 |
| Scene from Carnival Row |
There is a moment early in Carnival Row's run where it feels like the show has the potential to be an entertaining take on fantasy. In "Kingdoms of the Moon," fairy Vignette (Cara Delevingne) befriends human Rycroft (Orlando Bloom) and takes him to her library. It's here that we discover one of the few visually stunning moments in the Amazon series. Not only are the books lined up along walls, but as Vignette flies up the walls, it's discovered that the walls bend and curve. It's stunning and features a world of creative potential. The only issue with this scene (and other episodes) is that they never quite match the potential and chemistry of this episode, relying on something more rote and familiar. The show, for the most part, is a familiar ride into sexy, violent fantasy with socioeconomic undertones. The results are fun, but unlike that library, there's no exciting twist on the familiar to make it essential viewing.
There are certain aspects that make Carnival Row a worthwhile show, and it's largely in how it paints the socioeconomic model of ye olde country. While the first episode mostly shows the struggles of the fairy community, the series slowly unveils a host of creatures, all with striking designs. Whereas the upper-class are the ones who look most normal, those with "deformities" or don't fit the familiar are left to live against an intolerant society by performing menial tasks like servants or prostitutes. It's a structure that isn't too terribly complicated and leads to a world-building that is easy to understand. By the end of the first season, the oppressed have been round up in an internment camp, recalling the imagery of internment camps during World War II. Considering that the season also featured framing people for murder, it looks like the corruption of the world will only continue to get stranger as time goes on, making it easier to ignore the needs of the monsters that occupy this fictional poverty world.
The world is something more intriguing than the typical us versus them model that has fueled most of the modern dramas. In a few cases, the first season shows how the monsters have fought against stereotypes in order to get ahead in life. In one case, a ram-like creature has made it to the top of the economic ladder, becoming the disgust of his peers. He uses his confidence to avoid ridicule, buying artwork simply to see people's reactions. There's the constant push and pull that makes the show have some interesting tension. Even Vignette, who spends most of the season as a maid, gets an inside look at the industry and finds that while there's something dehumanizing about it, there's something sympathetic about it too.
However, there's also the reality that the police are corrupt, and it's where the series begins to get less interesting. As much as the monsters fight against the social disconnect, the season's reveal that the police are the most corrupt is a bit obvious. While the series has plenty of atmospheres and solid performances by Delevingne and Bloom, there's not enough there to make it a particularly enjoyable murder mystery. At most, it's a chance to see characters from different backgrounds join forces to make a difference in the world. It's a show building on empathy, allowing the tender moments to feel passionate and full of meaning. It's a world that misunderstands a lot, but those willing to listen and explore are allowed to have some joy in their life. It's what works about the show, especially as Vignette is allowed to spread her wings and fly majestically through the air.
Is the show revolutionary? Not at all. If anything, it's all a bit familiar once you understand that it's a typical murder mystery, but with a fantasy twist. As a result, a lot of the mystery is largely surface-level, never quite reaching something exciting or new. While it has some memorable characters, it's not enough to make it a stellar series worth watching as more than a lark. It will fulfill the fantasy itch for those who like just enough violence and sexuality to make a story edgy and adult. It's in the quiet moments that the show begins to work, as the characters manage to create something deeper than the repressed emotions that they must do publicly. There's plenty to like, but at the end of the day, it's highly predictable.
Carnival Row is a fine series and a decent addition to Amazon's lineup. Of course, it will feel a bit secondary once the juggernaut fantasy series The Lord of the Rings eventually makes its premiere in a few years. While there's an off-chance that the series will flop, any true adaptation stands a chance of reflecting the best in what fantasy has to offer. While there's room for Carnival Row to grow, it will need to find a more interesting story in the near future, allowing things to progress into more interesting realms of the genre and give their characters more than a conventional story. It's fun enough, but it doesn't show enough that's new or exciting to fully work.
Overall Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Comments
Post a Comment