Utopia Falls

I've seen a lot of opinions razzing the show. No, Utopia Falls wasn't what I was expecting. With a synopsis that sounds like The Giver meets Hunger Games, I was fascinated. While many seem to have taken offense when music and dance entered the picture, I was elated. The first few episodes are a little rocky, but all new shows are. What really excites me is the emphasis on current cultural commentary as seen through the arts. This reminds us that protest doesn't have to be violent to be taken seriously and that same and equal aren't synonymous. We can be equal and unique at the same time, music can hold social commentary, and dance can stand up for rights. I may not understand some of the slang, at 35 I'm just not up to date on pop culture lingo, but as New Babyl is learning, I can appreciate it without necessarily conforming, because different isn't a bad thing. I look forward to finishing the season and truly hope for a second.

Has one that is a fan of anything other than rap music oh, I was kind of turned off at the beginning. I gave it a chance because the showrunner is the same person that did the Stargate series and Dark Matter. The show definitely gets more interesting as it goes on.. these so-called idyllic future has a dark secret to it that begins being revealed after a few episodes. Yes, there is a lot of dance to it but that is not the heart of the show. Like too many shows, too many people give up too early. They had to set the stage for what was to come.. and what is to come gets more interesting every episode! I'm not typically one that is into young teen shows but this one is different because the underlying theme is relevant to everyone.. don't always trust what you're told! Just give it three or four episodes.. if you are a fan of the Stargate series you will probably end up loving it!

Trying to parent in a digital age, I found this series great to sit down and watch with my 11 year old.

It definitely has potential. The actors are decent, some episodes are average, but it has some good points. Don't get all the bad reviews that haven't even watched 2-3 episodes, it picks up after episode 2, it's not a great series, but it has potential.

I'm really eager for Season 2! It took a little bit for the show to find it's footing, but it's very enjoyable. The 1984-esque Authority environment in New Babyl sets a dark tone that, in some ways, is distressingly similar to our current world, all in the guise of a Utopian society.

To address some of the complaints I've seen here:

The singers are pretty good, the actor who plays Bodhi is a great performer, and the dancers are incredible.

If you continue the show, you'll see that it absolutely makes sense to elevate dance/song/music to such heights--I mean, it always struck me a bit odd that in Hunger Games, it was essential to be combat trained and ready to participate/succeed in the games. If you're going to oppress a people, why on earth would you encourage them to know how to kill people and to be capable of doing so?

Meanwhile, art performance can certainly be used to distract, shift focus, control a narrative without making your populace combat-ready.

Overall, it's a show that can really suck you in within an episode or two--I binged the whole thing in three nights. I *really* hope it gets picked up for a second season!!!