End of the F***ing World: spoiler-free review

With a stellar cast and amazing performances, this the delightful British binge-watch you need…

“Laughing on the outside, crying on the inside…,” that is exactly what the latest “fresh” offering from streaming giant Netflix is all about. As this background score slowly creeps into the title sequence of ‘The End of the F***ing World,’ you are drawn into the lives of two teenage misfits, James and Alyssa.

Shows generally aimed at adults tend to stray away from base emotions, focusing on the larger scheme of things. The show, however, dissects its main characters and displays very possible mood swings. This makes the core of the show, and it really hooked me in.

The first couple of episodes show the duo embarks on a road trip to find Alyssa’s estranged father, who left home when she was just a child. The pilot establishes a strong premise — something I like in my bingeing.

As you reach mid-season, you are deeply versed in the general psychological state the two kids are in, both trying their best to hide their true selves from each other yet connecting on a different level altogether.

James, who is “fully” convinced himself that he is a Dexter-style psychopath, has too many rude shocks awaiting him in a ride to find love, purpose, adulthood and eventually, himself.

Alyssa, is another complete story in herself. The series pits her journey on the main lane as other arcs revolve around how and what she feels. While she tries her best to deal with life maturely, the infancy and the inexperience brings about consequences that have lasting effects.

By the finale, these characters found their comfortable spaces in my head, but I wanted to know more. Not about the main storyline, but rather about the past and the scars the children carry with them. Such was the strong character development.

The series displays brilliant acting by the central pair, Alex Lawther (of Black Mirror, The Imitation Game) and Jessica Barden (from The Lobster, Ellen, Penny Dreadful), along with a stellar supporting cast. The characters are built slowly, yet with utmost precision.

Do look out for Game-of-Thrones fame Gemma Whelan as a police officer, along with BAFTA-winner Wunmi Mosaku (from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) — both giving memorable performances.

This show, which first premiered in the UK on Channel 4, crept into the Indian Netflix catalogue in a melee, attracting a subculture around it, complete with memes.

With just eight episodes, this might look like a short binge. But the show deals with very grown-up emotions in two very young kids on the cusp of adulthood.

Many a time, I paused an episode in between to take in the sheer intensity of the emotions portrayed in the show. This is one of those rollercoaster series that you can binge alone and then will bug your significant other to watch with you one more time.

With a must-watch tag, I am recommending a 4.5/5 rating for ‘The End of the F***ing World’, now streaming on Netflix in India.