Netflix's Hollywood: 5 Things It Did Well (& 5 It Didn't)
Hollywood, the miniseries that premiered on Netflix has received very mixed reviews. Created by Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy of Glee fame, this show features a star-studded ensemble cast including Darren Criss, Joe Mantello, Holland Taylor, Jim Parsons. Set during the Golden Age of Hollywood, after World War II, the show tries to present a revisionist history.
It tries to rewrite history in a way that allowed these diverse characters to be a part of Hollywood. Whether the show was successful in its venture is questionable since there were many hits and misses.
10 HIT: Diverse Representation
True to Netflix's style and the values of the showrunners, Hollywood features a very diverse cast. It showed diverse faces, diverse thoughts, and diverse ideas. The series is lauded for its LGBTQ representation a well. Through these diverse characters, the series tries to show their different stories, their different experiences. The show is told from the perspectives of the characters including a half-Asian director, a black actress, a woman running a studio, a gay black screenwriter, and more. The story doesn't restrict itself to the perspective of just one character or just one narrative.
9 MISS: Oversimplification Of Real Problems
In Hollywood, because a few people decided to do something, they were able to do it. This vastly underestimates the systemic problems that existed and still exist in the real Hollywood. In this revisionist version, just because a few people stood up and decided to do what is right, they were able to create a wave of change. This seems like an understatement of the very real systemic problems that exist and by extension, shows these problems as those which could have been solved by a few individuals and their wills.
8 HIT: Everyone Gets A Happy Ending
While in the real Hollywood, happy endings are scarce and far and few in between, in Hollywood, everyone gets one. The struggles of each character are recognized, each one of them gets what they want, each one of them is able to solve (quite easily somehow) very difficult problems.
Their movie gets made, their movie is loved, their movie clears out at the Oscars. There are heartwarming moments and everyone gets to see their dream get realized. It's sometimes nice for viewers to be able to witness for once, a few happy endings, from characters who usually don't get these happy endings.
7 MISS: Everyone Gets Redemption?
Probably the worst character of the lot will be that of Henry Wilson, played to cruel perfection by Jim Parsons. Parsons plays this character who sexually harassed many of his clients. The character is vile, cruel, hateful, and tortures Rock Hudson. Despite this, in the rush to give everyone happy endings, the show gives Henry Wilson somewhat of a redemption from his terrible behavior as well. Even though Rock Hudson doesn't extend forgiveness to Wilson, by agreeing to Wilson's offer to act in his movie, it makes it quite ambiguous as to whether the viewers are supposed to absolve Wilson of his crimes.
6 HIT: Alternative Universe
What Hollywood tries to do through this revision of history is in fact write an alternative history. In this history, everyone is kind to each other, everyone is empathetic, everyone understands the problems, and everyone is willing to support each other. In this alternative universe, big studio heads are willing to risk their studios and lives for the greater good. This fantastical exploration of such a universe allows the viewers to disengage for some time from the harsh realities of the real world. It is a sort of wish fulfillment.
5 MISS: Overestimates The Influence Of Hollywood?
In an episode on the show, the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt hears about Avis' studio's refusal to cast a black actress as the lead. She then comes to the studio and gives what is supposed to be a rousing speech encouraging them to cast her.
She talks about how Hollywood and movies can do what governments can't do. That they are able reach and change the minds of the people. This scene and the show overall seem to vastly overestimate the ability of Hollywood to change the mindsets and the culture of the time.
4 HIT: Pays Homage To Some Real People
Netflix's Hollywood blends fact and fiction with varying degrees of success. They incorporate several real actors and people from the real Hollywood of the Golden Age. In some cases, they simply appear, like Vivien Leigh and George Cukor. And in other cases, their histories are rewritten. Rock Hudson is one such example. In the show, he comes out publicly and refuses to hide his identity. This is not close to what actually happened. The show also pays homage to stars like Anna May Wong and Hattie McDaniel.
3 MISS: Lack Of Depth
There is a severe lack of depth in the show, in terms of the characters and in terms of the story. Because there are many people on the show, they each seem to get reduced down to one particular characteristic. They seem to be lacking severely in-depth. They don't seem to be three-dimensional characters at all. While not necessarily stereotyping, the show is unable to flesh out its many characters. The story also seems a little flat at some, the drama unable to engage viewers extensively.
2 HIT: Glitzy And Glamorous
Netflix's budget allows Hollywood to showcase the Golden Age of Hollywood with all its glamour and glitz. With high production value, the sets, the makeup, the costumes- everything looks wonderful on the screen.
The show looks bright, colorful, shiny, and glamorous. The characters are decked out in the best costumes, and they look like they belong in the 50's Hollywood. The red carpet scenes, the Academy Award sequence all look top-notch. Viewers will be delighted to take in just the beauty of each frame of this show.
1 MISS: Lacks Dramatic Tension
What engages viewers is the conflict and drama in a show, that keeps having highs and lows. Hollywood seems to lack this dramatic tension, especially towards the last few episodes of the show. Everything seems to start working out, and then everything just continues to work out. There is nothing that hooks the audience to the show, nothing that keeps then engaged. Without tension and conflict, shows start to become slightly monotonous. And this is what happens to Hollywood. You know that everything is going to work out, so there is nothing keeping you glued to your seat.