The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

Netflix Review: Despite exciting moments, ‘The Society’ falls short of being a great teen drama

While+it+lacks+diversity+and+realistic+dialogue%2C+The+Society+is+an+intriguing+and+socially+aware+teen+drama.+%28courtesty+of+IMDB%29
While it lacks diversity and realistic dialogue, ‘The Society’ is an intriguing and socially aware teen drama. (courtesty of IMDB)

“Six months ago we were children,” Becca, played by Gideon Adlon, says in episode seven of “The Society.” “This is who were are now: we eat and live communally. We even sweat communally.”

Season one of “The Society” begins as a promising new teen drama: West Ham High School students go on a field trip only to return right away due to bad weather. Upon their return, however, they find everyone that was left behind has now vanished.

The plot is smart and intriguing, and it certainly keeps viewers on edge, similar to the beginning of a horror movie. “The Society” falls short of being a great teen drama, however, due to its lack of diversity and mostly white cast as well as its sometimes completely absurd dialogue.

For example, in episode three, Cassandra, played by Rachel Keller, runs a meeting with all the remaining women to discuss their safety, specifically with sexual assault in mind. In this new society, one of the girls, Gwen, played by Olivia Nikkanen, weirdly attacks Cassandra, sarcastically saying, “Okay, I’m sorry no one wanted to date you in high school, Cassandra, but this war on men feels a little extra.”

Scenes such as these utilize a dialogue that is often awkward and unrealistic, especially for teenagers in such an alarming situation.

However, “The Society” does have its shining moments, mostly due to Grizz Visser, played by Jack Mulhern. Grizz, one of the football players who becomes a body guard, is insightful, often bringing various pieces of literature and quotations into conversation. Additionally, Grizz’s relationship with Sam, played by Sean Berdy, alone is worth watching the show for. 

Besides that, the show does seem to at least attempt to offer criticism on a capitalist society, and it is certainly interesting enough to keep viewers intrigued and alert.

One of the most popular theories, as offered in an article for Refinery 29, is that the story is meant to follow that of the tale of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” because the reference to a man named Pfeiffer, the presence of an awful smell in the town before the new society emerged and the occurrence of all of the teens disappearing on a bus.

Overall, “The Society” isn’t the perfect show, but it just might be the perfect binge-watch.

I give “The Society” a 7/10 rating.

Leave a Comment

Comments (0)

If you wish for your response to an article to be submitted as a letter to the editor, please email [email protected].
All Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *