***ing World (2017), which was mostly directed by British filmmaker, Jonathan Entwhistle. That first series was set in the United Kingdom. This second series is entirely directed by Entwhistle, but this one is set in the United States. Both series focus on teenage characters, particularly a teenage girl and teenage boy. Both shows are described as dark comedy. The 2017 series could be considered a comedy in the way that
American Psycho (2000) could be considered a comedy or funny in that twisted way. It's comedy that's centered around murder and mayhem, as it were. That same sense of humor is somewhat transferred into this series, but, putting the format aside, I myself wouldn't really describe this as a comedy. There are funny moments, especially in the first, two episodes, but the series leans more toward thriller and horror.
Given that Shawn Levy is a producer on this project, I would most compare this series more to Stranger Things (2016). Yes, it centers on a teen girl with supernatural powers, but, it's also swimming in nostalgia to the 1980's. This series isn't occurring in the 80's like Stranger Things, but the references and nostalgia for that decade are strongly felt here. First, that nostalgia comes in the setting. The series takes place in and around the Pittsburgh area. The towns or the specific locations used here in western Pennsylvania have that throwback quality to 40 years ago or so. Secondly, that nostalgia comes in how the characters are rendered.
Sophia Lillis (
It and
Sharp Objects) stars as Sydney Novak, a 17-year-old girl who bears a striking resemblance to Molly Ringwald when she was at her heights in the 80's. However, she's a bit of a tomboy. In fact, she's the tomboy version of Ringwald. She doesn't really like girly things like wearing dresses or having long hair. She is self-described as moody and with anger issues, stemming from the death of her father who committed suicide. This trauma is compounded because her mother has been too busy working double-shifts at a local diner to sit-down and have a thoughtful conversation about it. She's been more frustrated because she's had to look after her younger brother more.
Wyatt Oleff (It and Guardians of the Galaxy) co-stars as Stanley Barber, a classmate of Sydney and a neighbor who lives a block or so away. He's the proxy for 80's nostalgia that's used the most. If Sydney is Molly Ringwald, then Stanley could be Jon Cryer or specifically Cryer's character from Pretty in Pink (1986). It's not just that Stanley dresses like Duckie, but he likes vinyl records, VHS tapes, the Rubik's Cube and he even drives a car that is from that decade. However, Stanley could also be Anthony Michael Hall's character from The Breakfast Club (1985), which is another film starring Ringwald. He is essentially that character in Episode 5, an episode that specifically does a homage to The Breakfast Club.
The difference between this and those Ringwald films, directed by John Hughes, is that this series tackles LGBTQ themes. Sydney starts to develop super-powers, specifically telekinesis. Obviously, there have been numerous films and TV shows at this point about teenagers developing or having super-powers and how they've had to hide them. It wasn't until
X-Men 2 (2003) that people started making the connection on a broader scale of that idea being applied to LGBTQ people. That 2003 film had it purely as a metaphor. Yet, this series makes it more explicit that the idea is being applied to a person realizing their homosexuality or same-sex attraction. In this case, it's Sydney realizing her same-sex attraction.
Sofia Bryant (The Code and The Good Wife) also co-stars as Dina, the best friend to Sydney. She grew up with Sydney and has been with her through her ups and downs. Yet, as a junior in high school, Dina has developed more feminine features and has more of an interest in boys. Dina is currently dating the main jock and most popular boy in school, the quarterback on the football team. Dina's relationship with this boy has resulted in her spending less time with Sydney. It becomes clear when the two go to a birthday party of one of the football players that Sydney misses Dina and has more romantic feelings toward her.
Entwhistle and co-creator Christy Hall delicately and effectively navigate Sydney's story of discovering those feelings and trying to grapple with them. It also realistically deals with someone discovering they have a superpower without all the trappings of typical comic-book stories, which isn't a new thing, but it's refreshingly done here. The opening scene of the first episode is perhaps a spoiler of what this series is building. The opening scene seems like it might be a reference to
Carrie (1976), which isn't a reference to the 1980's, but it is based on a book by Stephen King who is mostly associated with that decade. If someone was going to do a queer version of
Carrie as a TV series, this show would be it.
Rated TV-MA.
Running Time: 30 mins. / 7 eps.
Available on Netflix.
Comments
Post a Comment