Futmalls

I just finished the first season of Futmalls. I really enjoyed it. It's well produced and directed, and the acting is of high quality. The different stories and characters all intertwine to form an overarching storyline. The "No Chance to Grow Up" storyline had me in tears and was very well done. The first season ends with a surprise twist and cliffhanger.

Really hoping there will be a season 2.

I am totally impressed by the maturity of Asian made movies/series. Gone are the constant supply of RomCom, the KungFu, the Blood and Gore, the extremes. I binged on two of the top most series I have ever seen, It's okay to not be okay and now this Futmalls. Both extremely well done, a treat to watch and leaves me at the edge of my seat, wanting more... The story angles, the direction, the acting, the photography, all exquisite. Both left me in tears, my wife asked what? i said eye drops and showed her the dropper. Futmalls second story is really heartjerking. I gave it a ten because there isn't an eleven. It's that good. Go see it in Netflix. Start an account if you've not. You'll be making the best decision in your life. Second best decision, to watch It's okay....be okay and this futmalls. Enjoy. You can thank me later.

Buying products from the future is an interesting plot device. This series, made in Taiwan, navigates well the cause-and-effect paradoxes of time travel. It is very well made and easy to watch, once you get used to a Chinese-language scenes set in a modern, thriving democracy. I liked how the detective plotline deals with the challenges of making sense of time travel. Impressive!

So far, season one is free from woke commie feminism etc. So, that always gets an extra star for that alone. It's a terrible name for the show (in English, at least), it's the words Future + Malls put together. Future Shop would have been a better name, but prob. Lost in translation. It's a bit of a sci-fi show grounded in the reality of the current day. I give them kudos for keeping everything grounded and not going off into X-Files territory. This may be the first tv show I've seen from Taiwan. I thought it was prob. From HK, but I was wrong. I look forward to more.

At the time of writing this review, Futmalls in only in its 6th episode, and I've only seen the first five. Given that limited exposure, to be considered is the existing 8.1 rating on IMDB. (I was torn between 8 & 9, so I gave it a 9.)

The mood is dark and emotional, and it doesn't tie up everything neat and tidy-- quite on purpose. The show presents plot elements and satisfies those plot elements, but still leaves the audience wondering about certain aspects. This is as it should be, and part of what gives the show its unique premise.

Futmalls appears to be comprised of short stories that span 2-3 episodes, tied in by one overall story line with primary characters. This is integrated successfully.

The first series "Best Selling Writer" (ep 1-3) is basically good science fiction with a twist. It's not great, but it is good writing, directing, acting and and a story interesting enough to hook the viewer into the series to see what happens next. What happens next sets the hook.

The second story "No Chance to Grow Up" is the stuff Hugo Awards are made for. I'm leaving it at that in this review, no spoilers allowed. ; )

Both story lines though tied together rather well, bear no resemblance to one another in mood or method. This is admirable-- a continuing plot made of separate parts. I am hoping this series continues in this vein. If it does, we have a promising series to look forward to.

Giving it a tentative 9 stars at this point. It's too early to tell how it will turn out, after a full season or two, but this is one which warrants high hopes.