TV Review: End of the F***ing World Review

If the title didn’t make it clear enough already, “The End of the F***ing World” isn’t your typical teenage romance, nor is it for the faint of heart. Based on the eponymous graphic novel  by Charles Forsman, this Netflix adaptation, directed by Jonathan Entwistle and Lucy Tcherniak, tells the story of James (Alex Lawther) and Alyssa (Jessica Barden). James, 17, is convinced he’s a psychopath, and in his search to kill something other than animals, he sets his sights on new student Alyssa, who feels like she doesn’t fit in.

After James embarks on a roadtrip with Alyssa, the show seems to lack direction for the next three episodes, and instead seems to be prodded along by a sequence of forced encounters and events.

Initially, the few supporting cast members match the despondent worldview of the protagonists. But soon everything lightens up; the weather stops being constantly cloudy, James and Alyssa stop pushing each other away, and we finally get some proof that the world isn’t as depressing as James and Alyssa thought it was. The plot evolves into a gripping, suspenseful story that convinces you to watch just one more episode every time. We’re finally given characters that we can emotionally invest in, as James starts to exhibit some humanity and acknowledge his repressed trauma, while Alyssa stops lashing out and begins to expose her vulnerabilities.

Throughout the series, TEOTFW exhibits its pitch-black humor, with its morbid punchlines often taking several seconds to register. The show’s musical selection draws heavily from American country classics such as Carl Smith, and gives the show a distinctly retro feel. Additionally, the settings feel like extensions of James and Alyssa’s thoughts, as they shift between urban brick environments to sweeping panoramic scenes of the English seaside.

Probably one of the most brilliant aspects of “The End of the F***ing World” is its brevity; Entwistle and Tcherniak have condensed a riveting storyline into only two hours and 40 minutes, filled with constant suspense that take the viewer in different directions. Released in eight 20-minute episodes on Netflix, TEOTFW will take you on a emotional rollercoaster, and is one of the best binging experiences you could ask for.