Well, it happened. I managed to binge through the first season as well as the six current episodes already aired from season two. All within two days! I have no idea how I managed to pull this off, all I do know is that when one episode ended, I couldn't help but begin another. So much so that even today, I stayed up the entire night catching up on season two. Seeing the time go by and the sun start to rise. The birds begin to sing. And the realisation that I had just stayed up the entire night watching something setting in. I have no regrets! This show has completely obtained my interest. I can't get enough! From is a very unique show in today's weird television series climate. A horror/thriller series coming in after The Walking Dead's hype has dried up, and as well as at the time in which streaming services run wild with their cancellation axe, slashing anything and everything they can even if critics praise it like the return of Christ. From almost doesn't belong in today's film industry, but I'm so glad that it does. Especially after that aforementioned success of The Walking Dead that led to a plethora of low budget, lazy knock-offs that tried to capitalise from the success and lengthy season breaks the show had.
While I have so much praise for the show already, I do already have concerns. Naturally this is the case with the above mentioned. Shows rarely manage to hold their magic, and the biggest problem with a story like this tends to be how it manages to come to a conclusion. There's so much mystery to the show but the issue here is that it is the mystery that makes it so appealing. The not really knowing what's going on and having your mind roam the possible reasons as to why the characters are not only where they are, but also why new ones keep appearing in this place. I suspect some of the appeal will be lost as answers begin to arrive. Though this isn't really a problem with the show at all, but more just the way things are when it comes to storytelling; but hopefully the pacing will reveal things one step at a time and trickle information to us without revealing all at once. It does already seem to be making moves already, but I think this is a necessity, or it does go the boring drama route without really offering anything.
From
I really don't want to write about any potential spoilers here. This is a show currently airing, and with the community itself having made a few reviews here and there, it's definitely something I'd suggest getting into as it is currently going through its second season right now. So don't worry, you can go through this post anything too revealing, well, being revealed!
From's initial surprise for me was its introduction. Its setup is one that immediately throws us into this world without answers. Immediately giving us a bit of an idea of the mystery taking place. A sheriff walking through a small, old looking street ringing a bell. This was signifying the upcoming fall of night. I was hooked from here. Not only does it throw us into this environment, but it also gives us some context immediately on our main character. A leader sort of figure that seems to run the security of the town, keeping people in check and making sure there's safety when the worst time of day is to come. Something I found quite neat here, and later on, was how it slowly revealed more information on this character. While they are the main one, the show runs itself through a vast number of other characters, each sort of brings something to the table in terms of the community. Other shows sort of shows people as mere survivors, roaming around and picking up skills as they go. In From, the characters seem to have jobs based on their prior professions, before arriving at whatever place they're now in. I really liked this since it gave the characters more depth. They stand out from each other a lot more and feel more like real, interesting people with some uniqueness to them.
As one would expect, this also means that each person and their skills reacts to things differently. Some are still not quite adjusted to life in this place, others are a bit more hardened and prepared. The way the show cycles through them offers something to the story Inna way as well, they all actually have some life behind them. Personalities and interests, and of course those skills. But here's the thing: these characters also actually do things! Not only to the talk to each other and engage in the typical drama character development, but we see them each trying to do something to better life in the community or at least seek some sort of plan or answers that may lead to escaping. We obviously know it's far too early for that, but their visible attempts makes them seem a lot more real on screen. Most of the characters don't seem so bad, there aren't many you'll find yourself disliking, though the show does pace itself in a way that some agendas seem confusing. We aren't quite sure who is good or bad in parts, as the show toys with us, pushing that mystery a bit more. We already know that whatever those vampiric looking creatures are will try to manipulate the characters too, though this happens at night, not during daytime. Another quick note: the creature design is simple, but it isn't really their design that is scary. It's how they use regular looking people in attempt to manipulate the characters that is unsettling! I love how they casually walk up to characters. Walking slowly up to the doors or windows, knocking and looking in through the windows with a welcoming smile. Asking to kindly be let in, either using a recognisable face or a random one. Sometimes the show has a bit of a flaw in it where some characters trust other ones when it comes to opening the door for them, that risk is massive since it's precisely what the creatures do. Without the talisman put up, they'll casually walk on in. With it up, they need permission to enter. This doesn't mean verbal permission really, but that if you open a door or window, they'll roll on in and kill.
There's something a lot more interesting and eerie about a threat that finds itself acting kind and welcoming. Slow in its movements and gentle in its dialogue. There's that implication that at first they aren't actually a threat at all. As seen in one particular scene in which a not important character falls for the manipulation of one of the female creatures. Taking up a woman's appearance and clearly working on this one particular character for a while over numerous nights, knowing he is lonely and a prime victim. This is the first time we see that manipulation really working, seeing how they work night after night to pry on the weak. Fortunately we don't see this very often, a lot of the show's events actually take place during daytime. This is where the characters thrive and attempt to seek answers. And of course when the show introduced new ones to us. Of course as some die, new ones come rolling on in into this world.
I've really enjoyed how this works. Characters have very different reactions to the fact that they've somehow stumbled into this weird void like dimension and can't leave. Some adjust better than others, and again it just really shows how good the writing for this show is. Characters have weight to them! I'll shut up about this though, I've mentioned it enough! From's ability to tell a story within such a small environment makes it feel very claustrophobic, pushing up the suspense as we see certain areas falling. It gives us the realisation that while there is a community here, and they have talismans in their homes, none of them are actually safe. Some characters discuss this after being given a home that others died in. Nobody is really safe, and nothing in that place really belongs to anyone. And this is where some of the inventory comes from; one might ask how these characters survive? Well, by growing their own food or keeping the items left by those who arrived and died. Now, growing their own food makes sense, and at first I had the question as to why the creatures didn't destroy the crops and starve the citizens out; but we don't yet know as to why they're doing this either. I'd it for sport or food? Or perhaps they're part of something larger, to which they're being told to act this way, controlled by others above for example. We don't really know!
I really have no idea where this is all heading. I can't believe I managed to catch up so quickly. The quality here in writing and visuals is so good. And this cast of mostly unknown actors absolutely makes it. The fact that we don't know most of them from elsewhere means they are survivors to us. Fresh faces among many others, some coming out in the dark, others just as threatening but only human. While I am not going to throw out the cast in their vast numbers here, I will say that their performances are very good. Especially the discount Paul Rudd lookalike. You'll know who I mean! With this show's pacing, however, you can never tell if they're being introduced and given some story just to be killed off or not. Getting too attached to them doesn't seem like an option, especially with the influx of new characters to fill their spots, each just as unique and giving something new to the story. This cycle and story is definitely working for this. I've had moments in which I've expected bigger characters to die, smaller ones to also, but the show continues to surprise!
If you hadn't yet seen From, start watching it! Especially if you like the horror/thriller/drama genres. There really is a bit of everything here for everyone. And those horror elements are more suspense and gore, less so actual jump scares and the likes, so don't worry about those.
Oh, and the show's opening cinematic and soundtrack is so good!
