"The End of the F***ing World" is one of those shows that strikes a perfect balance
between being all too familiar, and yet strangely new.
Based on the comic of the same name, it follows James, a teenage psychopath looking for a chance
to kill a person, and Alyssa, a girl with a fierce temper looking to escape from
her mundane life, as they run away from their small hometown and go on an
adventure to find a new place to start their lives . . .
or at least, that's what Alyssa's doing . . .
It's a fun show with a lot of interesting characters that
blends all the tropes of a typical American roadtrip movie with the
self-deprecating nature of a British comedy, which, while on paper looks like
an incompatible mix, on screen, just works. And today I want to talk about why
this makes "The End of the F***ing World" so much fun to watch . . .
and yes, potential spoilers ahead . . .
The first thing that stands out about the show is its sense of humour.
Like a lot of British comedies, it loves to make fun of itself, from
poking fun at the many tropes and clichés of British and American film and TV,
to pointing out just how utterly deranged or mildly pathetic many of the
situations the show puts its characters through are. And it does so in the most
brilliantly blunt of ways and with the most deadpan of deliveries, which is
something I quite enjoyed. But the show isn't afraid to get ridiculous as it
also more than happily delves into the occasional bit of dumb humour, which
contrasts so heavily with the show's typical jokes that it makes these ones
hit even harder. The show likes to use both dry and dumb wit to make you laugh,
either out of appreciation for the cleverly crafted punchlines, or simply
because you can relate to the awkwardness and hilarity of many of its situations.
F***in' hell!
Likewise the characters and their interactions with each other are not
only smartly written, but also feel genuine. The series is filled with a
variety of quirky characters all with their own weird way of interacting with
the world around them and the people in it, and the various struggles they all
have to go through. Whether it be the happy-go-lucky dad who constantly makes
jokes to trick himself into being happy, the friendly detective who has an
awkward relationship with her partner in crime, or the posh mother with the
perfect life who, doesn't know how to feel about her daughter. Its characters
are exaggerated, but relatable and their relationships with each other help to
amplify the best and worst aspects of their respective personalities.
This is especially apparent with James and Alyssa. They bounce off each other
surprisingly well, with James's blank expression and quiet temperament
emphasizing Alyssa's standoffish nature and blunt deliveries, while Alyssa's
impulsivity and brashness amplify the cold, calculated, and socially inept
aspects of James's character. They, along with everyone else, interact with and
reflect each other naturally, without ever feeling forced, as if these
characters were real people you get to know. Of course, the quirkiness of its
humour and characters are only amplified by the show's stylized presentation.
From the West Anderson like direction that makes every scene and shot look
impossibly symmetrical and strangely picturesque, to the music, which
emphasizes the coming-of-age nature of the story. There are so many little
things that are used to give its presentation a unique flair. Even things
as subtle as the use of a 4:3 aspect ratio for flashbacks and the
specific font and color uses for its text add to its distinct vibe. The show's
style not only makes it stand out from a crowd, but also helps to emphasize its
many quirks. But, like anything else, it has its problems. Specifically in regards
to how it deals with James' psychopathy. Now, there's very little I can talk
about in detail here without spoiling the series, but, to speak in broad terms,
about halfway through the show James's psychopathic tendencies just,
kind of disappear.
And while I'm sure it does serve a role thematically, on a basic story level,
it just makes it feel like a gimmick more than anything else.
And even worse, one that, looking back on the show as a whole, feels kind of pointless.
The show could have easily painted James as simply being a quiet antisocial kid and
everything'd play out more or less the same. And, arguably, it could have made us
more sympathetic towards James and what he goes through, having us see him from the
start as just a kid with problems, rather than seeing him as an emotionless psychopath.
It almost feels like the show wanted to have its cake and eat it too,
by making its main character psychopath to get people's attention, but not having
the courage to fully commit to that idea. And of course, there are many other
structural problems with the show, especially in regards to the way many
plot points in the series seem to happen, just because, and the way many lines,
quite literally, come out of nowhere.
I don't wanna have sex with you.
Wait, what?!
However, for as many problems as I have with it, it's still
incredibly fun to watch. With its quirky humor and unique style, "The End of the F***ing World"
manages to blend together an old formula we've seen done to death, with
various different elements in a way that makes it feel new, and not only keeps you
laughing, but also gets your heart racing as you fear what will happen to its cast
of relatably strange characters. And, though the world doesn't actually end,
It leaves you with a distinct impression of what it's like when the world, as these characters know it,
does.
And yeah, those are my thoughts. If you enjoyed this and
want to see more, check out my last video, where I compare and contrast the
different ways "Doki Doki Literature Club" and "OneShot" break the fourth wall.
Or, watch my video on "Devilman: Crybaby", and why its gore, sex and violence make it so
fun to watch. And don't forget to like, comment, share, and of course, subscribe,
To Come Fly With Me!
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and other stuff, and hopefully, I'll see yous later!
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