THE SOCIETY Season One
Smells Like Teens Spirited Away
UK/US Netflix, streaming now Showrunner Christopher Keyser Cast Kathryn Newton, Rachel Keller, Alex Fitzalan, Toby Wallace
The high concept of The Society seems to be not having a high concept. Other recent shows that riffed off William Golding’s The Lord Of The Flies sci-fied up the idea, leaving the writers to point out, “This isn’t really a show about teenagers on an alien planet/people stuck under a giant dome, it’s actually an exploration of humans creating a functioning society from chaos.” But with The Society, you can’t help thinking Golding himself probably considered that as a title before coming up with something more evocative. This a show proud of its influences.
It begins with all the highschool teenagers in a small New England town returning from a field trip to find the place deserted. There’s still power and Wi-Fi, but they can’t communicate with the outside world. Pretty soon they realise that looting and hedonistic partying are only short-term benefits, and that somebody is going to have to take charge. This is something the town’s previously more entitled teens are not cool with.
The Society could easily have been an “issue of the week” show. Let’s talk about gun control! Let’s talk about crime and punishment! Let’s talk about the drawbacks of two-party politics! It’s all done in an unashamedly on-the-nose manner, invariably with lots of teens arguing like an Oxford debating society until a token jock goes, “F**k this, let’s hit someone.” Despite the sledgehammer approach, it works on the level of provoking thought. It’s also admirably non-partisan, holding a mirror up to today’s America without a hint of red or blue filter.
But as drama the show’s on dodgier ground. It takes a long while for the vast cast to bed in and for individuals to make an impact. Even then, many feel like familiar types, especially the jocks and the bad boys. The requisite teen relationship drama elements are variable too, with some distinctly unconvincing couples and contrived conflicts balanced by some genuinely sweet moments, especially as regards the LGBT characters.
The kids also accept their lot surprisingly quickly. Only later on is there any serious attempt to discover what’s happened. And then there’s the fact that everyone seems to still have perfectly laundered clothes months into their ordeal. Okay, there’s power for washing machines, but these are teenage boys, right?
It does improve as the season goes on, however, delivering some tense set-pieces. And the arc plot surprises at just the right points to keep you interested, and ends with a narratively satisfying cliffhanger. Well, except for an odd epilogue that threatens to muddy the waters and introduce an element of high concept... Dave Golder
Sean Berdy, who plays deaf character Sam, is a keen drummer; he’s been playing (with hearing aids) since the age of six.
This is a show that’s proud of its influences