The Innocents

I have only watched the first couple of episodes but so far I'm gripped. The actors are all doing a great job, Guy Pearce has an amazing presence and the Nordic noir style suits the brooding darkness of northern England perfectly. Sadly after watching another couple of episodes I lost interest though.

Yes it does have some plot holes but it was a surprise that this was a British/Norwegian production. The characters are far more realistic and more believable than if this was an American show. There are clichéd characters but it has enough intrigue and twists that it makes this far superior than other reviews will have you believe. It is not an action show. It is not a glossy supernatural show. It is far more grounded and, if you stick with it, it has enough going on to make you want to watch to the end.

First let me say I'm looking forward to season two. And let me Say that reading these IMDb reviews is like reading the writings of hateful fifth graders. I do not understand it. So I don't often leave a review but will this time because I'm tired of seeing a pattern of creative work being so shallowly and savagely reviewed. It is not perfect. The two main characters are teenagers. It is beautifully filmed. It is a creative and intriguing premise. Young actors are quite good. Yes it is romantic but not in a cloyingly sweet way. Yes it has a more European feel and pace to it , But that isn't a bad thing. I found it enjoyable and not the same as everything else. So worth a view if you like a little sci-fi, supernatural mystery with some twists and turns.

I hate this new trend to make the mystery in a show SO mysteriuous that you have to watch all 10 episodes to figure it out, where, IN ALL THE episodes leading up to the revelation, you could take out 5 and compress into 1 epsiode. I felt Maniac was like that, and this is like that. There is NO REASON they couldn't reveal MORE EARLIER, except, they needed 8 episodes. I started out LOVING this show, but by episode 6, I was just so frustrated. I don't like being left in the dark for an entire season, it's not rewarding. It's lazy, and ruins any ability to sustain tension. It's self-indulgence in an atmosphere that never delivers a compelling story.

I'm genuinely surprised by all of the negative reviews. No, this series isn't a straight 10/10; it has some flaws, but it certainly doesn't deserve the lowly, pathetic ratings between 1-5 stars. Admittedly, yes, the series does move at a slower pace while the protagonist and her boyfriend are figuring out her abilities, but the underlying storyline is so much bigger and more intriguing. While the sole focus appears to be on June and Harry, we have other characters (all with their own motives and backgrounds) searching for June, both with positive and negative intentions. Character and plot development often take time in stories like this because smooth pacing is so much more important than non-stop action. No one enjoys a series that appears to move too quickly without any explanation or proper development, so the fact that this series managed to deliver so much potential in only eight episodes speaks volumes.

I wound up binging the entire first season over the span of two days (damn my need for sleep and other obligations), and I'm not the type to binge something unless I'm genuinely intrigued by or enjoying it. The idea behind "shape-shifting" is originally developed in this story, as the ability to shift is directly linked to experiencing strong emotions, ranging from fear, love, pain, etc. The series even includes interesting mythology regarding Berserker warriors, though it is not discussed as much as I would have enjoyed (one of the few flaws) as I would have preferred to gain more knowledge on how shapeshifters came to exist in their world, and how we only know of a handful. However, it's possible they hope to delve more into the history in season two.

I promise that if you stick with this series, it is very rewarding! There was only one episode I found myself a bit bored with, which involves our teen lovers going to what appears to be a rave, but even that encounter is significant. The boyfriend, Harry, is completely devoted to June. He isn't your typical teen character who makes bad decisions; he tries to steer June in the right direction. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for our protagonist, June. She makes minimal dumb decisions, but it's like in horror films when the main characters do something silly to further the plot. In June's defense, she's only 15 going on 16, and Harry makes up for all of the silly situations she puts them in; although her stupidity and naivety is why I can only rate this 8/10. Yes, she is young, but given what she endures over the span of an eight episode season, she should know better!

I realize this series isn't for everyone, especially since so many bashed the show before giving it a full chance, but if you're a fan of the sci-fi genre, English and/or Norwegian scenery, and great plot development, this is the show for you. However, if you are not a fan of cliffhanger series finales, then you might want to wait for season two to be released, or avoid it completely.