Undone Review: An Empathetic Journey Through Time

Some things can’t be taken back. We can reminisce on times lost, wishing to get back to that time again, but it’s only a memory now, and will remain so. But at least the memory remains. Undone, the Amazon Prime Video series created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg and Kate Purdy, dives deep into the idea of powerful memories and wanting to change what’s come to pass, doing so with heart and soul.

Alma, played by Rosa Salazar, finds herself at a crossroads in her life: her sister is getting married, her mother is constantly worried about her, and her relationship with her boyfriend is too perfect. So when she blows it all up and gets into a car crash, an opportunity for change opens, and starts her down a path where there are infinite paths.

Undone is part drama, part mystery, as this new path brings her to start looking into her father’s (Bob Odenkirk) death and whether it is an accident or a murder. On the five episodes reviewed (out of eight), the balance between the two is impressive, juggling Alma’s present day life struggles while opening a window inside her mind for the past, present, and future.

The aspect of habit and days rolling into the next, seemingly the same, seemingly endless, is where Undone gains a lot of traction early on. The need for something different as monotony starts to take hold is a driving force for Alma, and when the show provides that something different, it comes as a shock to the system.

The new system Alma attempts to balance comments on missing out on moments and the importance of the linear, where context and emotional payoff of something in your life can be far more important than the act itself. It ties into the monotony, as well, by showing that while things may appear boring in the moment, they carry immense weight when sliced from its timeline of events.

As the story, and the way the story is told, stretches over time, moments of the past take on new meaning while other revelations come to light, creating a fluid way to continuously tell the past and the present as a back and forth that complement each other.

The empathy shown throughout Undone is undeniable and wide-casting, allowing for deep and satisfying emotions to play out over the course of the episodes that help solidify the deep-set fears and hang-ups of its cast. Everyone has their baggage here, and it makes them well-defined and human.

Rosa Salazar brings a level of emotion and personality to Alma, able to say so much with body language and the intonation of her voice to make the animation sing. She brings a big energy to the show, where a lot works because of her at times spirited, at times sarcastic way of speaking.

Alma also happens to be deaf from an early age, and so while her hearing disability becomes a factor for her, it does not define her. It becomes a piece of her life, the hearing implant a means of her mother’s perfectionism and Alma’s way of being able to silence the world, if the need arises. Alma is a fascinating character, complicated and layered, and Rosa Salazar adds so much to the deep writing.

The rotoscope technique for animation is able to convey a mostly realistic, stylized image with no loss in expressiveness. It adds creativity through blending scenes together, allowing memories to fade together as locations and images flow in fluid, dynamic ways. So, while characters react and emote, the background is shifting to places that further tie times and places to weighty, resonating catharsis.

The more eye-popping imagery is used sparingly, more a punchline to emotional moments or as emphasis during Alma’s learning periods.

There are some stumbles along the way. The opening may prove too slow for some, and some of the show’s intentions take a while to get to their main point. But each time, the result is worth it, leaving the journey worthwhile after the fact. It’s rare, but noticeable.

It also comes in a couple of the heady explanations, some explained muddily while others are clear as a bell; Alma suffers from the same confusion during those more muddy talks, so perhaps it’s a choice. But it does feel like you can be missing a thing or two along the way, that it’s possible the final three episodes will provide.

Undone continues Amazon’s streak of creating television not quite like anything else out there. The character study and appealing animation style is strengthened by a fantastic lead performance from Rosa Salazar, and its winding, deeply empathetic view of a difficult life and a chance to fix it is a solid foundation to take a leap in and find some heartfelt meaning.

 

What did you think of this season of Undone? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Undone streams September 13th on Amazon Prime Video.

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