alfitititamus

As a parody, it's seriousness, themes of mental health, depression, mystery, and suspense undo it's humour. And as a mystery thriller, it's self conscious genre mockery undermines and deflates any tension. So what is this show? Maybe the show started as a pure mystery thriller, then some tone deaf egomaniac producer insisted on the farce elements, and no one could say no. Or maybe the writers started writing a comedy but got caught up in the drama elements and took it in that direction, then handed the screenplay in without re-reading it first. Very strange show. It's going to stick with me as an oddity. Maybe that was the point. But I doubt it.

Saying that, it was somehow still consumable. I watched it all the way through. Mainly for the mystery, and the serious elements. And the performances. Thankfully the farce was only intermittant. But it was there, and it went too far with its sillyness, and consequently undermined the whole show.

Scream managed to be a believable genre bender. But this seems like it was trying to be Scream and Scary Movie at the same time.

It's a bit like that time in Friends where Rachel messes up when making a trifle that end up containing layers of custard and whipped cream but also beef, onions and gravy. You can't have all that in one dish and expect it to work. You just end up with a big old mess.

I loved this. It seems that TV shows have forgotten how to tell a story. Entertainment today seems like manufactured products that are based on a concept, made quickly, have stunning visuals but have no actual story. And comedies tend towards being just chronicles of suffering. This show is playful and silly but you can tell that lots of thought has been put into the jokes, the plot has been properly thought through, and the themes give it meaning. It actually tells a story with a beginning, middle and end. It's like a small, perfectly built, sturdy boat in a sea of overblown, top-heavy, hastily bodged rafts. It has given me hope for the future of entertainment. Or maybe it's just a throwback to bygone times. Either way, thank you Michael Myers.