SummaryBased on the graphic novel by Charles S. Forman, the British dramedy follows Alyssa (Jessica Barden) and self-described psychopath James (Alex Lawther) as they go on a road trip to find Alyssa's father after she has a fight with her mother.
SummaryBased on the graphic novel by Charles S. Forman, the British dramedy follows Alyssa (Jessica Barden) and self-described psychopath James (Alex Lawther) as they go on a road trip to find Alyssa's father after she has a fight with her mother.
It’s funny, and it’s sweet; it’s violent, and it’s romantic. Its leads are both reprehensible and totally sympathetic; both scared kids and responsible adults. It seems the mark of an honest production that the characters are arrestingly recognizable--and revealed so thoroughly to the audience that judging them feels impossible. By the end I was unsure if I wanted them rounded up by the authorities or free to go out in a blaze of glory; the only thing I was sure of was I wished there were more episodes.
World has some terrific set pieces, such as the duo’s sloppy robbery of a gas station, and some dull patches, such as a meeting with Alyssa’s father late in the series that almost drags the story to a halt. But overall, James and Alyssa are ultimately two people we care about, and Lawther and Barden give exceptional, subtle performances.
The thing that The End of the F***ing World smartly does is never let you forget that Jim and Alyssa are like wild animals you think you have tamed, at any moment they might turn on you and bite. Also, kudos to the series for its offbeat selections of songs.
World's stylistic editing and internal narration gives it a cool, zippy vibe, and the fast pace propels it forward. Its smart structure, with genuine surprises and cliffhangers, makes it an addictive binge-watch, and the episodes' 18- to 22-minute running time makes it a particularly easy one.