TV SHOWS

DEADLY CLASS : NOT YOUR REGULAR HIGHSCHOOL

Posted on by Mehareen Quraishi

 “Deadly class” was an American television series released in 2019 developed by Rick Remender and Miles Orion Feldsott for ‘Syfy’ based on the comic book series of the same name created by Remender and Wesley Craig and published by ‘Image comics.’ It starred Benjamin Wadsworth, Lana Condor, Maria Gabriela de Faría, Luke Tennie, Liam James and Michael Duval. It was set in the late 1980’s revolving around the elite private academy ‘Kings Dominion’ where students were trained to become assassins.

This show purely exuded a school metted out with slytherin vibes minus the magic. A high-school for assassins whose subjects range from ‘The fundamentals of psychopathy’ to ‘AP black arts’ while their students are trying to balance a normal student social life while keeping up with their assassination homework was something I didn’t know I needed to watch until I did.

The show is set against the backdrop of the dark counterculture of the late 1980’s and the show’s way of navigating how the teenagers took the glooming reality of life that too of a future assassins in their stride while not totally becoming unhinged is something that I could relate to but also it makes you reflect.

In retrospect, that’s how high school felt for most of us, dark and pressurizing and our only advantage was we weren’t training to become future assassins with kids who were nothing less than total assholes.

The show sets its dark undertone just not through it grim setting, but also by establishing an high school culture with class system which ranged from a Japanese Kuroki syndicate to rats Aka students with no legacies to fall back on and left to survive on their own.

The protagonist Marcus monologue’s often makes you contemplate your views on life and manipulate you into viewing the show through his perspective. But it’s the other characters who are far more complex and nuanced example; Maria played by Maria Gabriela de Faría who while rewatching after reading the comics, I understood how interesting and nuanced her character arc really is which I believe would have come to full fruition in the second season if the show was not cancelled after one season. Due to the lack of its mainstream appeal, it got under the radar and got cancelled even though it had great potential especially with the massive cliffhanger, it ended on, it was completely unfair. I had to read the comics to cope with that fact which turned out to be an another amazing experience letting me appreciate more of the show’s pacing and creative twists made while adapting it.

The show let’s it’s first season to introduce the audience to the world of Deadly class and to let the characters develop more and become fleshed out which the comics didn’t had to timeframe to do. I loved the constant commentary on the pop culture of the late 1980’s backdrop in reference to movies, music bands, comics, etc… in the background which was able to paint a vivid picture of the life in the late 1980’s American teenagers.

It had some good action choreography for the genre it was dealt with and it had a diverse cast with each given appropriate space to shine through. The cinematography and art direction was one of my favourite in the recent times. The suspense with the finale was perfectly executed. My fav sequences has to be the chase from the finale. The last two episodes definitely takes the cake.

As much as I relished watching a show with perfect dark and gritty gore as it’s main core elements, it still might not be something that could be everyone’s cup of tea. Especially I have to remind you that the show ends with a massive cliffhanger with no season 2. You might have to read the comics further to know the plot which I believe are equally impactful to read while it’s final issue will be out this year marking its end. But you won’t regret watching it as it would definitely do its one job which is it to entertain you.

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“CRASH LANDING ON YOU” IS A PERFECT WATCH TO JOIN THE K-DRAMA FANDOM

Posted on by Mehareen Quraishi

“Crash landing on you” is a 2019-2020 South Korean television series written by Park Ji – Eun, directed by Lee Jeong Hyo and starring “Hyun Bin, Son Ye Jin, Kim Jung – Hyun and Seo Ji Hye.” It’s about a rich South Korean heiress who, while paragliding in Seoul, South Korea, is swept up in a sudden storm and crash lands in the North Korean portion of the DMZ, and meets a captain in the Korean people’s Army. He agrees to help her get back to South Korea. Over time, they fall in love with each other despite the divide and dispute between their respective countries.

What makes this show work is how it’s written in a humorous point of view despite the bleak political setting the story is set in. The show has its heart in the right place. The humour, drama and the story seamlessly blends with the characters.

It humanized the North Koreans to the viewers by portraying them in a different light rather than sticking to the usual stereotypes. The story concept was inspired by a real life event involving South Korean actress, Jung Yang. On top of that, the drama’s screenwriter was introduced to North Korean defector turned film adviser and writer Kwak Moon – Wan, who became part of the drama’s writing team. He helped in crafting the drama’s plot and in conceptualizing the setting and scenes in the drama portraying North Korean life.

Even though there were certain backlashes thrown at the crew for portraying a romanticized portrayal of North Korean soldiers and how the political and social issues were not highlighted at all. Still, it was applauded by many other North Korean defectors for portraying the different aspects of daily life of the citizens and liked the positive humanization of the North Koreans, who often did not get to see a positive representation of them on mainstream media.

The plot was skilfully crafted to avoid harsh criticisms by focussing more on the growing chemistry between the leads. It was very refreshing for me to watch how even the second leads were given adept recognition by portraying them as multidimensional and morally grey characters. It’s hard to find a show which shows the same love for the supporting cast as well as the main leads.

To me, what made the show watchable was its setting. It was fascinating to learn the little details you can pick up from the show by watching how North Koreans live. It’s also easier to detect the parts where it’s been romanticized such as the arc dealing with the military and how crossing the borders were shown. The golden nuggets from the show should be the supporting cast who no matter what kept the story light even when the plot became really intense in the end. I loved how they were able to show gossip between the woman in a community could be a way for them to bond and to knit a strong bond of sisterhood. I personally was more attached to the supporting cast than the main leads.

The main leads never let one dull moment pass in the screen. But frankly, I couldn’t engross myself into how intense the story was getting between the two. I was more hooked on to the light hearted part of the show. Nevertheless, the main leads did a perfect job in carrying the show on their shoulders. 

Also if you are new to K – drama fandom, “Crash landing on you” is a perfect way to start your journey into discovering more such gems. You can Google the records its ratings broke yourselves, if you want to stop contemplating whether you should watch it or not. Bonus news : The main leads are actually dating in real life.

You can also follow me on Instagram through the below mentioned link for more multi fandom content.

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You can also watch the edits I made based on this show on my youtube channel below.

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BRIDGERTON IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST ‘ROMANCE’

Posted on by Mehareen Quraishi

Bridgerton is an American streaming television period drama series created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes. It is based on Julia Quinn’s novels set in the Regency era London during the season when debutantes are presented at court.

I for one, expected nothing more than some drama and romance to make it binge worthy when I first started watching the show. The scene where Daphne and Simon meet for the first time and the enemies to lovers trope was firmly established,  I could feel myself going through so many shows with the same romantic trope used to create tension between the leads and prepared myself to watch a show which would definitely feel repetitive.

But it did not. That’s what surprises me the most. I couldn’t control myself from clicking on the next episode. Before I knew it, the show was over. And I was left with googling for the news when the second season would come out. All the reels in Instagram about how addictive the show is finally made sense.

Because it is. I can’t point out only a single specific thing which made me feel drawn to the show. Even though, I love it when romantic troupes are properly used. The show was much more than that. It was able to sustain the suspense of the main leads growth as a couple and the chemistry between Phoebe Dynevor and Regé – Jean Page was just perfect to make us ship them right from the start .

My most favourite part about watching the show is how diverse characters are represented throughout the show. It isn’t historically accurate. From its dresses to hairstyles, many of them were inspired from varied decades.  But the most important of all, was seeing black people in aristocratic status when at that time in real history, they were actually subjected to extreme cases of mistreatment and abuse as a result of colonization. The show even has a scene where Lady Danbury talks to Duke Simon about,

“Look at our queen. Look at our king. Look at their marriage. Look at everything it is doing for us, allowing us to become. We were two separate societies divided by color, until a king fell in love with one of us. Love, Your Grace, conquers all.”

This scene hints at the fact that racist ideologies did exist in the ‘Bridgerton’ universe but not anymore after the King decides to marry a lady of colour. It does seem unrealistic that a royal marriage could put an end to racism. But it’s a show where they play the classical version of Thank you, next in the back ground. So expecting a realistic approach to the plot is laughable from the show’s context. Because the show aims to provoke you with passionate intense feelings of drama, despair and desire instead of provoking your political viewpoints. It’s a fun show to watch as its removed from the context of our historical past and reality. The creator of the show has said that they just wanted to reflect the world we live in today and appeal to the modern audiences.

It’s a swoon worthy show but I assure you. The little details the show has included in some scenes pointing out why marriage is important to a women in a time where financial independence is restricted to her made me love the show more. Because it had its spotlight on its women characters who are complex and intriguing.  The shows portrayal of women friendships and sisterhood would definitely warm your heart.There’s this particular scene in the show where a seamstress and opera singer were talking about how they earn their own money and make their own way in the world while sipping wine. Even though they both tried to be gleeful in relishing their independence, it conveyed more about how financial independence meant the lack of romantic love in their life. It just made me a little sad about how their status and choices diminished their chances of having a family in the future.

There’s also this subplot of a gossip monger named Lady whistledown who was the gossip writer of that time serving fresh and juicy gossip about London’s high society. She is a mysterious character with some strong viewpoints which she tries to convey through the ruse of gossip. She directly or indirectly steers the course of some of the main characters journey in the story. She is a pretty important character who at times made you wonder who is she? Along with the cast. Her famous high society paper is the one that keeps the story going most of the time.

Also if you are a fan of historical romance with a touch of steamy intimate scenes in the midst of it. This one is for you. I personally don’t like watching very intimate scenes and that’s something which I thought the show could have toned down a little.  But I know many of audience loved the show just for the glimpse of stairway romance involving a hot duke.

So if you are someone who is very much into historical romance, drama, high society and need some diverse representation from your favourite time period. You won’t regret watching the show.

If you are interested in watching some Bridgerton edits, click on this link below where I have linked the Bridgerton playlist of my own edits and subscribe to my channel if you want more fandom edits.

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