K-SCORE: 71
Director: Jonathan Entwistle, Lucy Tcherniak
Writer: Charlie Covell
Starring: Alex Lawther, Jessica Barden
Spoiler Level: Very Minor
“flawed but endearing... awkward but sweet”
This new British series that Netflix popped up one day is actually somewhat refreshing. It’s got a rather simple Bonnie and Clyde conflict that propels it forward no matter what, so the series can afford to dick around with its characters and settings a lot of the time. The base conflict of two teenagers that run away together, stealing and clambering further and farther away from their families, is a little exciting and interesting, if somewhat unoriginal. Because they get themselves into very serious trouble rather quickly, any smaller scene has underlying tension. Thus the creators were able to play, so to speak, with their characters, drawing them closer, pulling them apart, developing their relationship or having them mature, all with little moments. Both leads are flawed but endearing and their connection is awkward but sweet.
That said, I’m not sure I’d watch it again. There’s no mystery element. There’s very little depth outside of character work. And though it strikes out with a darkly comedic tone, it loses that early on and focuses on drama. The more realistic the characters become, the more believable everything is, yet the more unfortunate their circumstances. When it has an independent, extremely rebellious girl striking out with a sociopathic boy she chose almost randomly, the show has a surrealist charm. When it’s a troubled eighteen-year-old boy and his troubled seventeen-year-old girlfriend who’ve committed some serious crimes, it’s less fun and more tragic.
At eight twenty minute episodes, it won’t take you long. Yeah, alright, maybe my review archive would be deeper and more valuable with a thorough analysis of Mad Men or Gilmore Girls, shows on an equal plane in the enjoyment spectrum, but in each case you’re talking about 7 seasons with 10-20 hours of content per. Say what you will about The End of the F***ing World, it comes and goes rather quickly.
DUM DUM DUMMMM!!