Binge-worthy: ‘End of the F***ing World’

Rappler.com

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Binge-worthy: ‘End of the F***ing World’

Courtesy of Netflix

It's impossible not to watch this British black comedy all in one go

MANILA, Philippines – If you haven’t yet jumped on the End of the F***ing World bandwagon, it’s about time you did. It will take just a few hours to finish the entire series (it’s only one season in so far), and by the time you complete it, you can join the growing army of people who understand that the title of the show really refers to what it feels like when you finish it and realize that you may have just watched the last episode ever (as of posting, a second season has yet to be confirmed).

What it’s about: James (Alex Lawther) is 17, and a self-proclaimed psychopath who wants to graduate from killing animals to killing people. Alyssa (Jessica Barden), also 17, is angry at everyone – especially her mother and creepy stepfather. The two teenagers meet. James decides that Alyssa will be his first human kill. Alyssa decides they should go on a road trip across England. They do, and it all goes downhill from there.

Episodes: It only has 1 season so far, with 8 episodes in total, clocking in at about 20 minutes per episode. All in all, you can finish the show in about 3 hours – quicker than it takes to finish a Lav Diaz film. With everything that happens in each episode, it’ll feel so much faster than that, too. We recommend resisting the temptation to finish the entire show in one sitting. Try spacing out the episodes over a week, or at least a weekend – the withdrawal is very real, and with no second season yet in sight, there’s not telling when we’ll get to see new episodes, if at all.

Why you should watch it: The premise alone should be enough to drive one’s curiosity. Yes, it’s dark from the get-go – and gets even more f***ed up as the story unravels – but it’s also hilarious in that deadpan, British way – driven by commanding performances from its two leads. It’s fast-paced, but not exhausting, leading up to an explosive ending that will probably lead you too stunned to cry. It’s also a show with soul: it touches on sexual abuse, childhood trauma, and family and mental health issues without being dragged into melodrama or getting caught in the politics of it.

JAMES AND ALYSSA. The two characters at the center of the story are brought to life by Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden. Photo courtesy of Netflix

The show also has enough style for millennial hipsters to enjoy, especially when the two characters get a makeover mid-series. And yes, it’s romantic (you’re sure to be shipping James and Alyssa by the end of the show) in a very twisted way. A bonus for Game of Thrones fans: a certain Greyjoy not only makes an appearance, but plays quite an important role in the middle of the series.

Where to watch: All 8 episodes are available on Netflix. – Rappler.com

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