sorrelm

Watched this the first time very idly as a no brainer bit of fluff when I was feeling stressed (I am very far from the YA audience). It was a fun ride in the same way as a good doctor who episode, so I binged the whole thing.

The premise of the show and the alternate reality setting feels so fresh and engaging in a sea of other supernatural and fantasy shows. It puts me in mind of Travelers, another show that put a very interesting twist on a tired trope. Also like Travelers the acting and character development in Lockwood is top notch.

I was so hooked by the cliffhanger ending that I got the books just to find out what was behind that door. The arc of the whole series is so good! I am astonished at how deeply wounded I feel that I won't get to see this amazing cast and crew bring the whole story to life!

I've since rewatched the show again and it was even better the second time round. Yes they are teenagers and make stupid decisions for the sake of narrative but the characters have such heart and humour and depth. I am smitten with them all. I really hope Netflix or someone else picks up the ball on this show. I will certainly be watching if they do.

I sincerely believe that Netflix has made a foolish mistake in cancelling this show. The alt reality setting makes it timeless, the quality of the cast and the compelling storytelling from the writers and crew make it very rewatchable. And not just by the YA market it was made for if I'm anything to go by!

*** Update mid July 2023 I had to update my review to say that since I wrote the above I have watched it again several times, something I don't normally do, but I'm just in love with this show! Watching it makes me feel good 😊

Every time I spot something new, in the sets or the performances or the character arcs or the subtext. All the actors are good, but the young lead actors are astonishing at times, just learning their craft but so much nuance communicated in their every expression and tone of voice. The quality of the world building and the beauty of the cinematography is well above what I expect from this sort of thing. Every watch through I find myself grinning joyfully - how can I still not be bored? It's like riding a favourite rollercoaster - you know the twists and turns but they still get you!

Put your phone in another room, get comfy and just watch every second of it. It's worth it!

I very rarely give a show 10 out of 10 but I had to do it for this show because it really does deserve it.

I was also surprised no-one else had left a review given the wide range of votes it has received so here is mine.

These shows are about how the interior plumbing etc of these animals helps them live and thrive in their respective niches. It dissects real animal carcasses to show us their various adaptations and often explains how they evolved. In some cases they also perform an autopsy to uncover how the animal died.

I do not recommend eating when viewing, it can be pretty gory and gross at times, but never gratuitously so.

It gets 10/10 because: The presenters are very knowledgeable AND very engaging. The facts are presented and explained in an easily digested way. The animals are completely fascinating and I have learned a lot from EVERY episode.

Other reviewers have compared it with several other shows - I think the most relevant comparisons are with Misfits and Northern Exposure. Don't expect a Heroes style epic adventure, the stories are on a smaller (more human) scale, but very engaging.

The character development is nicely handled and by the end of the season I was really interested in all the characters - even the ones that annoyed me at first.

Some of the acting is a bit soapy hence my lower rating but it's a great concept, well executed and the story gets better and better as it develops. I can't wait to see where they take it next season!

UPDATE: Having watched and re-watched all the episodes of the first 2 seasons and having just finished and digested watching season 3, I felt I really needed to update my review, written after watching season 1. I have upgraded my vote from a 7 to a 9. I only marked it down (from an 8) originally because I thought some of the acting a bit soapy, but on reflection it wasn't the acting, it was the lighting, and this improved by season 2. The stories are creative and compelling and human; the actors play their parts really well. It just gets better and better as the seasons progress. I was worried at the end of season 2 that it would jump the shark if it continued, but season three was just utterly AWESOME! That is what pulled it up to a 9. There are very, very few shows out there as good as this one. It ended beautifully, but with a sneaky little something to leave a door open to continue and I really, really hope they do.