A Breakdown on Netflix’s “Daybreak”
BY LIANN MELENDEZ
Staff Writer
On October 24th, 2019, Netflix released their very own version of a cliche high school storyline but applied it to a post-apocalyptic setting.
When Netflix first dropped the trailer for Daybreak, they were instantly met with critics addressing both their high expectations and their jaded opinions regarding the satirical, millennial humor found in the script.
Still, as I watched the trailer, I couldn’t help but compare it to other popular teen series, like Riverdale and The Society.
Similar to Riverdale, there is a clear hierarchy found in the plot, where the jocks have the power, and the outcasts have no other choice but to submit to them. In Daybreak, this stereotype is very much the case as well.
Yet, instead of it being found in the classroom, viewers find that the characters are divided into tribes.
When I say tribes, I actually mean tribes.
For instance, the cheerleaders have become known as the Cheermazons, the rich kids call themselves The Disciples of Kardashia — yep, they worship the Kardashians, and the geeks are…well, murderous STEM Punks.
You get the point — not even a nuclear bomb has the power to affect a high school’s caste system it seems.
Once again, when I say a nuclear bomb I actually mean a nuclear bomb.
Forget what you may already know about the power of nuclear bombs because in Daybreak, all that they did was turn adults into mindless, flesh eating “ghoulies.”
This concept brings me back to the Daybreak vs The Society comparison. Both The Society and Daybreak are set in a dystopian society, in which the adults have somehow disappeared and the kids have to manage without their guidance.
Although, Daybreak characters don’t appear to be struggling with that bit.
In fact, in the opening scene, viewers are introduced to Josh Wheeler, a lone survivor searching for his sorta-not girlfriend. Josh mentions various times throughout the pilot how the apocalypse was the best thing to happen to him, as there are no rules and there are no limits as to what he can do or have.
What really makes Daybreak stand out against any other teen series on Netflix is the incorporation of character to audience interaction — aka the fourth wall is not just broken, but completely destroyed.
Over the course of the season, the audience cannot help but notice how much character development was prioritized. The best example for this development is Ms Crumbles, one of the last standing adult survivors, who later realized how important it was to stay true to herself and not allow herself to fall into a category made by others.
This post-apocalyptic comedy might just be what Netflix needs to break the cycle of overused tropes and storylines — not including the high school cliche of it all.
Nevertheless, Daybreak is a binge-worthy show to try out if you are looking for laughs, relatability, lessons on friendship and love, major plot-twists, and even tear-jerking moments.
