Dead Boy Dectectives

[olivermoss]

I loved it. It expects you to accept some really bad handwaving regarding the set up, but I liked it enough that I don't care.

And, since it's on Netflix here's the most important metric: While I hope it's renewed I think it stands on it's one as a season. I think it's worth watching even if this is all we get.

The story, characters, aesthetic, presentation style, humor, etc, I adored all of it. Only two things I didn't like. One was that weird lens compression thing that they did way too often. The other was that I have questions about some of the set up and world building, and I get the sense that even if renewed it's not going to be addressed. But like, I'm not upset about it.

Also, in one episode I recognized the path there were on. I am pretty sure I've hiked that path.

The characters are originally from Sandman and DC has pretty much mined every minor character from the series and tries to create dozens of comics they can technically put Neil Gaiman's name on. I didn't read the spin-off comics, so I don't know if knowing that would fill in any of the gaps.

I'm surprised I'm into it. I typically don't like DC's Endless attempts to make tons of comics that they can stamp Gaiman's name onto and something about the early info about the show made me very disinterested. But I watched it anyway and loved it.

Comments

Dead Boy Detectives!

[disgruntledgirl]

I never read the comics but I had heard that there was a spin off from the Sandman "In Which the Dead Return; and Charles Rowland Concludes His Education", issue #25. I did see in the trailer the reference to the boys avoiding Death, which wasn't exactly true in the very beginning.
In the true story, when the Devil just tossed the key to Hell and walked away - the dead started coming back. The modern boy Charles had been abandoned by his parents at the boarding school. Death was entirely too busy to argue with the boys when she showed up after Charles was murdered by the ghosts the same bullies that had actually killed Edwin originally.
I remember it fondly because for some strange reason - she was in aerobics workout gear complete with headband. She never wears that.

That is AWESOME you recognize a path you may have hiked.


I'll be happy to give this a try based on your praise of it.

Re: Dead Boy Detectives!

[olivermoss]

Yeah, I gave up on all of the Sandman Presents titles pretty fast. IIRC some even had Neil's name in bigger letters than the actual writer's. They tried to make more Neil Gaiman and it just didn't work. The way some people are talking about it on tumblr, you'd think Neil also wrote the show and it doesn't look like he did?

I hope you enjoy it! Either way, love to know what you think of it

[mistressofmuses]

I'm glad you liked it!

I don't know when or if I'll have a chance to watch it, but it's on the "my interest is piqued" list.

(I did see one dude I know on FB saying that he thought it was the worst writing he'd ever seen and that it was an embarrassment, but frankly considering the stuff he does like that sounded like an endorsement to me...)

[olivermoss]

Yeah, it's something you are going to vibe with or not. The writing is easy to criticize. I hope if they get a second season they tighten a few things up, but I enjoyed it and the actors really sell everything.

[mistressofmuses]

It sounds like something I'll enjoy, so it's definitely on my "want to check out" list. I hope they do end up getting another season, but knowing that even the single season is satisfying and stands well enough on its own is unfortunately a very important consideration for "is this streaming show worth my time?"

[olivermoss]

Especially for Netflix, that's the most important metric right now.

[mistressofmuses]

Unfortunately true!