First Impressions:
The show had plenty of points that worked in its favour. It didn't quite get better, though, especially near the end, but delivered on characterization and VFX regardless.
While I enjoyed several portions in season 1 of "The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself", a handful of contrived sequences and a few hurried-over scenes made me zone out before and during the finale.
Plot Analysis:
A bastard (literally) son is raised by a Fairborn witch in what appeared to be a rather ironic twist of fate. Because this son, Nathan Byrne, was fathered by a powerful blood witch (Marcus Edge) who ensured the death of countless Fairborn witches. The justification for his deeds was later duly explored.
Such interesting plot elements made "The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself" a good lesson in adapted storytelling.
At sixteen years old, Nathan had an air of maturity and ominous portent about him, enhancing his character's value and suspense factor throughout the series. Jay Lycurgo did a great job capturing Nathan's nuances in season 1.
Will Nathan follow in his father's murderous footsteps? Will the apple fall close to the tree? These and other philosophical and paranormal themes kept tensions taut in this remarkable show, which felt like both a human and a magical coming-of-age story.
Alas, some creative deviations along the way derailed the show's overall potential; more on this soon.
If you sensed a literary aura prevailing across all eight episodes, that's because the show was adapted from Sally Green's first novel "Half Bad". The trilogy was published during 2014 and 2016, so there's plenty of existing material to explore in future seasons of this Netflix adaptation.
Bullying, discrimination, oppression, and blame-gaming played important thematic roles in the show. It was an altogether simple and linear storyline, but therein lay its charm. All the artists hit their marks, making the twists and turns in S01 feel seamless and interesting.
That said, there were a handful of rushed and contrived sequences - episodes 5 and 6 spring to mind - that deserved better attention. Season 1's final two episodes lacked the gravitas needed for a thrilling finish. The show deserved better here as well, but failed to deliver.
Final Notes:
Art direction, editing, and stunts were great. Sound effects and VFX were extraordinary. Engaging soundtracks too. Enthralling musical scoring. Hair-makeup (especially all the blood-related ones), set decoration, and production design were amazing. Costume design was notable. Cinematography was great. Writing was good. Direction was good, but could've been better.
The supernatural themes explored in "The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself" season 1 felt natural and credible. The performances were admirable and compelling. Season 1 took me by surprise in several places. Though it could've consistently impressed throughout its runtime, it failed to end on a high note. The series also contained some hasty sequences, which didn't do the overall plotline justice.
I really liked that final shot with Nathan looking at Soul's dead heart and a vengeful Jessica finding herself dealing with the ruthless witch Mercury (my favourite character in the show).
I hope they greenlight season 2. But most importantly, I hope the showrunners do better if or when the time comes.
The show had plenty of points that worked in its favour. It didn't quite get better, though, especially near the end, but delivered on characterization and VFX regardless.
While I enjoyed several portions in season 1 of "The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself", a handful of contrived sequences and a few hurried-over scenes made me zone out before and during the finale.
Plot Analysis:
A bastard (literally) son is raised by a Fairborn witch in what appeared to be a rather ironic twist of fate. Because this son, Nathan Byrne, was fathered by a powerful blood witch (Marcus Edge) who ensured the death of countless Fairborn witches. The justification for his deeds was later duly explored.
Such interesting plot elements made "The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself" a good lesson in adapted storytelling.
At sixteen years old, Nathan had an air of maturity and ominous portent about him, enhancing his character's value and suspense factor throughout the series. Jay Lycurgo did a great job capturing Nathan's nuances in season 1.
Will Nathan follow in his father's murderous footsteps? Will the apple fall close to the tree? These and other philosophical and paranormal themes kept tensions taut in this remarkable show, which felt like both a human and a magical coming-of-age story.
Alas, some creative deviations along the way derailed the show's overall potential; more on this soon.
If you sensed a literary aura prevailing across all eight episodes, that's because the show was adapted from Sally Green's first novel "Half Bad". The trilogy was published during 2014 and 2016, so there's plenty of existing material to explore in future seasons of this Netflix adaptation.
Bullying, discrimination, oppression, and blame-gaming played important thematic roles in the show. It was an altogether simple and linear storyline, but therein lay its charm. All the artists hit their marks, making the twists and turns in S01 feel seamless and interesting.
That said, there were a handful of rushed and contrived sequences - episodes 5 and 6 spring to mind - that deserved better attention. Season 1's final two episodes lacked the gravitas needed for a thrilling finish. The show deserved better here as well, but failed to deliver.
Final Notes:
Art direction, editing, and stunts were great. Sound effects and VFX were extraordinary. Engaging soundtracks too. Enthralling musical scoring. Hair-makeup (especially all the blood-related ones), set decoration, and production design were amazing. Costume design was notable. Cinematography was great. Writing was good. Direction was good, but could've been better.
The supernatural themes explored in "The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself" season 1 felt natural and credible. The performances were admirable and compelling. Season 1 took me by surprise in several places. Though it could've consistently impressed throughout its runtime, it failed to end on a high note. The series also contained some hasty sequences, which didn't do the overall plotline justice.
I really liked that final shot with Nathan looking at Soul's dead heart and a vengeful Jessica finding herself dealing with the ruthless witch Mercury (my favourite character in the show).
I hope they greenlight season 2. But most importantly, I hope the showrunners do better if or when the time comes.