As the name suggests, The End Of The F*cking World is not your usual teen comedy. It’s still a comedy, albeit a bleaker and more morbid version. If you’re into dark comedies, you’ve just stumbled onto your next binge series.
Based on the comic book of the same name by Charles Forsman, The End Of
The F*cking World takes to the screen in a refreshingly indie adaptation that blends violence and humour. Forsman’s unique perspective has made him a well-loved voice in the world of indie comics, and it looks like this adaptation is set to entertain us couch potatoes too.
Excerpt from the original comic by Charles Forsman
Packaged into 8 episodes that are all under 22 minutes each, the series will be over sooner than you realise. Each episode draws you further into the lives of our main couple, James and Alyssa, who must honestly be the most awkward yet suitable pairing ever. The series is all about the nitty-gritty details of real-life, and plays out like a Wes Anderson movie. In a oversaturated landscape, this series is like a breath of fresh air due to its interestingly unorthodox plot.
The show seems to move at a slow pace, yet so much is happening at the same time, compelling you to click the ‘play’ button because you can’t even wait for the 20 seconds in between episodes on Netflix.
Awkward, awkward, AWKWARD
Right from the get-go, our not-so-lovable-but-super-relatable antagonist, James, proclaims himself to be a psychopath. As he picks out his first victim and tries to plan out his first murder, he soon realises that not everything is so simple. James agrees to accompany Alyssa to run away from home to find her father with his own ulterior motives that sets them on a journey to understand themselves and the world more. This coming-of-age series is punctuated with nuances of comedy and real-life teachings that we can all relate personally, without the ‘predictable’ element of so many other coming-of-age shows out there.
https://youtu.be/pLEBe5VWMX8
SPOILER ALERT!
Now that the trailer’s got your attention, let’s get more into why everyone needs to watch The End Of The F*cking World this weekend. The premise is pretty interesting, but it’s the characters and their dynamics that really got to us.
Let’s start off with the unfortunate James and Alyssa. It seems our two main characters don’t get a break as they face more serious troubles which starts small like stealing a car and running without paying after eating at a diner, but eventually ends up in the shithole when James gets his wish to murder someone. Except that the someone isn’t Alyssa, and he’s actually saving her.To put it bluntly, the two of them seem to face the end of the f*cking world at every turn as they try to outrun the law. Despite the awry mess that James and Alyssa find themselves in, they end up seeing the good in each other – a gentle reminder that no matter how how much of a loner you think you are, there is someone else out there for you. You just need to find that one person. For James and Alyssa, that person is each other. They can so easily discard clothes, cars, and other people, yet they still find their way back to each other. You could even call them soulmates, but hey, just remember the circumstances in which they met and you’ll be reconsidering if love is such a beautiful thing after all.
Jessica Barden and Alex Lawther, who play Alyssa and James, have an quiet chemistry that gradually intensifies as the show progresses. Despite their deadpan acting that somehow seems to work as part of their characters, Barden and Lawther are able to turn any scene into a thrilling, nail-biting one in the fly of a moment. Couple that with the on point music by music supervisor Matt Biffa who chooses the right music – whether is an edgy 1960 chart topper or classical strings – turning scenes that would seem cliched into lighthearted, and even comedic moments, and you’ve got an unique show unlike any other out there. You know those scenes of mayhem with classical music in the background? Yes, you can expect those for some dark comedy in this series.
Our favourite dynamic had to be the pair of detectives who were assigned to tracking down the murderer of Clive Koch. We’re going to leave you to watch the series to find out who he is, how he is related to our favourite teen couple, and why he got murdered. Just like every other police duo that makes for comedy gold, DC Eunice Noon and DC Teri Donoghue are pretty conflicting when it comes to morals and ethics. Donoghue’s more cold-hearted, and even wants to wait a few days for James to turn 18 so that he can be officially tried as an adult on the stand, whilst Noon is more sympathetic to the kids and their situation. Just like real life, a person’s life can change drastically depending on who you meet, and this ‘life-or-death’ situation is the perfect example of just how much your life depends on the people around you.
DC Eunice Noon and DC Teri Donoghue
Their interactions, along with Alyssa’s dysfunctional family dynamics, makes us sympathise more with our anti-hero couple. It’s hard not to understand why James and Alyssa don’t give a shit about anyone else when you learn about how they’ve been treated as they were growing up. That being said, we do see James and Alyssa grow up as they face the ever-increasing difficulties with each other whilst understanding each other on a deeper level, bringing them closer.
You thought this show was morbid enough as it is? Wait till you read the comic which is on a whole other level of f**kery (excuse my language but there is really no other way to describe it).
The show has gone viral as Netflix’s latest hit, even managing to score 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes when it was first launched, but dropped to 96% at the time of writing (which is still impressive). As all successful movies, there’s already talks if there would be a second season of the show. While we loved the show, we don’t know if a second season will live up to the first one. Not only will the screenwriters be out of source material, we all know what happens to James, and Alyssa’s romantic but slightly warped way of commemorating his memory that stays true to her character. If they changed that part, that’ll just be the end of the f**king book.
The End of the F***ing World is now streaming on Netflix global.
You must be logged in to post a comment.