Toon

Well first of all I laughed it big time. And it was not a smiley laugh it was really genuine laughter. I did not expect this much comprehensive directing, you could catch up some rare moments that make you laugh every frame of the show.

You do not have to give time to it either, that is the another good thing with it. It just start and takes you in. Protagonist is played extraordinary and originally, naturally funny dude. He did not have to say anything at all, he make you smile you just have to watch him.

This one is for everyone, it is not cultural or national comic. Everyone who like the funny stuff may have liked it..

The series is really good, makes you wish for a third season. I understood that the whole series is based on making you uncomfortable. There's a german word for that, it's "Fremdschämen" that it's about feeling embarrassed for the others' behavior, situation. It's impressive how good the actors were in creating this atmosphere, it happens in every single scene and you just want them to get out of the situation due to the awkwardness, almost like invited by Toon's refrain

Most Dutch TV-shows are mediocre at best. Toon however, is an exception to this rule. Maybe because it is an independent production, created by KPN (and you can only watch it through a KPN subscription in the Netherlands at this time).

By accident a clip of the nerdy and clumsy Toon, with whom everyone can identify at least a little bit, goes viral. In this clip Toon sings together with the beautiful Nina, who is also socially a bit awkward, and with this clip they suddenly become famous. Toon's sister starts to take care of this duo and becomes their manager. In trying to get the Toon & Nina act even more famous, Toon gets into a lot of socially difficult situations with which he almost can't cope. But every time they seem to get out of it with flying colors.

The roles are played very well by the for me unknown Dutch cast. The story lines are funny and entertaining. Well worth the watch!

(Probably only interesting for Dutchies, because of the references to Dutch locations and cultural events)

Season 1 of the series includes a character named Ab. Without spoiling anything, I can say that he is often around at key moments, supporting our hero. The way he just happened to appear at the right time made me think the was a figment of Toon's imagination, but the other characters interact with him, so that theory was blown.

We laughed, we cried, and wow, we cringed a lot at the uncomfortable social situations that introvert Toon was continually dragged through by folks who feel impelled to "help" him. Whether this excellent series was intended to satirize Dutch culture I don't know, but it seems to play and apply just as well to the instant celebrity absurdity here in the U.S., and probably anywhere.

In the first season, Toon's fame is inadvertent, as a video of his (unsolicited) birthday party goes viral. In season two, skill and effort as an on-the-couch gamer keep him in the public eye. Throughout it all, he makes some effort to avoid the spotlight, but he lacks the social skill and gusto to interrupt a whirlwind that wouldn't stop even if he tried. He ends up taking, as (relationship: it's complicated) Nina points out, "the path of least resistance." And so he's carried along on a painful journey, winning our empathy even as we wince at his inability to grab folks by the scruff of the neck and scream, "F Off!"

Some have complained that the character Toon doesn't show much development. They're missing the point of the whole darn show: he's mostly content with who he is and how he lives, and he shouldn't have to "progress" for the satisfaction of the majority who think everyone should fit the same mold! He does eventually develop some agency to keep true to himself, but Toon will always be Toon. And the world is better, that he can be.

Well worth watching!