Skip to content

THE SOCIETY

Written By:

James Hanton
Society

REVIEWED: SEASON 1 (ALL EPISODES) | WHERE TO WATCH: NETFLIX

The Society is a compelling, haunting drama that is really all about power. The power of nature, parallel universes, leadership, truth and toxic manhood. At first it doesn’t shirk off the inevitable character tropes of a high school setting, and some episodes feel tonally off, but on the whole, this is a thought-provoking show that will leave you begging for a happy ending…

Some high schoolers leave their sleepy little town for a school trip. When they return unexpectedly soon, they find that every single other person in the town has vanished, and they can only call each other. All connection to the outside world is lost. In fact, there seems to be no outside world at all. Just miles of thick forest. As it becomes clear that this is now a fight for survival, the students have to adapt to their new lives while making sure that their new way of living isn’t torn apart from the inside. Easier said than done when the script is complete with its quota of stuck up kids, crass sports lads, and psychopaths – all of whom want a say in how things are run.

The set up showcases some typical character types, which in the mundanity of the early stages can be off-putting (although the diversity of the cast is impressive and bears impact on the story). Once the gravity of the situation becomes clearer however, the show becomes truly gripping. Those characters that are the most paranoid start to come across as the most reasonable. Throughout the dystopian isolation enforced on the characters, there are comments on everything from gun use to hyper-masculinity that makes this off-world experience feel very much like a reflection of reality, exacerbated as if to highlight its flaws.

With well over a hundred students, the show focuses on a small selection of main characters. You struggle to keep track of them all – there is only one name you will remember for sure, and that character doesn’t last very long. They are all however important, and brought to life with real conviction by a phenomenal cast. They bring sophisticated dialogue and dangerous situations to life through their efforts. The relationships between them normally avoids dreary unpredictability, fuelling the story as tensions ascend to boiling point.

The galactic aspects of the show do not get touched on as much as you might like, but The Society is as significant and dramatic as anything Netflix has to offer. The show does not make the mistake of letting its interesting premise do the work, offering plenty in the way of clever writing and sensational acting to ensure this tense drama leaves a lasting impact.

James Hanton

You May Also Like...

chinese remake of anaconda drops trailer

ANACONDA Trailer Grants First Look At Remake Of 1997 Horror Flick

Three sequels and a spinoff-crossover film wasn’t enough for the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, which not only has a new movie in development, but is getting a Chinese remake! From
Read More
black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More