I specifically put it on BECAUSE it looked cheesy and ham-fisted, but also mildly interesting enough to be watchable as I fell asleep. I ended up riding this roller-coaster of ridiculous plot twists and superbly unaware dialogue all night.
First of all, every single character in this show is brain dead. It's forgivable for most of the cast because they're supposed to be college freshmen and sophomores. Kids are dumb. That is something I can believe. What I can't believe is how the same gullibility and obliviousness extends to even the elder and wiser characters. I found myself constantly yelling, "You're in your forties! How are you just as dumb as these 18 years olds!" to the older cast. Even better is when the students are in their actual classes. Suddenly Mr. Can't Do Basic Math is rolling up into ethics class like Socrates for his morning lecture. He's spouting off highly intelligent responses to his professors on the fly. Then once out of class, continues being his mindless self.
The core of the show is about secret societies yet not one person has even the slightest modicum of discretion. They are publicly, loudly talking about secret supernatural rituals and shit. And when I say publicly, I don't just mean outside, in a semi-secluded spot. I mean two people screaming back and forth to each other about hearing the sound of magic and going to the temple. Meanwhile there's a guy sat right between them on his laptop hearing every word. As they slam the door on their way out of that scene, you can see him start to look over just before the camera cut.
It's insane how bad everyone is at pretending to be coy. Their attempts at coded speech that sounds like normal conversation is laughable. And it's not the actor's fault. In fact, I loved most of the cast. I think they did the best with what they were given. It was the script that was cringe-worthy. Idk how the actors were able to deliver those lines as well as they did. And it was also the directing. As I've already stated, there were absolutely too many scenes of people talking about things they shouldn't talk about in places they shouldn't talk about them. Everything was just a bit too on the nose. And characters you're supposed to sympathize with at some level just come off as total, sociopathic assholes.
So the main character kind of looks like a hybrid between my friend Jeff and Kevin Bacon. He's a textbook Mary-sue. He comes from nothing, is nobody, and yet is also the most everything person. He's smarter academically, street-wise, stronger, nobler, more charismatic, more moral, more selfless, more diven, etc than anyone else. He's the magical-realism version of Luke Skywalker.
Somehow, despite all that, I liked the kid. I empathized with his crazy predicaments. I yelled at him constantly for being a blind idiot. I was genuinely surprised by words and decisions. He was just a lot of fun, even if his character was wholly unbelievable.
Despite it's constant failings, the show is uncannily self-aware at times. It pokes fun at itself. It even vocalizes many of the criticisms I've stated in its own dialogue. There are many legitimate payoffs. The bulk of the show lowered my expectations, making those payoffs stand out that much more.
Overall I'd say it's a mix of Supernatural, Twilight, The Magicians (TV series), and 90210. If that's your bag, you're going to have fun with this show. It's enjoyably bad when it's bad, interesting enough when it's good, and surprisingly accurate at times when displaying how actual college students would act.
The characters are distinctive and likable. Even the bad ones. The season had a solid story arc. With the MC discovering a hidden world while also establishing the setting of that world. Then coalescing into a final goal and a need to prevent it.
I enjoyed the art direction, the wardrobe, and the sets. Some shots looked good enough to be framed on my wall. The segments on ethics felt a bit shoe-horned, but not overly pandering.
The female lead was absolutely too charming. I loved her almost immediately. The scenes where you can tell she believes and admires her mentors as they just use her were heartbreaking. Those scenes especially messed me up because she exuded this naive, hopeful desire to be praised by those she looks up to so incredibly well. Like watching a beaming child show off their perfect report card to a parent that couldn't care less.
The best friend was the kind of kid you instantly like. The harmless, goofy idiot. A bit tropey, but honestly that goes for the rest of the cast. Despite that, they owned their parts. I seriously can't give enough praise to the actors for keeping a straight face through some of these lines.
Before I go, I will leave you with this series of pictures I feel best describe the show and a rating of a jar of pickle spears.
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