Unusuals

From Zanecorpwiki

A masterwork of short form serial.

Summary

There's lots to recommend this series but the best thing about it: it ends. Most series start with drama and just keep adding drama until they spin out of control and it annoys the shit out of me. The Unusuals starts with drama and winds up over the course of the entire series.

The second thing about the show: it's balanced. The show is humorous and quirky, but anchored. The characters are interesting, but sympathetic. There's a note of gritty realism and a touch of tragedy while much of the specific action is obviously absurd. A real treasure.

Details and Notes

The short form serial--enabled by the web--is a really exciting new form, and I wouldn't be surprised if "The Unusuals" came to be recognized as one of the classics of the genre--at least among the connoisseurs. It's not only entertaining, but really good. A deft touch.

As I mentioned before, the show wraps up well. Not with a bow on everything, but we see that all the issues that seemed impossible are will be dealt with, day by day. In this way, it's a very human story that, despite the absurdist tones, does a good job of highlighting the human condition. Fears, frailty, mortality, but all bound together with friendship, love, and basic compassion. What's best: the show is never heavy handed about any of it.