5
41
2
1
3
1
This review may contain spoilers
Darkness in the Light
‒Spoiler Free Review‒
I had heard rave reviews of The Bad Kids as one of the best crime dramas. And by the end of the show, I could see what a meticulously crafted story this was. And after reading additional commentary and analysis, I realized all the intricate layers and themes that made this so talked about. So be sure to watch all the way to the end, and then some‒as that's when the mental marination and perhaps rewatch begins.
‒Slightly Spoily Review‒
In terms of timing, I picked up TBK after having watched several very solid, though less acclaimed mystery/thrillers, and partly wanted to calibrate against the best of the best. While the viewing experience was fast and gripping, it was tempered with a nagging disappointment as many of the characters seemed too naive, and some of the actions didn't quite make sense. But when the story ended, I realized that the show had pulled a fast one, and that the oddities are the deliberate result of an unreliable narrator, which TBK only revealed in the final scene.
After reading several excellent analysis, I came to realize the genius of the show. Just as the scariest villains put on the most deceptive camouflage, the storytelling amplifies it on a meta level by showing how we are easily hoodwinked in the end. While it's evident that our unreliable narrator had taken a dark turn at some point, it's even scarier to ponder at what point did that happen. We are shown clues of the fairy tales about the events and the world. But what about the mental planning of our narrator? Given the inherent unreliability, I'm left wondering whether much of the extended engagement with Zhao Dongsheng was a meticulous plot to use a borrowed knife.
--Update--
Upon watching some more analysis, especially on the even darker book version of the story, it seems our narrator was indeed puppeteering much of decisions throughout the story. The book is so disturbing and harrowing--think Dexter--that there was no way it passes review in China. So kudos to the team for this adaptation that tells a very coherent story, while still hinting at the darker secrets. I would have probably enjoyed the book version much more, as the reveal would hit much harder. Though I suspect it would be too psychologically perturbing for most people and this version would be the preferred version for most people.
This is also the reason why I've rated TBK highly but not even higher. My biggest issue with the show is that 95% of the story is the sanitized, naivified version told through our unreliable narrator. While the show introduces plenty of psychologically eerie elements throughout, I still spent much of the show mildly frustrated that the kids seem innocently nonchalant about dealing with a merciless serial killer and even trusting/sympathizing with him at various junctures. On the other hand, the book version sounds like a terrifying escape through a haunted house, before being snatched into the infinite abyss of mind-breaking hell.
--Reflection--
The thematic element that was the most notable for me was the fairy tale, which has two layers. One layer is the darkness of the human heart that allows us to lie to ourselves and pretend we have a clean conscience even as we pursue wicked deeds. This is evident in the show.
The other layer is the the willingness of people to believe in the fairy tales. While this was mostly shown as benign innocence, I wonder if this is actually the most pernicious fairy tale of them all. Evil occurs because of evildoers. But evildoers triumph and proliferate because the gentle, kind, complacent masses like to believe in their own version of the fairy tale‒that by indulging in spotless conscience of good intentions, one is not complicit in allowing evil to roam free. Admittedly, this is not directly emphasized in the story, but is my extrapolation. But as scandals flood the news, foundations of societies crack and crumble, and preventable tragedies flood the world, I'm forced to confront this fairy tale as the most damning of them all.
If anything, the first half of 2020s has shown that the media and conventional narratives are also an extremely unreliable narrator. Yet even as gaping fissures emerge and people's prior assumptions and lives are turned upside down, so many still cling to delusions for comfort‒especially in the West, sorry just the messenger. While I have full sympathy for people seeking comfort to get through the day, and avoid unpleasantries beyond their control‒after all we are watching TV here‒I cannot easily forgive those who have abundant energy for outrage or hedonism, but little for examining fairy tales. Just as those evil will run rampant if justice look the other way, societies will crumble if the public blinds itself. If you see many societal narratives crumble and being replaced at an accelerating pace, perhaps it's also time to wake up and scrutinize the narrators of society.
A few links to in-depth analysis on the internet:
https://cyn-lynn.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-bad-kids-review.html?m=0
https://kisskh.at/discussions/cats-cradle/125701-ending-spoiler-analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tX5YGxajYQ&pp=ygUVYXZlbnVleCB0aGUgYmFkIGtpaWRz
--Category Ratings--
- Overall - 8.6 -> 9
- Plot - 9
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 8.5
- Acting - 9
- Visuals - 9
- Audio / Music - 9
- Rewatch - 8.5
- Cultural/Topical Accessibility - 7.5
- Subtitle quality - 8
I had heard rave reviews of The Bad Kids as one of the best crime dramas. And by the end of the show, I could see what a meticulously crafted story this was. And after reading additional commentary and analysis, I realized all the intricate layers and themes that made this so talked about. So be sure to watch all the way to the end, and then some‒as that's when the mental marination and perhaps rewatch begins.
‒Slightly Spoily Review‒
In terms of timing, I picked up TBK after having watched several very solid, though less acclaimed mystery/thrillers, and partly wanted to calibrate against the best of the best. While the viewing experience was fast and gripping, it was tempered with a nagging disappointment as many of the characters seemed too naive, and some of the actions didn't quite make sense. But when the story ended, I realized that the show had pulled a fast one, and that the oddities are the deliberate result of an unreliable narrator, which TBK only revealed in the final scene.
After reading several excellent analysis, I came to realize the genius of the show. Just as the scariest villains put on the most deceptive camouflage, the storytelling amplifies it on a meta level by showing how we are easily hoodwinked in the end. While it's evident that our unreliable narrator had taken a dark turn at some point, it's even scarier to ponder at what point did that happen. We are shown clues of the fairy tales about the events and the world. But what about the mental planning of our narrator? Given the inherent unreliability, I'm left wondering whether much of the extended engagement with Zhao Dongsheng was a meticulous plot to use a borrowed knife.
--Update--
Upon watching some more analysis, especially on the even darker book version of the story, it seems our narrator was indeed puppeteering much of decisions throughout the story. The book is so disturbing and harrowing--think Dexter--that there was no way it passes review in China. So kudos to the team for this adaptation that tells a very coherent story, while still hinting at the darker secrets. I would have probably enjoyed the book version much more, as the reveal would hit much harder. Though I suspect it would be too psychologically perturbing for most people and this version would be the preferred version for most people.
This is also the reason why I've rated TBK highly but not even higher. My biggest issue with the show is that 95% of the story is the sanitized, naivified version told through our unreliable narrator. While the show introduces plenty of psychologically eerie elements throughout, I still spent much of the show mildly frustrated that the kids seem innocently nonchalant about dealing with a merciless serial killer and even trusting/sympathizing with him at various junctures. On the other hand, the book version sounds like a terrifying escape through a haunted house, before being snatched into the infinite abyss of mind-breaking hell.
--Reflection--
The thematic element that was the most notable for me was the fairy tale, which has two layers. One layer is the darkness of the human heart that allows us to lie to ourselves and pretend we have a clean conscience even as we pursue wicked deeds. This is evident in the show.
The other layer is the the willingness of people to believe in the fairy tales. While this was mostly shown as benign innocence, I wonder if this is actually the most pernicious fairy tale of them all. Evil occurs because of evildoers. But evildoers triumph and proliferate because the gentle, kind, complacent masses like to believe in their own version of the fairy tale‒that by indulging in spotless conscience of good intentions, one is not complicit in allowing evil to roam free. Admittedly, this is not directly emphasized in the story, but is my extrapolation. But as scandals flood the news, foundations of societies crack and crumble, and preventable tragedies flood the world, I'm forced to confront this fairy tale as the most damning of them all.
If anything, the first half of 2020s has shown that the media and conventional narratives are also an extremely unreliable narrator. Yet even as gaping fissures emerge and people's prior assumptions and lives are turned upside down, so many still cling to delusions for comfort‒especially in the West, sorry just the messenger. While I have full sympathy for people seeking comfort to get through the day, and avoid unpleasantries beyond their control‒after all we are watching TV here‒I cannot easily forgive those who have abundant energy for outrage or hedonism, but little for examining fairy tales. Just as those evil will run rampant if justice look the other way, societies will crumble if the public blinds itself. If you see many societal narratives crumble and being replaced at an accelerating pace, perhaps it's also time to wake up and scrutinize the narrators of society.
A few links to in-depth analysis on the internet:
https://cyn-lynn.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-bad-kids-review.html?m=0
https://kisskh.at/discussions/cats-cradle/125701-ending-spoiler-analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tX5YGxajYQ&pp=ygUVYXZlbnVleCB0aGUgYmFkIGtpaWRz
--Category Ratings--
- Overall - 8.6 -> 9
- Plot - 9
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 8.5
- Acting - 9
- Visuals - 9
- Audio / Music - 9
- Rewatch - 8.5
- Cultural/Topical Accessibility - 7.5
- Subtitle quality - 8
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