This is the newest series to come out of Netflix’s ever expanding library of original programming. The End of the F***ing World is the story of two teens somewhere in Britain. I say that because I did not realize this was a British show, so I figured I’d give y’all fair warning. It didn’t make the show any worse but it took a moment to adjust. So anyway, this show is about two teens, one of which is a girl with a shit attitude and a shit family life and the other is a possible psychopath who plans to kill her. The girl falls for him and he pretends to do the same, and together they go on this Thelma and Louise-esque adventure to get away from their boring, one-horse town.
This show is perfect. It’s eight episodes that range from 18 to 22 minutes a piece, and every episode is the completely right length. One thing I have always admired of British television (and honestly of a lot of foreign television) is that they know when to stop. They don’t care about the ratings or the money that could be made from keeping a show on the air, they keep a show on only as long as the story allows. In America we have 22 episodes a season of shows that last for decades because they just keep making money, despite drastic falls in quality. And I know that, as an American, I support these habits by still watching shows like Supernatural or Grey’s Anatomy. I just appreciate that they have the restraint to say no.
This show is brilliantly acted by its two leads, Jessica Barden and Alex Lawther. Lawther plays the young, developing sociopath James so well. He reminds me of Dexter in the way that he fakes so many things to look somewhat normal. Also, it should be known that there’s a lot of voicing one’s inner thoughts by voice-over, which gives some much needed insights. It’s these insights that help make this show perfect, because it shows all these indecision in these kids. And, no spoilers, but some real shit goes down in this show. And even in these crazy situations that they handle pretty well (more or less), in their heads you just hear how much they don’t know what they’re doing. And Barden embodied the confused teenage girl so well. Her development is part of a trend in TV and movies that show a realistic portrayal of a girl’s teenage years. With Lady Bird winning awards this year, her character is a great addition to the pantheon of messed-up and confused young girls.
This show is the best showing of teen angst in television in recent memory, and I very much recommend it. Also, there’s like a random lesbian relationship in the show that is treated completely normally and not like it’s some sort of oddity. I just thought that was nice and worth mentioning. This show is honestly so short it can be finished in like three hours. It can be finished in a night, making it the pretty Sunday afternoon binge when you feel like something short and sweet. And the best part is it really stands alone. I don’t think there should be a second season, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Netflix renewed it. The story is just so perfectly closed that it’s best to be left alone. So no getting attached and being strung along by Netflix for another season!
Are you gonna watch The End of the F***ing World? If you’ve seen it, do you think it should get a second season? Talk about it in the comments, and don’t forget to like, share, and follow Jef vs Entertainment for more TV reviews and other things in the entertainment world.
P.S. I forgot to mention that this is based on a graphic novel by Charles Forsman. So check that out also!
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