Maniac Review: Falling Prey to Prestige TV
Netflix’s newest prestige offering, Maniac, unfortunately, falls into the now-commonplace trap of becoming a prestige show with questionable substance. It’s a disappointing turn of events in such a strong season of new shows.
We can talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of this show, but ultimately, the show revels so much in the fact that it’s a television (or subscriber service) offering featuring acclaimed film actors that it forgets to be, well, a TV show.
Even then, Jonah Hill spends most of it in a state of mopey-ness (granted, his main character appears rather depressed, but that’s no excuse to not give him more engaging parts in the multitude of other characters he plays), and Emma Stone never really clicks into any of her brief roles.
And maybe that’s the beauty of the show for some people — it doesn’t have to be a TV show if it doesn’t want to. Each episode is only around 40 minutes long, so it’s not technically a 10-hour film, but it’s almost there.
Except that it’s not — it doesn’t behave like shows like Stranger Things, whose seasons actually do follow a traditional three-act film structure (and often, that’s where they succeed).
For some, the abstractness of its storyline might be engaging and interesting. It might be an opportunity for people to really dive into the artistry and uniqueness of the show, really digest Owen’s and Annie’s stories.
However, as much as I enjoy Cary Joji Fukunaga’s beautiful imagery, it just isn’t enough to make up for the fact that the show ultimately has little to no plot.
Even after a few episodes in, I’m still not sold on what was going on. You could just as well jump to the fifth episode and continue on with little or to no issue following the story.
It was simply just an excuse to throw money at neon color palettes (but a very good one!) as well as two renowned film actors.
The setup for the show is also extremely disappointing. Claiming to be a wild, mind-bending mental ride of epic proportions, it’s quite the letdown, especially for a Netflix show with such build-up.
Unfortunately, Maniac is more like a meandering journey that tries to deliver a message that doesn’t actually exist amidst a science fictional world that attempts to straddle the border between reality and fantasy.
As someone who values story over impressive visuals (although nice visuals are a definitive plus) for television, Maniac just doesn’t cut it. And as a show that encourages bingeing, the first episode isn’t even convincing enough to binge the rest.
Maniac is a show that undoubtedly will create a divide in viewers. Some will love it, and some won’t care for it. For those who love it, it’s understandable where they’re coming from. It’s beautiful, thought-provoking in ways, and fun.
In many ways, the show is kind of a visual romp in the park that tosses in bits of near-absurdist humor in the doctors that makes it akin to the style of cinema directors (Wes Anderson, anyone?).
I might even venture to market it as something more playful even if the show tries to tackle harder-hitting issues surrounding mental health (but in my opinion, fails to deliver anything substantive).
If I were to approach the show in that way, maybe I wouldn’t feel as let down. I expected something mind-bending and dark (save for select moments) and that’s not really what audiences get.
Owen’s (Jonah Hill) storyline is a bit pitiful, but it doesn’t really give enough insight into his character and background to make viewers empathize with him — just feel sorry for him.
Annie’s (Emma Stone) story is a bit better, putting the idea of a strong sibling bond that’s lost to make the viewer feel some feels. However, it’s again not enough to really empathize or connect with these characters.
It’s a tradeoff that the show has to make in order to dive into these worlds. They’re fun but ultimately not engaging enough to act as standalone episodes, which only very peripherally contribute to the plot.
It’s mostly up to the viewer to make connections between the standalone episodes and the plot, and at times, it’s a bit exhausting. What are we looking for? What do we need to remember?
There’s just not enough time to dive into everything. Nothing ever has enough screentime to actually allow viewers to emotionally digest it all, including both the characters and the episodes as a whole.
Only the humor sometimes comes across in its absurdity, especially Dr. Mantleray’s paraphilia and Dr. Fujita’s hair (which felt so much like a distinct choice of awkward wig that I simply can’t get over). However, it’s again not enough to present it as a hallmark of the series.
Nevertheless, no matter how short, the show does, in fact, excel in presenting these vivid alternate realities alongside this overarching plot that’s so bizarre and spectacularly ridiculous in so many ways.
That’s the image that the show should present — I’ll give it that much. It’s sometimes a little strange to see the actors in so many different roles, but if you forget about that, you might enjoy the characters’ dream state adventures.
Maniac also won’t be returning for a second season given its mini-series nature as well as the setup of the show. Maybe you’re disappointed, or maybe you’re glad like me — or maybe you’re indifferent.
So, what did you think of Maniac? Did you like the visual style and semi-standalone episodes?
Would you watch a second season of Maniac if it were released? Let us know in the comments below!
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Maniac is now available for streaming on Netflix.
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Olivia Popp
Olivia Popp is a freelance writer, artist, and entertainment fanatic who started living and breathing television ever since her parents told her in elementary school that it would rot her brain. Now, she's a film student and TV apologist with a penchant for providing forceful and unsolicited series recommendations to anyone within earshot. Ask her about science fiction, comedy, nature photography, filmmaking, tasty cheese, or even more television.